What is an EPC?
EPC ratings indicate how energy efficient a property is, giving it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). They also demonstrate the environmental impact of a property in terms of carbon emissions and how costly it will be to heat and light, both in monetary and CO terms.
It’s been the law that property let out after 1st October 2008 needed to have an EPC, so if you let your property should have one.
What is Changing?
From April 2018, it will be unlawful under the Energy Act 2011, to let a residential property on a New Tenancy Agreement with an EPC rating of F or G – the lowest two categories. You can let an existing tenancy carry on but set up a new agreement with the tenant and that counts as a New Tenancy.
This will not apply to any existing lettings until 2023 if there is no change of tenancy.
What is happening in 2016?
From April 2016, tenants living in F and G rated homes will be able to request that their landlord takes measures to improve the energy efficiency, with the landlord duty bound to respond within a month with a view to bringing the property up to the minimum E rating.
If Landlords wish to upgrade their properties, the first step is to instruct an approved EPC assessor to survey the property and establish the current rating. If the rating is less than an E, the assessor will be able to give advice on how to improve it. This could be as simple as installing energy saving light bulbs and draught proofing or making more comprehensive improvements, such as replacing an ageing boiler, putting in secondary glazing or upgrading heating controls, and installing systems which are likely to have an impact on improving overall energy efficiency.
The advice from Belvoir is that if the Landlords take action now it will mean they have time on their side to schedule the works and budget costs accordingly, with the ability to spread the outlay over the forthcoming years.
