Warm Homes Plan: What Landlords Need to Know (Guaranteed Rent Context)

Warm Homes Plan: What Landlords Need to Know (Guaranteed Rent Context)

The UK Government has unveiled its £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, an initiative aimed at cutting energy bills and tackling fuel poverty by upgrading millions of homes with energy‑saving technology and insulation. Part of this plan includes new protections for renters, and significant expectations for landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. 

For landlords this is a welcome move for tenants, but it also means another layer of responsibility and another potential cost for property owners. Here’s what landlords should understand and how working with a guaranteed rent provider like Apex helps protect your income and your investment.

What the Warm Homes Plan Means for Rental Properties

The Warm Homes Plan is built around a large rollout of home upgrades, including:

• Solar panels and battery storage

• Heat pumps (including grants of £7,500 for air‑to‑water systems)

• Smart heating controls

• Improved insulation and draught proofing

The government has said these upgrades will help reduce bills for low‑income households and lift hundreds of thousands out of fuel poverty. These public funding streams and low‑interest loan options are designed to make energy upgrades more accessible to homeowners and landlords. 

However, what remains unclear in the initial announcement is who pays for upgrades when landlords aren’t eligible for grants or where public funding doesn’t fully cover the cost. Landlords are still expected to maintain properties to legal standards and in many cases go beyond them to keep up with policy direction.

Rising Energy Compliance Costs for Landlords

Landlords should be aware that energy efficiency requirements are evolving. For example:

• The government is consulting on raising the minimum EPC requirement to a C, which could become law for new tenancies from 2028 and all tenancies from 2030. 

• A wide retrofit programme will require skills, materials and time that may not currently exist at scale. 

• Upgrades such as heat pumps and solar installations can carry significant upfront costs even with grants available.

Even where funding exists, landlords often don’t benefit directly from energy efficiency improvements, creating a challenging dynamic where investment is necessary but the financial return is uncertain. 

That means compliance will continue to push landlord costs higher through upgrades, certifications, and ongoing maintenance.

Why Guaranteed Rent Still Makes Financial Sense

All of this points to a broader reality: the cost of being a landlord is rising, not just from rents and mortgages, but from compliance and energy‑related requirements.

But here’s where guaranteed rent offers clarity and financial stability:

• Fixed income regardless of property upgrades or voids: You receive your rent even when compliance work, occupant turnover or energy upgrades are underway.

• No letting fees, no admin charges; Traditional agents often take 5–10% of rental income in fees. With Apex you don’t pay any of those, the income you agree is the income you receive.

• Free property management and compliance support: Apex helps co‑ordinate inspections, reminder systems and necessary certificates, leaving you free from the day‑to‑day burden.

• Stability in unpredictable markets: With change in legislation and policy around energy efficiency, having a guaranteed rent arrangement protects your cash flow and still allows you to meet evolving standards.

Even though landlords still carry responsibility for upgrades and compliance, a guaranteed rent model reduces the risk to your income when balancing those costs.

What Landlords Should Do Next

If you’re thinking about how to navigate rising compliance costs, energy efficiency requirements, or whether to rent your property to the council, here’s a simple plan:

1. Review your current EPC ratings and plan for future minimum ratings.

2. Understand what funding or loans your properties may benefit from.

3. Factor in long‑term energy upgrades into your investment strategy.

4. Consider guaranteed rent with Apex for predictable income, no voids, no letting fees, and managed compliance.

If you’d like to talk through how guaranteed rent can protect your earnings and help you meet compliance demands in 2026 and beyond, get in touch:

📞 0203 030 4241

📧 propertyteam@apexhousingsolutions.co.uk