Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards – EPC rating E by April 2018

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards – EPC rating E by April 2018

10:32 AM, 18th October 2017, About 7 years ago 21

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From April 2018 under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) it will be unlawful in England and Wales to grant a new tennacy on a property with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of less than E.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have issued guidance for landlords and local authorities, because it is believed up to 1 in 20 properties would not achieve and EPC rating of E.

Click Here to see the full guidance.

The Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015 are designed to tackle the least energy efficient properties in
England and Wales – those rated F or G on their EPC. The Regulations establish a minimum standard for both domestic and non-domestic privately rented property, effecting new tenancies from 1 April 2018.

  • From the 1st April 2018, landlords of relevant domestic private rented properties may not grant a tenancy to new or existing tenants if their property has an EPC rating of band F or G.
  • From the 1st April 2020, landlords must not continue letting a relevant domestic property which is already let if that property has an EPC rating of band F or G

It will be local authorities that are tasked with enforcing the new minimum energy efficiency ratings.

An EPC lodged with the EPC register will be valid for 10 years so there will be no need for a new EPC for each new tenancy.

The current domestic regulations are based on a principle of ‘no cost to the landlord’, this means that landlords of F or G rated homes will only be required to make improvements to these properties where they can do so entirely using third party finance from one or more sources.

The Green Deal, is one of the ‘financial arrangements’ that landlords of domestic properties can use to fund improvements under the Regulations. Where available, Green Deal finance will enable landlords to cover some or all of the costs of compliance through the Pay As You Save mechanism.

Where funding is not available to fully cover the cost of making a recommended improvement then the landlord will not be required to make that improvement to the property. However, where a property cannot be improved to EPC E because recommended measures cannot be installed without cost, the landlord will still need to take steps to register an exemption on the national PRS Exemptions Register.


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Comments

terry sullivan

11:07 AM, 18th October 2017, About 7 years ago

excludes social housing? why?

TheMaluka

12:33 PM, 18th October 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by terry sullivan at 18/10/2017 - 11:07
'Social Housing good', 'private housing bad' with apologies to H G Wells (The Island of Dr. Moreau).

Darlington Landlord

18:56 PM, 19th October 2017, About 7 years ago

Or Animal Farm!

TheMaluka

19:19 PM, 19th October 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Darlington Landlord at 19/10/2017 - 18:56
Yes of course, mixed up my Wells (novels)!

Old Mrs Landlord

22:35 PM, 19th October 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David Price at 19/10/2017 - 19:19
Animal Farm is the correct source but the author is Orwell.

Jireh Homes

18:45 PM, 21st October 2017, About 7 years ago

Landlords with properties bordering on SAP Band E should be very cautious in having a new assessment carried out as typically newer assessments produce a lower SAP rating as the current energy costs within the RdSAP software used to produce the Certificate adversely affect the rating compared with those in the past. Should a new EPC be required, suggest work with your Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) to maximise the score before the SAP rating calculation is submitted.

TheMaluka

19:18 PM, 21st October 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Old Mrs Landlord at 19/10/2017 - 22:35
Think I'll stick to rocket science in future, it's easier than literature.

11:01 AM, 23rd October 2017, About 7 years ago

I rent out 17 properties and I've never actually ever got an EPC. I know it's wrong but no-one has ever asked for one and I've just thought what's the point. Ironically I think it's just a waste of energy, mine in arranging it, the assessor in assessing it, the tenant in reading it, and the paper its printed on just to be discarded without reading.

TheMaluka

11:38 AM, 23rd October 2017, About 7 years ago

Are huge fines for non compliance and inability to use S21 not sufficient reasons?

Old Mrs Landlord

12:06 PM, 23rd October 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Roanch 21 at 23/10/2017 - 11:01The law is not concerned with what you think. You are breaking the law even by advertising your properties for rent without displaying the EPC rating or showing them to prospective tenants, never mind actually renting them. You are giving compliant landlords a bad name as well as risking fines.

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