Last minute push to improve EPC ratings ahead of April changes
Landlords are being warned that they only have until April 1st to make sure their rental properties meet the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
From next month, properties being rented out for new tenancies and tenancy renewals must have an EPC rating of between A to E.
ARLA Propertymark’s Chief Executive, David Cox, said: “Landlords have been responding to tenants’ demands for better quality and better insulated homes over the last few years; the number of properties which are EPC rated F or G has fallen from around 700,000 in 2012, to 300,000 today. However, there are still a lot which don’t meet the standards.”
Landlords who let out properties for new tenancies and renewals following the deadline can face severe fines if their properties do not fall within the A to E rating categories.
There are, however, certain exclusions and exemptions which can apply in some cases, but landlords need to check to make sure their properties can be legally let.
The new MEES aim to improve the energy efficiency of properties across the buy-to-let sector, saving energy costs for tenants and landlords. The more energy efficient a property is the more appealing it will be to a tenant as a rental prospect, the cheaper it will be to run, and any improvements made may even boost the overall market value of a property.
Further details can be found via the link below: