Councils using ‘Intelligence’ to track down low EPC properties and fine £5,000

Councils using ‘Intelligence’ to track down low EPC properties and fine £5,000

15:08 PM, 29th March 2021, About 3 years ago 40

Text Size

And so the EPC witch-hunt begins: Threatening fines of up to £5,000 for any rental property with an EPC lower than Band E, councils are now using artificial intelligence to pull together all manner of records and information to cross-correlate properties on the EPC register with ratings F or G so that they can issue fines in the name of improving housing conditions for tenants.

Of course, this is just another tactic in councils’ strategy to find properties that should have HMO, additional or selective licences and then to be able to issue massive fines for licence (tax) avoidance and then further fines under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System or the HMO Management Regulations in councils’ relentless drive for revenue from Landlords’ assess bases.

Most Landlords have only between 1 and 4 properties, they have no comprehension of the technology and staffing that councils are employing to find them guilty of crimes under the Housing Acts and other legislation, since the government gave Councils the powers to set most of the rules, be police, judge and jury and then keep all the money they can raise in fines.

It is difficult to understand how anyone could still want to be a landlord in the housing market which has become a police-state in which most council enforcement officers consider ALL landlords to be Rogue Landlords and Criminals.

In today’s example: Labour-controlled Exeter council, working with Exeter Community Energy, says it’s currently identifying properties being let with an EPC rating below E and it wants to ensure homes across the city stay warm and energy bills kept to a minimum.

Of course, since April 2020, under MEES (the Minimum Level of Energy Efficiency Standards), landlords can no longer let a property with an EPC rating of F or G unless they have a valid exemption.

Shop a landlord

The council is also making a public appeal to anyone renting or aware of properties with F or G ratings to contact the council.

Although the authority insists it is “keen to engage with landlords in the first instance to offer information and support,” its statement goes on to threaten: “If landlords fail to engage within a reasonable time period and make necessary improvements, the council may take action, including the issuing of fines up to £5,000 per breach, per household and a notice requiring works to be carried out.”

The attack on landlords by councils never ends.

If you are facing a Rent Repayment order from your tenants or the council contact Landlord Licensing & Defence urgently for professional representation 


Share This Article


Comments

Mick Roberts

9:23 AM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ray Lancaster at 30/03/2021 - 18:30
U say it exactly Ray.

There is many of us that don't want our houses any more, we only keeping them for the tenants. What do we do if we want to sell in 2025 & the tenant can't get anywhere?
And we know most tenants don't understand this EPC new C rule & they just want somewhere to live & are gonna' be asking Why have I got to leave?
I ain't gonna' ask to leave, but nor do I want to spend £10,000 on a house I no longer want. Govt should be being told, some Landlords are only keeping for current tenant.

Peter

10:25 AM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

To add something to the answer of the original question, I know that you can simply apply online to find out what the EPC rating is for in a property. If the council were to decide to get aggressive, they could easily do that with all the let or suspected let property in their area.

Jireh Homes

11:55 AM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by linda green at 02/04/2021 - 18:20
Hi Linda - in response to your question on Victorian conversion leasehold flat (presently a D rating) and any upgrade possible to bring up to a C would need intrusive work which freeholder refuses to give permission, the solution is to apply for an exemption (which will last five years, and then apply again).

Martin

11:55 AM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

In my experience Local Authority and Housing Association etc houses have the lowest ratings. I know of 2 such tenants who live in a G rated premises. Councils should be looking at keeping their house "clean" first, oh they are exempt from being a minimum E rating!!!!

Chris Byways

12:16 PM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

My last EPC says I can increase my D to a C by three recommendations. They will take from 40 to about 150 years to justify the costs from the savings.

So where will the money come from? Magic money tree or rents? Go figure.

Recommendation 1: Internal or external wall insulation
Internal or external wall insulation
Typical installation cost
Potential energy rating
C
£4,000 - £14,000
Typical yearly saving
£116
Potential rating after carrying out recommendation 1

70 | C
Recommendation 2: Floor insulation (solid floor)
Floor insulation (solid floor)
Typical installation cost
£4,000 - £6,000
Typical yearly saving
£42
Potential rating after carrying out recommendations 1 and 2

Recommendation 3: Double glazed windows
Replace single glazed windows with low-E double glazed windows
Typical installation cost
£3,300 - £6,500

Typical yearly saving
£39

Seething Landlord

12:16 PM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

My recollection is that, whilst the the regulations have yet to be published following the consultation, the proposal was to introduce the enhanced rating requirement for new tenancies from 2025 and for existing tenancies from 2028.

The existing rating system has come in for so much criticism that it would not surprise me if it is completely overhauled before the changes come into effect, particularly in view of the drive to switch away from gas to other forms of heating, which has a broadly similar timescale.

Charles Pilton

13:00 PM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

A question: if I have a long term tenant in situ and their EPC expires, do I need a new one?

Or do I only need a new one when the property is eventually relet (which might not be for years)?

Badger

13:22 PM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by terry sullivan at 02/04/2021 - 19:36
I'm sure you are correct but could you elaborate a little on the types of problems experienced please?

I have an 'E' and three with a 'D' rating amongst the portfolio and am contemplating what I can realistically do to achieve a better rating but want to avoid inadvertently introducing any problems as a result.

One of the 'D' ratings is only a few years old and I'm sure has been misallocated.

I once rejected an EPC report on another property on the grounds that it was so far out compared to the recently expired rating that it was a replacement for I seriously wondered whether we were talking about the same property. Even the quoted floor area was massively adrift. Inspector got quite shirty when we refused to pay his bill.

Peter Lassman

15:53 PM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

I totally understand the need for Legislation to keep houses in a good and fair condition so action against Bad landlords is good news and properties should be up to date with all the required certificates, but does anyone else wish the council were as efficient in other areas like Refuse collected on time, the streets being kept clean, pot holes filled in etc and stop harassing Private Landlords who they know they can track down easily as a way of making a Quick Buck to pay for other services and maybe if they Fined there own Tenants for smashing up council properties, for leaving rubbish dumped everywhere or collected all the rents owed to them by there own Tenants they might leave Private Landlords alone for once!! Also can anyone tell me who sets the £5000 fine level is it the council or central Government? Peter

Peter Lassman

16:00 PM, 3rd April 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Peter Lassman at 03/04/2021 - 15:53
I wonder who regulates Council Properties ??

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now