A survey of private landlords suggests that the costs of conforming with aspects of the Renters Rights Act are stopping progress on making rental properties more energy efficient. 

A poll of landlords using the August app suggests that 62% of landlords are likely to spend less on property improvements as costs rise elsewhere due to the RRA.

Energy efficiency upgrades long seen as crucial to improving Britain’s ageing rental stock are at particular risk. Over half (54%) of landlords say they are very or somewhat likely to delay or reduce energy-efficiency spending, citing high upfront costs and financial uncertainty. 

Only 20% of landlords plan to continue as normal with no plans to reduce spending or investment.

Some 3,000 users of the app were surveyed duringthe first week of November. 

An August spokesperson says: “This is a red flag for the UK’s climate ambitions. You cannot legislate for higher housing standards while pushing landlords into corners financially. Without targeted support, the Renters Rights Act risks slowing down green upgrades across millions of homes. I’ve written to the Chancellor today urging her to protect the quality and safety of the rental sector. If she doesn’t, we risk locking both landlords and tenants into lower-quality homes for years to come.”