BREAKING NEWS: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has just delivered a speech on significant changes to government policy on how the UK meets net zero. Although the decision will be controversial, the PM is easing the deadlines on boiler bans and EPC changes to be more realistic, economic and attainable. The changes that will affect home owners, landlords and consequentially tenants are:

• The ban on new gas boilers in homes due in 2025 will be delayed.
• Those in the "poorest households" will not be forced to switch their gas boiler.
• The boiler upgrade scheme will be increased by 50% to £7,500 with no strings to pay it back.
• Landlords will not be forced to make expensive and unrealistic energy upgrades in 2025 and 2028 as planned.
• Landlords will be offered financial incentives to upgrade energy efficiency in rental homes.

Most homeowners and landlords will be relieved by today's announcement. Whilst we all want to reduce our carbon footprint, the PM has made changes that are more realistic and will not cause the same financial hardship. Some tenants may feel a bit let down as the government will no longer force energy upgrades to rental homes, however, whilst recognising the energy savings for tenants, the cost of these upgrades would simply be passed on to tenants. The EPC changes were just another reason for landlords to sell up, reducing the rental market, pushing up rents and increasing homelessness. So, the move was the right one for the UK at the minute. 

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Image: By Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street, OGL 3, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132830566