A council is telling private tenants to inform on their landlords if the properties they are renting having an unacceptable EPC.
Hastings council claims it has been worked with local landlords to raise awareness of the current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, which of course says privately rented homes must now have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of E or above.
Those letting properties with a rating below E must make improvements unless an exemption has been registered on the government's exemptions register. Financial penalties of up to £5,000 per property can be issued if landlords do not meet their obligations.
Since the changes to regulations, Hastings council says it has been contacting landlords, letting agents, and managing agents to inform them of MEES and the legal obligation to comply with the regulations.
The council has also held online information workshops, sent out guidance in newsletters and leaflets, and created an online MEES video to raise awareness of the requirements.
Now in a statement it says: “Residents who are concerned they are renting a property that does not have a valid EPC or has an EPC rating of an F or G can let the council know by completing a form on the Hastings Borough Council website.”
And councillor Andy Batsford, in charge of housing at the council, says: "Through external funding we have supported 242 landlords with properties that have an F or G rating and have signposted them to partner organisations that can provide advice on energy efficiency improvements and the available sources of funding where applicable.
“As a result, 94 properties have been improved in the town so far.
"This project runs in line with the council's Climate Change Strategy by helping to reduce carbon emissions in the borough.
“Households where energy improvements are made should also see the immediate benefits that warmer and more efficient homes offer, this includes possible reductions in energy usage which is essential at a time when energy prices are continuing to rise."
Want to comment on this story? Our focus is on providing a platform for you to share your insights and views and we welcome contributions.
If any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.
Please help us by reporting comments you consider to be unduly offensive so we can review and take action if necessary. Thank you.
.jpg)
.png)
Join the conversation
Jump to latest comment and add your reply
I wonder how Hasting council’s own tenants feel when they are not allowed to report the local authority themselves for having inefficient homes ! Talk about a two tier system.
Sounds a bit like shooting yourself in the foot to me.
Dear Council my rental home is only a D.
Dear landlord we’ve been informed your house is only a D please upgrade it.
OPTION 1
Dear tenant I’ve been informed I must upgrade the house you rent to a C unfortunately I haven’t got the money or resources to do this so here’s your section 21.
Option 2
Dear tenant I’ve been informed I must upgrade the house you rent to a C this will involve replacing all the UPVC windows and doors and also digging up all the solid floors so they can be insulated. The work will take three months and the house will not be fit for occupation during this time. Here’s your section 21
Stephen
Thanks for the draft. I'll keep it handy but hope not to need it!
Hastings obviously dislikes the fact PRS tenants and landlords get on better than social tenants and Councils and wants to redress the imbalance by stirring up naive private tenants. Perhaps it wants them for its own substandard properties?
Or if the landlord does do the work the tenant is still evicted to allow the works to be carried out, turkeys don't vote for Christmas
Ok can some please tell me why the social tenants and Councils houses are governed by the same rules that private tenants' homes are, surly a council house must be safe secure and warm also?
Or maybe post through letterbox one afternoon to all the council owned properties on an estate local to you stating that they haven't even got an EPC and to demand one from them. Probably incur a cost of hundreds of thousands on that action alone. Costs us £15k to do EPC upgrades cost the Council more like £70k for each house
Nah thinking about it forget that. Its hard working taxpayers that would be incurring the final bill via Council Tax.
It never costs the Council’s it’s passed on. Just like new licensing Schemes it used to be £1100. + £30 per room, now new licensing Schemes starting fee £1300. + £50 per room but if you Apply early you’ll get a Discount.
Hello excuse me, so no Discounts the fee has been inflated to take care of that, so no savings just increased costs, they know we are a right bunch of Charlies and don’t know the difference.
Why are they asking tenants to let them know the EPC rating? Can't they look online?
John Young- They will not have a definitive list of all the BTL’s, if there is no “ money making scam “ in place, sorry a licensing scheme ! Then this could be a way to route out any LL’s whom are not on any scheme ??
But there are ways to find out if its a rental - look at the Council Tax history & LR history for one. But that would take time & money, resources only those Councils with SL in place have!
Huge numbers of Rental Properties are not licensed because Family lets are exempt.
Please login to comment