A council is warning landlords they face penalty notices if their properties fail to comply with recent legislation that seeks to address rental properties that have a poor energy rating.
From April 2018, landlords of domestic properties have not been legally able to grant a new tenancy or renew an existing tenancy for a property with an EPC rating of F or G and this was extended to all tenancies from April 2020.
Since the regulations came into force, Stratford-upon-Avon council has investigated over 1,300 properties that were perceived to be in breach of these regulations and have worked with landlords to bring properties in line with legislation.
Penalties can be issued up to £5,000 and can be applied per tenancy where the property falls short of the regulations. However, the council admits that to date only 12 penalties have been issued for non-compliance.
Councillor Liz Coles, Housing and Customer Services Portfolio, says: "The latest Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards have been in play since April 2020, and they apply to all existing tenancies, not just new ones or renewals. The changes are intended to make homes much more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions.
"An EPC is not just about meeting guidelines - it's fundamentally about quality of life and sustainability and the District Council will continue to ensure that rented accommodation meets legal requirements to ensure tenants have suitable accommodation and where they don't meet standards or aren't maintained, penalties will be issued.”
Coles continues: “Increasing the energy efficiency of a rental property will reduce energy bills for tenants, making rent more affordable and can increase the value of properties.
"Legislation exists and as a District Council the Private Sector Housing team is enforcing this, but I would encourage landlords to work with us and find out what help, and support is available."
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If you were to replace every jobsworth at every council with a tailor's dummy I doubt anyone would notice the difference
In fact efficiency would probably increase by 1000%
EPC F is a pretty dire rating, even with the useless algorithm we currently use. That 1300 houses were at this level, 3 years after it became illegal is astounding. Any LL renting a house like this probably needs to leave the PRS!
Well I'm renting one with an F rating with an exemption, no damp and no mould, tenants open their bedroom windows every day, summer and winter, the tenants are very happy there on their low rent
Andrew - I assume it is a stone solid- walled cottage or something similar. Not your typical rental perhaps?
The problem will come if Labour bring back the big C 😨😨
I'm sure they will
I think far too much is being made of EPC’s and Tenants could do far more to help themselves regarding mould that they probably created instead of running to Council’s.
Like the one other night on ITV with a group of Anti landlord protesters outside a letting Agents premises with a loud speaker, they didn’t need it they mouths were big enough. They had lost their Accommodation after complaining about mould. The TV showed the photo of the low level mould which was minimal and a bit of fluff, they could have washed it off in minutes it was only surface and not bedded in, instead of loosing their rental.
Anyway the landlord was able to re let it for a Market Rent of £700.00 pm more, serves them right complaining unnecessarily they didn’t appreciate what they had.
A lot more clothes could be dried outside for 7 / 8 months of the year, a Lennon open air Drier is perfect for this purpose well vented and a roof so if you get Rain they don’t get wet.
Also cooking with Air Friers could be far more widely used no steam or smoke coming out
of them, not expensive but let the Tenants buy Their own if you supply it will be abused and ringing up for another.
Tenants should know to keep an air between furniture and bedding off the Wall did how to Rent tell them any of this ?.
Missed that, likely just as well because I'd have been shouting at the tv which really winds my wife up
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