Rented property will need to conform to new legislation in 2018  that will ensure certain levels of energy efficiency

• From April 2016, a landlord of a rented property will not be able to unreasonably refuse consent to a tenant’s request for energy efficiency improvements where Green Deal finance or subsidies are available to pay for them.
• From April 2018, a private rented property domestic and non-domestic will need to have reached at least an E EPC rating, before granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants.
• These requirements will apply to all private rented properties – including occupied properties – from April 2020 in the domestic sector (and from April 2023 in the non-domestic sector).

Penalties

• For non compliance a fine of £2,000 and publication of non-compliance
• Providing Misleading Information a fine of £1,000 and publication of non-compliance
• Renting out a non-compliant property for less than 3 months Fixed penalty of £2,000
• Renting out a non-compliant property for more than 3 months Fixed penalty of £4,000

There are several ways of improving the energy efficiency of a rented property:

1. Insulation – Landlords should look to increase loft insulation first, followed by insulating the water tank and pipes. Effective insulation could save the bill payer up to £190 a year according to the Energy Savings Trust.
2. Floorboards – Uninsulated floorboards can cost up to £60 a year in lost heat, so landlords should certainly aim to insulate them. Insulation should be installed under suspended timber floorboards in older homes.
3. Walls – A third of heat in an uninsulated home is lost through the walls. Landlords should insulate walls, whether they’re solid or cavity, to cut the cost of heating bills.
4. Windows – Landlords should install A-rated double glazed windows, which can save £90-120 a year on heating bills compared with a single glazed property.
5. Boiler – Landlords should look to install A-rated boilers into their properties, as replacing a G-rated boiler could save the bill payer up to £305 a year.