Challenges and feasibility of achieving energy efficiency standards in Scotland's private rental dwellings: private landlords’ perspectives and predictive building measures
Creators: name: Ibrahim, Azlizawati
Publisher: name: The University of Edinburgh
Year: 2024
Subjects: Scotland’s private rental dwellings sector
minimum energy efficiency standards
private landlords
energy calculations and compliance

description: Retrofitting Scotland’s private dwelling sector poses many challenges due to the high proportion of flats (67%) and older properties (42%). Despite high demand, living in energy-inefficient homes poses risks to tenants' health and well-being, compounded by rising energy costs. The Scottish government is regulating standards to improve this sector, but landlords face significant compliance challenges amidst changing regulations. Therefore, this research seeks to understand the challenges and investigate the feasibility of achieving energy efficiency standards from two areas: exploring the potential retrofitting measures and understanding landlords’ perspectives. This research addresses the issue of improving energy efficiency in the private dwelling sector, which is less understood at present. It employs an exploratory approach, beginning with a review of public responses to a draft regulation, followed by mixed methods involving energy calculations and compliance of retrofit measures and engagements with landlords through online surveys and interviews. The findings offer insights into the feasibility of the sector meeting volatile energy efficiency standards and net-zero carbon targets. Investigating private landlords' perspectives reveals macro and micro-level issues, deepening our understanding of their attitudes and approaches to retrofitting. Connections between barriers and emerging issues are demonstrated, aiding in targeting effective solutions. The assessment of technical measures includes predicted energy efficiency ratings, thermal efficiency, carbon emissions reduction, and costs, informing retrofitting planning and addressing current information gaps. The research suggests a few feasible scenarios for the sector to achieve standards in the changing regulatory landscape. Assessed based on an EPC C as a minimum standard outlined in the Heat in Building Strategy (Oct 2021), many private rental properties are expected to remain non-compliant to a minimum EPC band C standard, due to various factors: 1) cost-effectiveness is unattainable as the cost for compliance can be up to eight times that of private landlords' capacity to spend and their multifaceted views of cost-effectiveness, 2) private landlords face complex challenges in three main areas: regulations and assessment tools, facilitation, support and resources, and buildings and technical measures; (3) private landlords exhibit hesitation and lack of confidence in achieving standards; and 4) private landlords show low preference for significant measures to decarbonise heating systems and improve energy efficiency. The feasibility of achieving minimum energy efficiency standards varies amid evolving compliance focus. The proposed Heat in Building Bill (Nov 2023) introduces straightforward measures which can motivate landlords to retrofit, albeit achieving a lower standard. It is estimated to reduce fabric efficiency by 30% and carbon emissions from fabric intervention by 20%, compared to the EPC C standards. While these measures ease retrofitting difficulties, notable disparities in energy performance across the housing sectors are expected. This research, offering valuable insights, serves as essential guidance for policymakers, landlords, and stakeholders involved in promoting energy efficiency in Scotland's private rental sector.