New Energy Efficiency Laws For Rental Properties

The clock is now well and truly ticking before the new minimum energy efficiency standards come in to effect in April 2018.

This means that all rental properties that require an EPC and are to be let under and Assured Shorthold Agreement must have been awarded a minimum rating of E or above. So those that are currently of a rating of F or G will need to have improvements made in order to comply. If not then, a Landlord runs the risk of a civic penalty running into the thousands of pounds.

There are going to be exemptions to this and this includes:

-Listed buildings which don’t current require an EPC anyway.

-Properties let under agreements less than 6 month or holiday lets.

-If a Landlord is unable to carry out the work due to failure to obtain third party consent.

Clearly landlords in this position shouldn’t be leaving this to the last minute and we would suggest that this initial minimum level will likely be increased in the near future.

Here at Oliver James we can arrange for an energy assessment to be carried out on your property and if improvements are required then we have a long list of reliable and local tradesman ready to help.