The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has welcomed the ban on landlords letting properties with EPCs above C, from 2030.

But it says the government must cough up more resources to fund enforcement.

The EPC rule change was announced by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband at Labour’s conference this week and now the environmental health officers says it is nothing less than a move addressing the root causes of fuel poverty in the UK. 

The officers claims that homes with poor energy efficiency often face issues such as cold temperatures, dampness, and mould – all of which contribute to serious health risks for occupants. 

And it says that without proper insulation and energy upgrades, residents are left vulnerable to respiratory diseases and other conditions exacerbated by cold environments.

Mark Elliott, president of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, says: 

“This announcement is welcome but needs to be accompanied by the provision of resources for local government to enforce the relevant legislation effectively.

“Poor energy inefficiency 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 found that excessively cold homes in England could be costing the NHS £540 million a year in preventable costs.

“Cold homes are one of the leading public health threats of our times. Environmental health professionals 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.”