New EPC rules for Landlords and what they mean.
- Further Green
- Mar 7, 2018
- 2 min read
Recent changes to rules for landlords mean that from April 2018 rented properties are going to have to achieve a higher standard of energy efficiency. This is something that we at deCO think is a step in the right direction. Our aging housing stock needs renovation to become more energy efficient and this rule change will help. In order to rent your property you will need to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of ‘E’ or better. If your property is ‘F’ or ‘G’ it will be deemed unfit for rental and you will be forced to take measures to correct this, or not be able to rent the property at all.
This is something that is going to vastly improve the efficiency of a large amount of old and wasteful properties that we have in the UK. Not only will this lower the running costs for the tenant, it will also make the houses more comfortable to live in and it will help move the whole country towards using less energy and burning less hydrocarbons to heat their homes. The UK has some of the most inefficient and expensive to heat houses in Europe due to poor insulation and maintenance. If we as a nation want to achieve the goals set in the Paris Climate Accord by 2020 we are going to have to implement drastic measures to get our residential properties up to scratch.
There are many ways in which the EPC rating can be improved and some of these will already be suggested at the bottom of the EPC itself. The suggestions can range from low price suggestions such as installing a thermostat, or measures with a higher cost such as cavity wall or external wall installation.
Here at deCO we are able to provide you with not only an up to date EPC but we can also implement all of the works that you could possibly need. We have experience installing renewable heating systems, smart thermostats, boiler upgrades, window upgrades and much more. In terms of energy efficiency we are the one stop shop to boosting your EPC rating, getting your property compliant and, best of all, more energy efficient. Do not hesitate to give us a call to hear what your options might be and to see if we can help.
