As energy efficiency becomes increasingly important in the fight against climate change, rental properties are coming under increasing scrutiny to meet energy performance certificate (EPC) requirements. Unfortunately, a recent report has revealed that around 5 million rental properties in the UK are at risk of not meeting these requirements.
The report, released by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), found that 5 million rental properties in the UK are at risk of not meeting the minimum energy efficiency standards set out by the government. This means that landlords of these properties could face fines of up to £4,000 if they fail to make improvements to their properties.
The report also found that the majority of these properties were located in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions. This is likely due to the fact that these areas have some of the oldest housing stock in the UK and are therefore more likely to be energy inefficient.
The government has taken steps to tackle this issue by introducing the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES). This requires landlords to make improvements to their properties so that they meet a minimum energy efficiency rating of E or above. Landlords who fail to do this could face fines of up to £4,000.
In addition to this, the government has also introduced a number of incentives for landlords to make improvements to their properties. These include grants and loans for energy efficiency measures, as well as tax relief for landlords who make energy efficiency improvements.
It is clear that there is a need for action to ensure that rental properties meet the minimum energy efficiency standards set out by the government. If landlords do not take steps to make improvements, they could face hefty fines and their tenants could be living in an energy inefficient property. It is therefore essential that landlords take steps to ensure that their properties meet these standards.