Groundbreaking analysis by a University of Brighton student has revealed that almost half of the city’s rental homes may never meet upcoming government energy efficiency rules — leaving tenants facing millions in extra heating costs each year.
As the UK prepares for stricter energy standards in the private rental sector, the study by final-year Marketing Management student Leon Fisher has found that many older properties may be structurally unsuited to the retrofit measures currently available. Leon analysed 163,289 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) records and 1,934 licensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) records to produce a first-of-its-kind database linking landlord ownership, energy efficiency ratings, construction type and compliance risk across Brighton’s rental ecosystem.
Beginning 1 October 2030, all privately rented homes in England and Wales will be expected to meet a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C under proposed changes to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). The policy forms a key part of the UK’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions, improve the quality of rented housing and lower energy bills for tenants. But this may not be possible according to what Leon found.
The Compliance Problem
Leon’s research estimates that nearly half (47.4 per cent) of Brighton’s rental properties currently failing energy efficiency standards would be unable to achieve the national standard rating through retrofit measures alone.
The research was conducted alongside Leon’s final year studies and stems from his interest in how data can be used to address complex local challenges.
Leon said: “Brighton has one of the most active rental markets in the country, the council operates a citywide licensing scheme, and the EPC data is publicly available, but nobody had put the two together. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards deadline is coming, and landlords are largely unaware of how exposed they are. That felt like exactly the kind of problem worth investigating.
“The 47.4 per cent figure completely reframes the conversation. This isn’t a story about landlords who simply haven’t upgraded their boilers. It’s about a structural incompatibility between the age of Brighton’s housing stock and the retrofit measures currently available. Many Victorian and Edwardian terraced properties simply cannot achieve compliance through standard insulation and funding programmes. That has significant implications for landlords, policymakers and tenants alike.”
Cost to Renters
According to Leon’s report, the challenge extends beyond regulatory compliance and has direct consequences for renters. It estimates that poorly performing rental properties contribute to an annual heating cost burden of approximately £8.55 million for Brighton renters.
Leon explained: “The £8.55 million figure puts a concrete number on what inefficient housing costs renters every year. These aren’t abstract statistics. They affect whether people can afford to heat their homes. Brighton already faces significant affordability pressures, and excessive heating costs only add to the challenges faced by many tenants.”
The findings suggest that landlords, local authorities and policymakers may need to consider alternative approaches if future energy efficiency targets are to be achieved across large parts of Brighton’s rental sector.
Leon hopes the report will encourage conversations about how best to support landlords and tenants ahead of future regulatory changes.
“I’d like to see greater recognition that standard retrofit measures don’t work for every type of property. There needs to be a more serious conversation about specialist pathways for older housing stock and how we prepare for what’s coming next.”
Impact of Brighton Programme
Leon believes his studies at Brighton played a key role in producing the report. He completed the research while finishing his degree, demonstrating a clear application of his academic skills in addressing real-world challenges affecting their local communities.
“The Marketing Management programme gave me a framework for translating data into decisions and communicating complex findings to different audiences. But I also think Brighton itself shaped the research. You can’t study here without becoming aware of the housing pressures facing students and young renters. The project came out of being here and studying here.”
Liz Hawkins, Course Leader for Marketing Management at the University of Brighton, said: “Leon’s research demonstrates the power of applying academic learning to real-world challenges. What is particularly impressive is not only the scale of the analysis he undertook, but the way he has used data and critical thinking to explore an issue with clear relevance for renters, landlords and policymakers. This is exactly the kind of curiosity, initiative and problem-solving mindset we encourage on the Marketing Management course, and we are incredibly proud of what he has achieved.”
While many students are preparing for graduation, 20-year-old Leon is already building a career as an entrepreneur. He has turned the learnings from identifying this problem in the housing market into a full-blown consultancy, Crestwell Advisory, helping landlords understand and respond to changing energy efficiency regulations.
His research reflects both a passion for data-driven problem-solving and a desire to contribute to conversations that matter to Brighton's residents and renters, while contributing to ongoing discussions around housing affordability, energy efficiency and the future of private rented accommodation across the UK. The study is available to be downloaded by the public.
