Private landlords are being warned of the importance of making sure their properties meet new energy efficiency standards, or face a fine.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are documents which outline how energy efficient a property is. Properties are rated on a scale from A to G, with A being the most efficient.
Private rented properties are required to have an EPC in place, and recent updates in the law mean that landlords must not grant a tenancy to new or existing tenants if the property has a rating of F or G.
But from April next year, landlords will not be able to continue to let a property, even if it already has a tenant, if it has an F or G rating.
Sarah Barnes, head of Residential Property at regional law firm Napthens, said: “Where a rental property does have a rating of F or lower landlords should take action as soon as possible to ensure that they meet the new minimum energy efficiency standard of an EPC E rating.
“Where landlords continue to let properties that do not comply with the minimum E rating the will be liable to enforcement action by local authorities. Local authorities can check on a property and issue a compliance notice requesting further information.
“Ultimately, where a landlord has let a property that does not meet the minimum EPC rating of E for a period of up to three months, the local authority can impose a penalty of up to £2,000.
“Where the property has been let for three months or more without meeting the minimum EPC rating of E the penalty can be up to £4,000. In both cases the local authority can impose a further penalty if the local authority takes action to publish details of the breach on a public register.”
