The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (Scotland) regulations 2020: BRIA

13. Summary and recommendation

The recommended approach is to introduce regulations at the point of turnover coupled with a backstop date, as well as setting a trajectory so that the minimum EPC is raised over time from an E to a D. In the absence of such regulation, the required retrofitting of low energy efficiency dwellings in the private rented sector is unlikely to happen, or will only happen more slowly than is required for purposes of the delivering the Scottish Government's objectives relating to climate change, energy efficiency, fuel poverty, and delivering a high-quality private rented sector.

The combination of point of rental and backstop date, coupled with setting the trajectory with an initial E and only raising it subsequently to a D, will allow the regulations to be introduced in a phased approach so as to reduce any disruption to landlords and tenants, while ensuring that within a reasonable time period all tenants in the private rented sector are assured of minimum standards of energy efficiency.

Setting a cost cap for each stage acts as a safeguard to ensure that upgrades are not installed where they will be excessively expensive.

The key summary costs and benefits were set out above in Table 6 and Table 9, which are reproduced below.

Costs and benefits of raising all stock to an EPC of E

Costs and benefits of raising dwellings to an EPC of D after they have already been raised to an EPC of E