TDS publishes an energy efficiency guide for rented properties

To help landlords and their tenants, a new guide that offers help on how to make a rented property more energy efficient is available.

The free offering has been published by TDS in partnership with the National Residential Landlords Association.

And though many landlords have already made energy efficiency upgrades to help reduce energy costs, the guide offers other potential solutions.

‘Energy bills are at an all-time high’

Steve Harriott, the group chief executive at TDS, said: “Across the UK, energy bills are at an all-time high following the latest energy price-cap rise.

“Within the Private rented sector (PRS), we’re finding that landlords are increasingly concerned about how to keep energy costs down and support their tenants, while having further concerns about improving their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), as a result of proposed changes coming to the minimum EPC rating.”

The energy efficiency guide features low-cost tips to improve a property’s EPC and offers long-term ideas to make a rented home’s carbon footprint future-proof.

What landlords can invest in to boost energy efficiency

Among the tips is information about what landlords can invest in to boost energy efficiency. They include:

• Upgrade windows and doors: Double or triple glazing will improve heat retention.
• Insulate: Easy and cost-effective way to improve a home’s energy efficiency is by fitting natural cavity or solid wall insulation.
• Upgrade to a condensing boiler: These recover more heat from the exhaust flue gas and uses it to heat the central heating water, making it more energy efficient.
• Replace appliances (when they need replacing) with appliances that have energy ratings of A+++.
• Solar panels: Install PV panels with battery storage.
• Switch to a ground source heat pump: Extract heat from the ground to heat water and the home
• Switch to an air source heat pump: These contain a fluid that absorbs heat from the outside air and is transferred to the heating and hot water.

In addition to the government giving every household £400 off their electricity bill with the Energy Bills Support Scheme, landlords and tenants should also know about the:

• Winter fuel payment: A £100 to £300 fuel payment for people born on or before October 5 1956
• Cold weather payment: A £25 payment for every seven days of very cold weather between November and March.
• Warm home discount: A £140 discount for some people getting Pension Credit or some people in low-income households.
• Household support fund: A funding package to help vulnerable households.
• Child winter heating assistance: An annual payment per disabled child and young person under 19 living in Scotland.

Government grants that landlords may be able to apply for

The free guide also features an extensive list of government grants that landlords and their tenants may be able to apply for, and lists some easy, quick energy efficiency ideas that tenants can implement.

Steve said: “By improving the property’s EPC rating, landlords can help decrease their tenant’s energy bills and ensure their property is up to standard for 2025’s proposed adjustments.”

The free Energy Efficiency for Rented Properties guide can be found on the TDS website.