Fact sheet: Building Safety Act

The UK Government has unveiled plans to reform the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) framework in England and Wales, with sweeping changes to the way Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are structured, used, and valued. Both commercial and residential agents, landlords, and property owners will need to renew their EPCs more often, and some exemptions, for example for heritage properties, may no longer apply.

The Older People’s Housing Taskforce has published a final report which includes many recommendations made by Propertymark. We met with the taskforce chair, Professor Julienne Meyer, and responded to the consultation, with proposals to enhance the choice, quality and security of housing for senior citizens.

Propertymark has long campaigned for incentives and realistic funding for landlords, tenants, and homeowners to upgrade their properties so we can see more energy-efficient homes, lower bills, and reduce emissions in the property sector. We are pleased to support National Energy Action’s Fuel Poverty Awareness Day on 27 November 2024, which highlights how the continuing energy crisis is stretching household, leaving many people struggling in cold, unsafe and unhealthy homes.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has responded to recommendations made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) based on their year-long investigation of residential construction in England, Scotland, and Wales. Ministers agree that reform is essential to ensure the market delivers homes that the country needs and have committed to creating a long-term housing strategy with the buy-in of local authorities, developers, landowners and investors.