Landlords – there are new laws to reinforce your tenants’ rights to energy efficiency at home

Published April 7, 2016

Tenants’ Improvement Regulations

Did you know that new laws came into effect from the 1st April 2016, which will affect private landlords? These new laws reinforce your tenants’ rights to energy efficiency at home and your obligations to assist them in becoming more energy efficient. The new rules will empower tenants in the sector to request consent for energy efficiency measures that may not unreasonably be refused by the landlord.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard

From April 2018, it will also be unlawful to let domestic properties below a certain efficiency standard, with fines imposed on those who do not comply

In an attempt to ensure that all tenants enjoy a right to living in an energy efficient home, a new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard will be phased in over the next five years.

Phase one – from 1st April 2018, private rental properties must achieve an energy efficiency rating of at least E on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The regulations will initially only apply upon the granting of a new tenancy to:

A new tenant
An existing tenant

Phase two – from 1st April 2020, the regulations will apply to ALL privately rented property which are required to have an EPC.

What does this mean for Landlords? An EPC is already required to let or market a property legally, but the new laws around Minimum Efficiency Standards mean that an EPC of rating F and G is not sufficient for compliance. If your property does not meet the minimum standard, you cannot let or market that property within the law and rent reviews could also be affected.

Landlords who fail to comply face fines of up to £5000

Full details may be found at

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2015/9780111128350/contents