Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in the private rented sector on private rent inflation.

The Government published a response to the consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes on 21 January 2026. The government response is accompanied by the Department’s Impact Assessment which provides an estimated impact of the final policy and can be found on GOV.UK.

Rental prices are not determined by a single factor, and as outlined in the final impact assessment, wider market factors alongside this regulation may affect the rental prices of properties whether or not they are required to make upgrades under the MEES regulations. The government’s priority is to give landlords the regulatory certainty and advice they need to plan efficiency upgrades over the coming years, in consultation with tenants. More broadly, we are committed to protecting tenants’ rights by giving them the right to challenge unreasonable rent increases under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025