While the scrapping of impending EPC requirements in the rental market comes as a relief to some landlords, there is confusion and anger in many parts of the industry. This reversal comes at a time after many landlords have invested huge sums to prepare their rental property for upcoming changes in regulations.
At David Harris & Co, we know the feelings of many local landlords in Finchley. We also pay attention to views up and down the country, and these are challenging times in the rental market. We are here to assist you, and to help you form an opinion, and strategy moving forward, in the local lettings market.
The National Residential Landlords Association deputy policy director Meera Chindooroy wrote in a blog saying: “The Government has clearly been listening to us. The reality is that we are now in the run up to a general election. The Prime Minister evidently believes he will remain in power, but there is a very real possibility that we will have a Labour-led government in a year or so. The Labour Party has yet to respond in full to Rishi Sunak’s announcement, but Ed Miliband, the shadow secretary for climate change, has already said he is ‘in favour’ of requiring rented properties to meet a minimum EPC C rating.”
Meera Chindooroy concluded by saying: “In reality this means there is still no clear plan for the sector, something that will only serve to complicate landlords’ investment decisions. Despite the rhetoric this week, Rishi Sunak doesn’t have the last word on this issue. But it’s not yet clear who will.”
As has been the case many times of late, not only with respect to EPC with all matters, landlords have been poorly treated by the powers-that-be. This flip-flopping comes after many sleepless nights for letting professionals, and no doubt after a lot of landlords have spent considerable sums of money upgrading their rental accommodation.
Improving energy standards in a rental property is never a waste of time, but in the current economic climate, everyone needs to make the most of their available funds. It might be that landlords would have used funds better, but because of this looming over them, they decided to upgrade their property.
There is uncertainty moving forward in the UK lettings market, and this is why it is vital you receive help from specialists. At David Harris & Co, we have considerable experience in the Finchley lettings market. We know who the most likely tenants are, what these tenants are looking for, and how to best manage these tenants so they are happy in the tenancy.
It is also worth remembering that we are specialists in this field, and we work in it full-time. As a landlord, you cannot be expected to stay in touch with all the regulations, the rule changes, and the breaking news stories on matters like EPC and other relevant factors.
This is why you need assistance from professionals who stay in touch with every aspect of the rental market, every day.
We have assisted many Finchley landlords connect with willing tenants, and we know where these groups are looking for rental accommodation. You can take the stress out of connecting with your ideal tenant by turning to a local lettings agent in Finchley.
If you want to make an informed decision in and around Finchley’s rental market, we are here for you. If you have any questions about the local market, or you need assistance, please contact David Harris & Co today. Call us on 0208 346 9122.
