British Gas has struck a partnership with Broadford, a specialist in property energy data and retrofit finance, aimed squarely at the estimated 2.5 million privately rented homes in England and Wales that currently fail to meet an EPC rating of C or above. The deal will see the energy giant's retail arm work alongside Broadford's assessment and financing tools to help landlords identify, fund and deliver efficiency upgrades — from loft and cavity wall insulation to heat pump installations and smart heating controls. On the surface this looks like a routine corporate tie-up. In practice, it is a strong signal that mainstream energy suppliers now see the private rented sector's looming retrofit bill as a serious commercial opportunity rather than a regulatory headache to be endured.