Landlord’s Guide to Retrofitting Older Properties by Heather Hilder on April 23, 2025 Retrofitting older properties A Landlord’s guide for retrofitting older properties If you’ve invested in an older property to rent out to tenants you will need to make some upgrades to bring it up to standard first. This holds true, especially in light of changing requirements around energy efficiency and living standards in the private rented sector. The extent of the changes will depend on your individual property and budget. However, with a growing demand from tenants for energy-efficient properties, as well as the new requirements from government, such investments should help you to future-proof your property. Changing regulations Understanding your legal responsibilities will dictate where and how you start with your renovation plans. As it aims for net zero, the government is aiming to improve the energy efficiency of all properties. Currently, rental properties must achieve an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of E as a minimum. However, the government has longer-term ambitions to raise this to a C rating by 2030. Ahead of the deadline, some tenants are already insisting on C-rated properties. They are conscious of energy prices increasing following April’s rise in the energy cap. As part of the changes proposed within the Renter’s Rights Bill, the Decent Homes Standard will also be introduced to the private rented sector. This will require landlords to bring properties to a safe and comfortable condition. Both these changes make retrofitting essential for compliance and there are a number of improvements you can make. These range from simple and cheap changes to more extensive investments. Insulate to accumulate Keeping warm air in during the winter and protecting your property from heat gain during the summer through effective insulation is one of the best ways of improving the energy efficiency of your property. Double-glazed windows and doors are a must-have today. They are a quick win for reducing heat loss but also minimise noise disturbance and improve security for tenants. You should also consider adding or upgrading roof and wall insulation since up to a third of heat can be lost through these. Upgrade heating systems Investing in upgrading heating may feel like an unjustified expense if it’s already doing its job. However, a new energy-efficient boiler, such as a condensing boiler, can reduce costs significantly. Couple it with smart thermostats that provide you or your tenants with greater control over the heating and even more savings can be made. If you are providing white goods, then you should opt for energy-efficient versions here too. Consider renewables If you have a higher budget then you may want to consider installing solar panels to enable you to offset electricity costs, earn through feed-in tariffs and appeal to environmentally conscious tenants. Rather than a traditional boiler, you could consider investing in an air-source heat pump. Cost-effective upgrades There are various grants and assistance available to help landlords in retrofitting their properties. But you can make cost-effective upgrades too. Even something as simple as upgrading to LED bulbs in your older property allows you to reduce the electricity used and expands the lifespan of your lighting since they last longer than traditional bulbs. Investment in retrofitting isn’t a nice-to-have but a must-do to ensure compliance and enable you to attract tenants. Callaways Estate Agents support landlords along the South Coast, including Falmer, Worthing, and Brighton & Hove. Contact us today to learn how we can help you adapt to new regulations and safeguard your investment. Reach out now for expert advice!
