A council led by Liberal Democrats has issued a statement boasting of a fine it has levied on a landlord for apparently having a low-rated Energy Performance Certificate.
Few councils appear to have taken action against landlords who, since 2020, have been unable to legally let a home if it has an EPC below an E rating. Exemptions can include if the cost of making the cheapest recommended improvement required to improve the property’s rating to E or above would exceed £3,500.
But Tewkesbury Council says in a statement out this week: “Low energy efficiency properties — rated F or G — make it harder for tenants to afford heating and can be linked to health issues. This is why it’s so important to ensure that landlords in the private rented sector are taking appropriate steps to meet the government regulations.”
And councillor Alex Hegenbarth, who runs the council’s housing activities, says: “We’re working with landlords within this sector to make sure that properties with a current energy rating of F or G are not rented out unless they are exempt or brought up to standard. Our Environmental Health Team regularly check that this requirement is being met and have recently issued several fines against one landlord totalling £4,500.
“Information and guidance for landlords is available on Gov.uk and we’d like to encourage any tenants with concerns about the energy performance or conditions at their property, to contact our Environmental Health Team.”
Councils can currently impose a maximum civil penalty of up to £5,000 per property, for breaching regulations for three months or more, providing false or misleading information on the exemptions register or failing to comply with a compliance notice.
The current Labour government has been vague own specifics but it is thought likely that by 2030 all private rental properties will have to be rated C or better, and all new tenancies will need to meet the standard by 2028.
When the new thresholds become law, landlords could face a £30,000 fine per property if they fail to meet EPC standards.
