A lack of Energy Performance Certificate enforcement is putting tenants at risk from high energy costs or cold homes, according to new research from automated rental payment and client accounting specialists PayProp UK.
In recent months PayProp sent Freedom of Information requests to the Scottish government and some of the country's biggest councils, including Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Glasgow. What transpired is that neither central nor local authorities appear to know how many rental properties do not have an EPC.
Since 4 January 2009 it has been a legal requirement for a Scottish rental property to have a valid EPC and display it when advertising the property to let.
The rationale is clear – an EPC is essential to enable tenants to make informed choices about their expected energy costs of living in a rented property. This is particularly relevant at a time when household budgets are significantly constrained. The Scottish government is predicting that 46% of households in the private rented sector (PRS) will face fuel poverty this winter.
What’s more, none of the local councils listed have ever fined a landlord for not having a valid EPC for their rental property or for advertising a property for rent without one. That includes Glasgow, which is represented in the Scottish Parliament by Patrick Harvie, Green MSP and Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights.
PayProp says its research points to a lack of enforcement across Scotland’s biggest rental markets, which is putting tenants at risk.
Neil Cobbold, managing director of PayProp UK, says: “We were surprised to find that none of the officials we spoke to were able to answer how many private rented properties lacked a valid EPC, and that across Scotland’s biggest cities, no landlord had ever been fined for not having one.”
“Both national and local governments need to do more to ensure tenants are warm this winter. Enforcement should be a priority against a small but no less significant number of landlords who do not comply with current environmental rules. This is especially important as the Scottish government has singled out high energy costs and fuel poverty rates among private renters as a key part of its justifications for continuing to cap rent increases in the latest review of The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022.
“With further regulations proposed for the private rented sector, we are keen to ensure the existing systems are working properly to support tenants and help guide the minority of landlords that do not comply, before introducing further measures for all landlords that could subsequently go un-enforced. To enhance adherence to existing regulations, landlords can engage a registered letting agent. These professionals can assist them in navigating the rules that govern the Scottish PRS."
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Energy costs are hurting everyone in UK, all home owners, including landlords, themselves. Think of all humans and do not segregate. Tenants are not the only ones suffering. The energy costs are necessary to keep warm. Tenants can economise on take aways, going out for meals, buying phones, cars, doing their hair and nails. Even instead of gym memberships, walk or go running.
The government and councils and so called charities need to directly help tenants to understand how Economics work. Oh! They cannot do so, as they cannot keep within their own incomes. Government spend more on themselves in the commons and all the expenses. The charities executives pay themselves higher salaries and sit on their computer and vomiting all their brain storming exercise on to the media.
More cobblers from Cobbold. 🤣
So, they can't tell us how many landlords don't have valid EPC's. In that case what's the point of their article?
Nothing more than ' unfounded negativism'. Shouldn't have even been published.
To enhance adherence to existing regulations, landlords can engage a registered letting agent. These professionals can assist them in navigating the rules that govern the Scottish PRS."
The above is an insult, landlords are more than capable of navigating legislation and managing their rentals, and the majority do so without using an agent.
What a stupid uninformed article written my another anti-landlord idiot!
"The rationale is clear – an EPC is essential to enable tenants to make informed choices about their expected energy costs of living in a rented property. This is particularly relevant at a time when household budgets are significantly constrained. The Scottish government is predicting that 46% of households in the private rented sector (PRS) will face fuel poverty this winter."
What a word salad of utter tripe.
An EPC might be a D or E or even an A or B but if the tenants are stupid and open the windows to let the hot air out and keep the heating on 24/7 then their bills will always be high!
Common sense needed here.
A bigger problem is tenants NOT opening windows, causing dampness and mould through lack of ventilation.
It also costs LESS to heat cold dryer air than maintain a high temperature in warmer much more moist air as water vapour has a much higher specific heat capacity than colder dryer air.
I’ve still yet to have any tenants ask about EPC rating. Yes I know it’s in the ad . Even this year with the high energy cost peoples concern is just getting a home. All this push the narrative of energy efficiency is causing more landlords to quit and leaving more on the streets. I for one would wish they’d give it a rest.
Nor me. I have had people ask about Council Tax (mentioned twice in the ad on Zoopla) and if it is furnished (also mentioned twice) but never about the EPC.
That's why the occasional Cobblers from Cobbold raises a laugh if nothing more.
Merrry Christmas to all, yes, even to Sandra Bowes-Renox and James Turner.
Merry Christmas to Annoyed and everyone else!
People are far more interested in the availability of parking without the fear of getting parking tickets.
Heating bills are only high for about 3 months a year. Parking can be a problem 12 months a year.
Unknown Energy Costs hurt Home owners too, nothing to do with EPC’s either,
I believe the Energy Suppliers are all crooks and manufacture bills hiding behind Computerising and virtually uncontactable talking machines to make mug out of you.
Recent House vacant because of Rogue’s so called RRB nonsense while thousands lay on the Streets well done
Mr Gove keep it going.
Anyway got Billed for £388.00 no one there not even a Security light
What a pointless article: devoid of data, devoid of a point but plenty of "Landlords are a curse on the world"
And not ONCE in over 12 years of renting out properties and hundreds of viewings has a single Tenant cared or asked about the EPC. (They can see each property is built this century and in pristine condition)
EPC is the new excuse to attack landlords a smoke screen to hide the profiteering of the Energy Companies, at the same time they are hardly Energy suppliers just Billing Companies.
I did my Christmas visit to 4 of my UC tenants last night and got invited in for a chat by 2 of them. The temperature in both properties was approaching tropical. Certainly no indication they were struggling with heating bills.
Both properties are EPC D. One is all electric with a Dimplex Quantum and pays bills monthly. The other has gas central heating and pre payment meters.
When my last EPC on a fully insulated double glazed home with a new boiler recommended spending upward of £30k to upgrade from a D to a C to save the tenant £100 per annum on energy costs. I would prefer to give the tenant the £100 per year than pay out that much on absolutely stupid recommendations.
If there are no figures then we can assume that the Tennant's never complain about lack of a certificate because it really isn't high on the list of a Tennant's requirements.
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