Commercial Landlords Ignore Looming Energy Rules, Risking Rents

The first stage of the UK government’s tough new rules designed to prompt landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties come into effect in April. So far, they’ve had little effect.

More than 5% of all commercial property in the UK totaling 4.75 billion square feet — about the size of Barbados —- will become illegal to rent from April 1, according to government data. That’s down from 7% in 2021, suggesting most landlords with poorly performing buildings have yet to act, an analysis of the data by Coyote Software shows.

“There’s already so much pressure on ...