0:01 AM, 30th June 2025, About 8 months ago 6
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There’s a big gap in private renters’ understanding of their home’s energy efficiency, a TDS Charitable Foundation survey reveals.
It reveals that 60% of tenants are unaware of their property’s energy efficiency rating.
That’s despite the legal requirement for all privately rented homes to have an EPC rating of at least an ‘E’, unless exempt.
More than 2,000 tenants in England were questioned and the charity says the findings highlight a broader lack of awareness.
The organisation, which focuses on educating tenants about their housing rights, warns that without a robust campaign to boost awareness, the government’s push for higher standards may fail.
Dr Jennifer Harris, the head of policy and research, emphasised the need for better tenant education: “Warm, safe, housing should be the bedrock of a modern rental market.
“However, too few tenants are clear about the energy efficiency standards their landlords should be meeting.”
The TDS survey also found that half of the respondents don’t know about the current energy efficiency obligations imposed on landlords.
Also, 57% of tenants say they didn’t know they could report non-compliant landlords to their local council.
Only 58% of renters recalled receiving their home’s EPC, a document landlords are legally required to provide.
The survey also sheds light on the financial strain felt by tenants, with 37% struggling to cover energy costs.
However, 64% expressed willingness to pay slightly higher rent for properties with better energy efficiency, provided it reduced their utility bills.
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Cider Drinker
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Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1539
8:40 AM, 30th June 2025, About 7 months ago
Two of my tenants know that their homes have an EPC Rating C. They also know that nothing was done to their homes between when their homes achieving an EPC Rating D and C.
The system is not perfect.
Of course, most tenants are supposed to be adults. It is not my problem if they don’t understand that their homes require an EPC and that they can search the EPC Register to find their home’s EPC and that of neighbouring properties.
Of course, I give them a copy at the start of their tenancy. They don’t even read the tenancy agreement.
Reluctant Landlord
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Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3441 - Articles: 5
9:42 AM, 30th June 2025, About 7 months ago
T’s don’t take any interest as it is meaningless. E or D or C.
If they CHOOSE not to heat the property when its cold, due to the cost of energy then it doesn’t make any difference what an arbitrary piece of paper says.
Not one single tenant of mine in any property C D or E have heated the property to the ‘average’ kwh etc that the current EPC states. That says to me every single one is not keeping the property heated to the min required to keep the property itself healthy. We all know what happens next….
Paul Essex
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Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 712
9:43 AM, 30th June 2025, About 7 months ago
It is way down in the list of priorities.
Cost, room sizes, garden, parking, transport links, schools, crime rate will always be more important than the mythical EPC
Reluctant Landlord
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Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3441 - Articles: 5
9:52 AM, 30th June 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 30/06/2025 – 09:43it’s way down on the list of everyone’s priorities except Millibrain…
Monty Bodkin
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Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1549
10:27 AM, 30th June 2025, About 7 months ago
Time to get rid of EPC’s.
Tenants don’t care or want them.
northern landlord
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Member Since March 2022 - Comments: 352
13:04 PM, 30th June 2025, About 7 months ago
Tenants don’t care about EPC’s, they just want something that is decent to live in at a rent they can afford. As tenants leave of their own accord I am selling up, the PRS is too risky these days. I am hoping I can be out of the PRS before EPC “C” becomes compulsory for all tenancies. If there are any left I would have to point out that that they could end up paying a £100+/ month in rent to save £300 a year unless they object to having the work done, so the property would be exempt for five years. I expect many will object.
If this avenue is closed I will bite the bullet and sell the property out from under the tenant if still allowed to.