Landlords must now display an Energy Performance Certificate
All landlords must now display an Energy Performance Certificate to new tenants showing the energy efficiency of their rented property. The EPC must be shown free of charge to potential tenants.
Buildings up for rent must be reviewed by a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor and given an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) detailing their energy efficiency on a scale from A to G. This is the same EPC as found in Home Information Packs.
The rating, similar to that used on fridges and washing machines, will allow potential tenants to consider energy efficiency and fuel costs.
The new scheme, which comes into force from Wednesday 1 October, checks on the property’s insulation, double-glazing and the performance of the boiler and appliances.
A £200 fine can be levied per rental property on landlords who do not comply. However, the landlord does not need to comply if he/she believes the prospective tenant is unlikely to have sufficient money available to rent the property or if the tenant does not seem genuinely interested in renting the property.
A rental property EPC is valid for 10 years and must be produced by an accredited energy assessor.