Housing Secretary Michael Gove has this morning said his government should ‘relax the pace’ of EPC reforms expected from private landlords.

In a Sunday Telegraph interview following the Uxbridge by-election, Gove gave strong hints that the timetable would change.

The paper says: “Mr Gove admitted that in his own department the government was ‘asking too much too quickly’ of landlords, who will be banned from renting out their homes unless they pay for green measures such as insulation and heat pumps to meet a new minimum energy efficiency threshold by 2028.”

And the Telegraph continues: “Citing existing financial pressures on landlords [Gove] added: ‘I think we should relax the pace.’”

In recent days Rightmove revealed that 16 per cent of homes listed on the portal had previously been let privately, and states that concerns over stricter Energy Performance Certificates were now the main reason for landlords selling.

The Gove interview on green issues follows the failure of Labour to win the Uxbridge by-election, with both main parties citing the introduction of an expensive Ultra Low Emission Zone tax as being to blame.

Controversial Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan – who is almost daily demanding the powers to introduce rent controls in the capital – has made ULEZ a personal mission.

Today’s Sunday Times suggests that following a meeting with Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer, Khan is likely to tone down the financial impact of the measure on London residents. 

Tomorrow – Monday July 24 – Gove is forecast to announce a revised planning policy to boost flagging house building totals.