CIEH welcomes confirmation in Warm Homes Plan of higher minimum energy efficiency standards

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has welcomed the confirmation in the Government’s Warm Homes Plan that landlords in the private rented sector will need to upgrade their properties to meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2030.

CIEH has long supported increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in order to reduce fuel poverty and domestic carbon emissions. The organisation called in its manifesto in 2024 for the Government to ensure all homes meet EPC Band C by 2030.

CIEH says that poor energy efficiency in housing contributes to cold homes and damp and mould growth. Cold homes exacerbate illness, contribute to NHS costs and are closely related to excess winter deaths.

Analysis of English Housing Survey data by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) found that excessively cold homes in England could be costing the NHS £540 million a year in preventable costs.

CIEH emphasises that higher minimum energy efficiency standards need to be accompanied by the provision of resources for local government to enforce the relevant legislation effectively.

The Warm Homes Plan can be found here. For further information about the BRE analysis see here.

Zena Lynch, a member of the housing advisory panel of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said:

“We welcome the investment in energy efficiency contained within the Warm Homes Plan and the commitment to higher minimum energy efficiency standards.

“Cold homes are one of the leading public health threats of our times. Environmental health practitioners are in the front line of protecting the public from this and other hazards caused by poor housing and thereby reducing ill health and saving lives.”