New energy efficiency guidance from the Government set a minimum level of energy efficiency for privately rented property in England and Wales. This means that, from April 2018, landlords of privately rented domestic and non-domestic property in England or Wales must make sure that their properties reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E before granting a new tenancy to new or existing tenants. 

These requirements will then apply to all private rented properties in England and Wales – even where there has been no change in tenancy arrangements – from 1 April 2020 for domestic properties, and from 1 April 2023 for non-domestic properties.

There are currently around 4.6 million homes in the private rented sector in the UK, with one in ten of these with a low EPC rating of F or G. The good news is that the guidance states a ‘Golden Rule’ that there should be no cost to the landlord and there are a variety of ways to fund improvements that we can talk you through.

We know that not all properties will be able to be brought up to the Minimum Energy Efficient Standards (MEES). There are also ways that a property could be exempt from the guidelines. This could be for several reasons including that new installations could damage the fabric of a historic building.

We don’t want our private landlords to have to wade through the 99 pages of Government guidance to see where they stand. That’s why we are happy to talk to the landlords of the properties we manage to help them through the detail. The new rules do introduce more red tape for private landlords but ultimately will lead to warmer, more efficient homes – which should also mean happier, long-term tenants!

To get some advice please contact our Lettings Director, Pauline Carrera-Silva.