Council offers grants to bring rental properties up to EPC C

A council is urging landlords to sign up to a new scheme to improve the EPC ratings of their properties while helping to provide temporary accommodation in the area.

Brighton & Hove City Council has launched the Energy Performance Grant Scheme, offering eligible landlords grants of up to £7,500 to carry out energy efficiency improvements and bring their properties up to a minimum EPC C rating.

In return, landlords must commit to completing the improvement works and entering into a three-year lease with the council, allowing the properties to be used as temporary accommodation.

Improve the quality of PRS homes

The pilot scheme is open to landlords with properties in Brighton & Hove with EPC ratings of D and below and up to three properties.

Under the scheme, grant funding will be released as soon as the three-year lease is signed. If the lease is ended before the end of the three-year term, the grant money will be repayable to the council.

Councillor Gill Williams, cabinet member for housing, said: “Brighton & Hove is experiencing an acute housing crisis, with rising levels of homelessness leading to increased demand for temporary and emergency accommodation.

“The Energy Performance Grant Scheme for Landlords will enable us to increase our supply of temporary accommodation, while also improving the quality of private rented sector homes in the city.

“This an exciting opportunity for landlords in Brighton & Hove and a win-win for our local housing market as these grants will make tangible improvements to privately rented homes by making them more energy efficient”.

The news comes as the government has proposed all private rented properties must meet EPC C targets by 2030.

Landlords can find out more about the energy performance grant scheme in Brighton by clicking here.