FAQs: Non-domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standards for commercial property

The UK Government is investing £15 billion and promises a major push to cut bills, tackle fuel poverty, and accelerate home upgrades. In response to our campaigning, the initial 2028 deadline for new tenancies has been scrapped and, with a lower cap amount, property owners will be expected to spend less on upgrades. However, we remain concerned that landlords are being asked to deliver significant change without sustained, targeted support.

The Welsh Government’s 2026–27 Budget, approved by the Senedd on 27 January 2026, includes extra support for councils, changes to business rates from April 2026 and more funding for Green Home Wales, but key opportunities were missed to support rental supply and first-time buyers.

Formal regulation marks a major shift in how these systems are overseen and how consumers are protected. For property agents, this change is important because it will affect how heat networks are operated, what information consumers must receive, and how agents advise clients and market properties connected to networks. Hundreds of thousands of homes, particularly in blocks of flats and new developments, are already connected, and their use is expected to grow as part of the UK’s decarbonisation plans.

The UK Government has announced long-term investment packages for new and expanded Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs), with a clear focus on unlocking housing delivery and revitalising high streets. These agreements will give local leaders devolved powers and funding settlements to drive regeneration, build new homes, and support economic growth.