Paragon Bank is calling for a phased introduction of minimum energy standards for private rented properties to limit disruption to a rental sector already under huge pressure.

Paragon is urging the Government to abandon its 2030 target of a minimum Energy Performance Certificate of C for rental properties in favour of a phased approach, consisting of: 2030 for new tenancies; 2033 for extended tenancies and 2035 for all tenancies.

The buy to let specialist also argues there is insufficient capacity in the retrofit supply chain and labour force, particularly with the Government’s competing objective of building 1.5 million new homes over the next four years.

This could lead to increased costs and disruption in these regions Sedgwick concluded: “Rushed legislation could cause significant disruption to a PRS that will already be adapting to the new Renter’s Right Bill, forcing some landlords to sell because they cannot complete works in time.