How Energy Assessors Can Help Landlords Meet New Requirements
As the private and social rented sectors enter a period of significant change, landlords are expected to keep up with EPC reform, Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), changing housing conditions requirements and stronger enforcement.
Issues such as damp and mould, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard are also receiving greater attention. As a result, landlords must understand their responsibilities, provide reliable evidence and respond more quickly when problems arise.
For many landlords, the challenge is understanding which requirements apply to their properties and what action should be prioritised. They also need trusted professionals who can clearly explain their options.
This creates an important opportunity for energy assessors. By understanding the pressures landlords face, assessors can help identify risks and support better-informed decisions before compliance issues become more difficult or costly to address.
A market shaped by regulation and rising expectations
Landlords are facing pressure from several directions. The requirement for privately rented homes in England and Wales to meet the equivalent of EPC C by 1 October 2030 is a significant driver of change, but it is only one part of a much wider picture.
EPC reform and the future introduction of the Home Energy Model will change how energy performance is assessed and communicated. Housing enforcement is also evolving, while the Decent Homes Standard is expected to apply more widely across rented properties. At the same time, greater attention is being placed on hazards such as damp and mould, and excess cold and excess heat. These changes will influence how landlords inspect, maintain and improve their properties.
The scale of the challenge is significant. Around 2.5 million rented homes in England are expected to require improvements to meet the future energy efficiency standard.
What this means for energy assessors
Energy assessors already work with many of the factors landlords need to understand. With appropriate training, competence and accreditation, assessors may be able to broaden the services they provide and help landlords understand their properties before committing to extensive programmes of work.
Damp and mould services provide an example of how appropriately trained assessors can add practical value. A structured, non-intrusive assessment can help landlords record visible conditions consistently and decide whether remedial action or further specialist investigation may be required.
Communication is equally important. Landlords under pressure are unlikely to benefit from technical language without clear context. They need advice that explains what the findings mean and what should happen next. Reports should therefore connect assessment results with property condition, potential risks and practical actions. Clear reporting can help landlords turn complex requirements into a manageable plan.
Developing the skills that meet market needs
Changing standards are creating demand for knowledgeable, skilled and credible professionals. Through The Next Level, Elmhurst members can access training designed to broaden their expertise and build confidence. The initiative can help assessors develop additional services that respond to the needs of landlords while developing their own careers and businesses.
Elmhurst Training Manager, Josh Wakeling, said:
To understand where the opportunities are, it is important to look at the market from a landlord’s perspective and pay attention to the issues that repeatedly arise. These may include EPC compliance, damp and mould, ventilation, overheating and local authority enforcement. Landlords are also concerned about the cost of making the wrong decisions.
Once you understand those pressures, you can begin to position your knowledge and services as part of the solution.
With further regulatory change expected, landlords need professionals who can help them understand their responsibilities and take proportionate action. Energy assessors are well placed to provide that support. However, they must continue to develop the right knowledge and communicate their expertise clearly and practically.
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SHOP THE NEXT LEVELSources and further information:
Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-2025-update
Awaab’s Law: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/awaabs-law-in-the-social-rented-sector
Consultation and government response on the reformed Decent Homes Standard: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-a-reformed-decent-homes-standard-for-social-and-privately-rented-homes