Since April 2020, landlords have been required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘E’ or above, unless they have a valid exemption, under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations.
This means that any property with an EPC rating of ‘F’ or ‘G’ must be improved (or an exemption must be registered) to legally be allowed to be rented out as a domestic private rented property.
If a local authority believes a landlord has failed to fulfil their obligations under the MEES Regulations, they can serve you (the landlord) with a compliance notice and you may receive a financial penalty.
Improving EPC Rating to Band ‘C’
There was also a consultation to require rental properties in England and Wales to have an EPC of ‘C’ or above by 2025 for new tenancies and 2028 for existing tenancies. Although this has since been scrapped, the Government is still committed to ensuring as many rented homes are upgraded to a minimum of an EPC Band C by 2030, so there is every chance that this could come back onto the agenda in the coming years.
With increasing focus on sustainability and the cost of heating, the energy efficiency rating is also likely to become increasingly important to tenants when looking for a new home.
Improving your rental property’s EPC rating
So how do you ensure that your rental property has a better EPC rating?
There are several home improvements that can make a big difference to your rating. However, if your rental property is a period building you may be limited to what changes you can make, especially if it is in a Conservation Area or is a listed building.
Adding insulation to your home can make a big difference to ‘F’ and ‘G’ rated properties that are unlikely to have roof, wall, or floor insulation. However, this by itself is unlikely to increase the Energy Performance Certificate rating to Band ‘C’ or above (source).
Draught proofing the windows and doors in the property can help improve the energy efficiency of your property at a relatively low cost. At The Sash Window Workshop, we offer a draught proofing and overhaul service for timber windows which includes fitting a draught sealing strip around the edge of the window along with replacing the ironmongery, when required. For sash windows, a draught sealing strip is also placed along the middle rail and any weights and cords can be replaced and rebalanced when necessary.
For properties in an Article 4 Conservation Area or that are Grade II listed, one big advantage of draught proofing is that this work does not require planning permission.
If you are looking to improve your EPC rating to Band ‘C’ or above, it is also worth considering upgrading any single glazed windows to new low-E double glazed timber windows. Depending on the condition of your windows, you may be able to retain the existing timber window frames, saving you money.
Most of the work that we carry out for our customers is to install new low-E double glazed sashes into the existing timber window frames. This involves replacing just the moving parts of the window, leaving the frame that goes into the brickwork.
However, it is worth noting that you may need to obtain planning permission to upgrade to double glazing and this isn’t always approved for listed buildings.
If your home is listed, you may want to consider secondary glazing instead. This is where a separate window is installed in front of the existing window and is often preferred by planners to improve energy efficiency in listed buildings.
Obtain a quotation from our expert team
To obtain a free, no obligation quotation to improve the energy efficiency of your rental property, complete our contact form with your contact details and the address of your rental property or give us a call on 01344 868 668!
You may also be interested in:
Understanding window energy ratings
Upgrading to an energy efficient home
Are wooden sash windows energy efficient?
‘A’ rated windows by The Sash Window Workshop
Find out more – Government guidance
