Council fines landlords £5,000 over poor EPC ratings

A council has targeted more than 550 private rented properties rated EPC F or G and issued £5,000 fines.

Wandsworth council says it has contacted more than 150 private landlords whose properties fail to meet energy-efficiency standards.

Under government rules, it is currently illegal to rent out properties rated EPC F or G without a valid exemption.

Improve living conditions for tenants

The council claim they have issued five financial penalties of £5,000 to landlords who failed to comply with EPC standards.

In one case, a landlord in Balham was fined £5,000 after ignoring a compliance notice and failing to register a valid exemption.

In another case, a property in Battersea was initially let with an EPC G rating. Following council intervention, managing agents installed roof insulation. Although the agents argued that certain improvements, such as a new boiler, were the tenant’s responsibility under the regulated tenancy, the council issued a £4,000 penalty for non-compliance, which has since been paid.

A follow-up visit confirmed that insulation had been installed above the main living areas.

Aydin Dikerdem, Wandsworth council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Our enforcement work is already making a real difference for residents who have been living in cold, inefficient homes for far too long. No one should be renting a property that fails to meet even the basic legal standards for energy efficiency.

“By taking firm action against non‑compliant landlords, we’re not only improving living conditions for tenants but also helping to cut carbon emissions across the borough. This project shows what can be achieved when councils take a proactive, evidence‑led approach, and we will continue to hold landlords to account wherever standards fall short.”

The news comes as the government announced all private rented properties will need to meet EPC C targets by 2030. A government consultation on meeting EPC C targets admits landlords may sell up or increase rents due to EPC rules.