Press Releases

PEPA is pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine Garrido as the new Chair of the Board.  Catherine succeeds Andrew Parkin, who is stepping down after six years of dedicated service.

In her new role, Catherine will guide the Board’s strategic direction, champion organisational priorities, and support the executive team as PEPA continues to advance its manifesto.

“I am honoured to take on this role and work alongside such a committed Board and leadership team,” said Garrido.  “I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place and helping to drive the next chapter of growth and impact for PEPA.

PEPA extends its deepest gratitude to Andrew Parkin for his exceptional contributions during his tenure, his steady leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment.

Trade body questions why energy efficiency is ignored.

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) has expressed dismay at the complete
omission of any reference to energy efficiency in the Government’s Invest 2035: the UK’s modern
industrial strategy Green Paper consultation. The Association has responded to the consultation
making particular reference to the section on energy and Question 16 which focuses wholly on the
supply side of energy and makes no reference to demand.

Andrew Parkin, PEPA Chair said ‘it is a well worn phrase, but “the cheapest unit of energy is the unit
you don’t use” has resonated with successive Governments for the last 30 years, even though the
pace of improvement has slowed in recent years. Investing in energy efficiency yields quick and long
term results and obviates the need for constructing expensive energy generation facilities which take
years to come on stream.

Investment in the energy efficiency industry can be a huge force in narrowing the long term
projected gap between energy demand and supply.’

PEPA’s response to the consultation makes clear that early investment in energy efficiency measures,
particularly in buildings, will help to reduce energy costs for hard pressed families and businesses
much more quickly than long term investment in energy generation’

PEPA is urging the Government to rectify this obvious and serious omission from its industrial
strategy.

Trade body laments lack of engagement – again.

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) which represents the Government appointed Accreditation Schemes for Energy Assessors has once again criticised Which? for not engaging in respect of its work on EPCs. Following the publication of the Which? report on EPCs earlier in the year, PEPA criticised Which? for not engaging with the association in the research process. PEPA members are responsible for lodging all EPCs on the Government register (of which there are over 21 million to date) and for exercising governance over the quality of EPCs and auditing the work of assessors.

Mike Ockenden Head of Secretariat for PEPA said ‘It appears yet again, Which? has issued a press release about EPCs and at no stage engaged with us for input. We do not know the selection process for how they commissioned the 12s EPC, but to use the findings to impugn the quality of over 20 million EPCs is frankly irresponsible. The irony is that PEPA actually agrees with the call for EPC reform and could have provided input to Which? on the extensive reform programme that is already underway, both by way of the EPC Action Plan and an upcoming consultation on EPC Reform itself.

Information about the EPC Action Plan is publicly available on the Government website, and PEPA has been closely involved in its creation and in its delivery.

Ockenden added ‘PEPA has long campaigned to demystify EPCs for the industry and consumers and we again extend our hand out to Which? to engage with us.’

While trade body agrees with much of findings, it bemoans lack of engagement and inaccuracies.

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) has read with interest the recommendations that Which? has recently published in respect of EPCs. PEPA, which represents the Government appointed accreditation schemes for energy assessors, agrees with many of the findings, in particular in respect of EPCs having more than one headline metric and more helping to provide more information and advice relevant to individual properties. However, the Association takes issue with some of the assertions in respect of the accuracy of EPCs and auditing of assessors contained in their release.

Andrew Parkin, Chair of PEPA said : ‘We were not invited by Which? to input into this work, which we would happily have done, and indeed would have been able to provide valuable information to assist them with their research. PEPA has been pushing hard for many of the reforms that Which? advocates for several years, and is pleased that a number of initiatives are now underway, including the new Home Energy Model software development. But, we are disappointed to read that a well-worn and outdated phrase has been repeated in their release that states ‘There is now considerable evidence that EPCs do not provide an accurate assessment of the energy efficiency of a home’. We would like to see this evidence, and indeed that it doesn’t come from a lack of understanding of what an EPC does and does not do. Further, schemes have now been engaged in smart auditing of assessors for a number of years, and we would happily have shared how this works with Which? had they given us the opportunity to do so.’

PEPA is clear that the outcome Which? seeks in respect of EPCs fulfilling a vital role in underpinning specific advice to help homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their carbon footprint is totally in alignment with PEPA’s manifesto. Working together may have provided a more accurate report and a better overall result.

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) has announced that Proficiency, a body representing energy assessors and associated professionals, has joined the Association as its first Associate Member. The new Associate Membership category was introduced by PEPA on 27^th September for organisations that are engaged in whatever way in the provision of energy efficiency information and advice for building owners and tenants, both domestic and non-domestic.

Andy Parkin, PEPA Chair said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Proficiency into Associate Membership of PEPA. As a representative body for energy assessors and advisors, Proficiency brings a closer connection with the energy assessor community allowing for a stronger dialogue which PEPA warmly welcomes. From a practical perspective, I am particularly pleased that Ian Sturt, the Chairman of Proficiency, will join us for a Panel Session at the PEPA Conference on 31^st October in Derby.’

