Training Plan to Meet EPC C Targets

The government has announced an £8 million investment to train up to 18,000 retrofit professionals by July 2025. The initiative supports energy-efficiency goals, particularly for the private rented sector, where all properties are expected to meet EPC C by 2030, and from 2028 for new tenancies.

The training focuses on:

• Heat pump installation

• Solar panel fitting

• Insulation

• Heat networks

Programmes announced:

• Warm Homes Skills Programme: £8m to train 9,000 professionals

• Heat Training Grant Extension: £5m until March 2026

  • 5,500 new heat pump installers

  • 3,500 heat network professionals

• Over 10,000 already trained, per government figures

Call for Landlord Support

The NRLA is pushing for:

• Direct financial assistance for landlords

• Rethinking of timelines to make targets viable

• Greater coordination between skills programmes, incentives, and enforcement expectations

Easing Planning Restrictions for Heat Pumps

From late May, new rules in England will simplify heat pump installations:

• No longer restricted from being within 1 metre of property boundaries

• Permitted size increases from 0.6 to 1.5 cubic metres under permitted development rights

Industry response:

Daniel Sarefjord, Aira CEO:

“By removing outdated planning barriers, government helps accelerate adoption and grow the green workforce.”

Key Takeaways

• Positive direction, but execution gap remains vast

• Landlords face steep retrofit costs, planning hurdles, and unclear incentives

• Without more funding, workforce scaling, and policy alignment, the 2028/2030 deadlines may prove politically and practically unworkable