Moved by
Lord Foster of Bath (LD)
121: After Clause 133, insert the following new Clause—
“Existing homes: standards
(1) This section applies to domestic properties that have been used as such since before this Act is passed.
(2) The Secretary of State must ensure that—
(a) all domestic properties achieve a minimum standard by 2035, and
(b) those domestic premises that, because of their standard, present a serious risk to the health, wellbeing or safety of people living in them, that the occupant is unable to rectify for financial or other reasons, achieve a minimum standard by 2030,
where practical, cost-effective and affordable.
(3) In this section a “minimum standard” is the achievement by the property of—
(a) Level C on an Energy Performance Certificate issued under section 43 of the Energy Act 2011 (domestic energy efficiency regulations) or any amendment to that section made by the Secretary of State by regulations; or
(b) an equivalent level on any new method of measuring the energy efficiency of properties that may be adopted by the Secretary of State by regulations.
(4) The duty in subsection (2) does not apply to a domestic property where the following exemptions apply—
(a) an occupant or anyone else whose permission is needed for works to be carried out has explicitly refused such permission; or
(b) it is not technically feasible to fulfil the duty; or
(c) the cost of carrying out works to fulfil the duty would exceed £20,000.
(5) The Secretary of State may by regulations add to or change the exemptions referred to in subsection (4).
(6) The Secretary of State may by regulations define the terms “practical”, “cost-effective” and “affordable”.
(7) In this section “wellbeing” includes the ability of an occupant to keep warm at reasonable cost.”
Member’s explanatory statement
This Clause requires that existing homes achieve a minimum standard in order to protect the safety, health and wellbeing of occupants.