Ian Sturt commented: ‘For quite some time Proficiency has advocated a formal relationship with PEPA. We therefore welcomed the creation of a new Associate Membership category and are delighted to be the first PEPA Associate Member. This will enable us to achieve the objective of enhancing our engagement with the Government appointed scheme members of PEPA and to help shape the future agenda for energy information and advice in buildings.’

Through the new Associate Member category, PEPA seeks to engage more closely with all organisations that share the same passion for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, addressing fuel poverty, reducing carbon emissions and helping the UK to achieve its net Zero target.

Window into the future of EPCs against the political backdrop of an election next year.

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) has opened up its Annual Conference in Derby to estate agents and conveyancers for the first time, to join energy assessors and advisors as the political backdrop to energy efficiency in residential buildings takes centre stage for this year’s event.

Andy Parkin, PEPA Chair said: ‘following the apparent rowing back on the importance of improving energy efficiency in homes in recent speeches by Rishi Sunak, there has been ever greater uncertainty for landlords, tenants and homeowners, as well as the estate agents, letting agents, and conveyancers that serve them, as to the future minimum EPC rating requirements they will have to meet. Of course, this uncertainty extends to the energy assessment and advice industry as well.

Our Conference this year, ‘Politics, Policies and the Pursuit of Net Zero’, will analyse the possible outcome of the next election and the policies and manifesto commitments of the major political parties. There will also be presentations by Government officials as well a Panel session that will include the issues of compliance and the role of NTSELAT.’

The Conference will be held on Tuesday 31st October in Derby. More information and details of how to book can be found on the PEPA website www.pepassociation.org

Andy added: ‘we will warmly welcome estate and letting agents, and property lawyers,

Industry body says rowing back on MEES in the private rented sector will hurt the poorest in society most.

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA), having taken time to reflect on Rishi Sunak’s rushed announcement, has strongly criticised the Prime Minister’s abandonment of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in homes as condemning the poorest in society into fuel poverty for years to come.

Mike Ockenden, Head of Secretariat for PEPA said ‘it is well known that landlords were improving the energy efficiency of their properties in anticipation of the minimum EPC C rating under MEES being introduced by 2028 at the latest.  Currently set at an E rating as a minimum, MEES has progressively been delivering warmer homes and lower costs for those in the poorest performing rental properties and taking tenants out of fuel poverty. The Prime Ministers actions will halt this in its tracks.’

PEPA is concerned by the misleading statements by the Prime Minister about the cost of achieving improved energy efficiency.  In many cases the cost may be relatively low, have short payback periods of a few years and will really benefit tenants.  It is not all about replacing boilers with heat pumps; in many cases it is about improving insulation, reducing drafts and installing LED lighting and better heating controls.  The lack of clarity on this matter over the last 3 years (since a consultation on increasing minimum standards) has already led to understandable confusion and inaction from landlords, plunging hundreds of thousands more tenants into fuel poverty.

Ockenden further commented ‘those of a cynical nature might suggest that Sunak’s announcement panders to the landlord contingent in the Tory party, and such a view might be compounded by the delay in implementation of the Renters Reform Bill which appears to be entering long grass territory.’

MEES should not stall because of dithering, and other Government policies.

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) has expressed disappointment in Michael Gove’s comments at the weekend that the Government ‘is asking too much too quickly’ with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the private rented sector. With no announcement from the Government on the implementation date of a minimum EPC rating of ‘C’ for over two years following their consultation in 2021, what the Government ‘is asking’ is not yet clear, which makes it difficult to understand on what grounds acting ‘too quickly’ is based. The apparent dithering on this issue is not helping any party involved in improving the energy efficiency of the private rented sector to help address the issue of fuel poverty, and exorbitant energy prices.

Andrew Parkin, PEPA Chair commented: ‘Aside from the imperative of improving the energy performance of all properties in the UK to achieve Government Net Zero targets, the hiatus caused by the lack of clarity on the implementation date of a minimum EPC rating of ‘C’ has left landlords up in the air in terms of when, and to what extent, to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Similarly, Energy Assessors, Retrofit Advisors, Energy Efficiency measure Installers and Manufacturers are unable to plan for the future, which is adversely affecting their businesses. If, as Michael Gove suggests, further implementation of MEES is held up, this will impede current improvement work, reduce business confidence to invest in products and skills necessary for the green economy, and undermine the credibility of future Government announcements about MEES.’

PEPA notes that Michael Gove acknowledges that ‘landlords face so much’ at the present, but much of what they face is as a result of other Government policies, many of which emanate from DLUHC, Michael Gove’s own department. It can be strongly argued that priorities are wrong when the climate change agenda should be made subservient to other issues. Arguably, as suggested by NRLA, it is up to Government to provide a fair financial package for landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. This would detach this issue from the other issues that landlords face.