Are you worried about mandatory energy efficiency upgrades?

Are you worried about mandatory energy efficiency upgrades?

10:59 AM, 14th March 2022, About 3 years ago 37

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If you are a landlord – are you aware that over the next few years you will need to ensure that your property has an energy efficiency rating of C? This is to help the government meet its climate targets – which has become more important in view of the Ukraine war, rocketing prices, and the need to reduce our energy needs.

At present, the deadline (for upgrading to band C) is 2028 for virtually all rented properties, apart from a few exceptions such as listed properties. So as it takes time for works to be done, and as suitable tradespersons are limited, landlords should start thinking about this now rather than later.

But where do you start?

To help, Landlord Law has published a small ebook with basic guidance and links to help you find grant and other aid.

Contents of the ebook includes:

  • Why Energy Efficiency is important for landlords
  • A plan for making your property more energy-efficient
  • Applying for grants
  • Quick changes you can make
  • Brief guidance on tax breaks and incentives
  • Government benefits and payments
  • Grant schemes including
  • National Schemes and
  • Countywide schemes

Much of the book consists of links out to sites that can help, making this a great place to start on your property upgrade journey.

The ebook is relatively inexpensive at £6 (£5+VAT) and if you are a Landlord Law member you get an automatic discount if you are logged in at the time of purchase!

Find out more and get your copy here.


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northern landlord

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17:57 PM, 12th April 2022, About 3 years ago

Good Point Seething. A small flat with a D rating will most likely emit much less CO2 than a 3 bed house with a C or B rating so will have a lower "environmental impact rating" even with a "worse" EPC. The whole EPC business needs a proper overhaul before it becomes legally enforceable. Any legislation should apply to social housing and owner occupied properties for the sake of fairness.

Seething Landlord

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18:06 PM, 12th April 2022, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by northern landlord at 12/04/2022 - 17:57
Yes, but the trouble is that eventually it is unlikely to be either/or; let properties will quite possibly have to meet prescribed EPC and EIR levels.

Reluctant Landlord

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11:05 AM, 13th April 2022, About 3 years ago

the trouble is the current EPC's try to tick ALL the boxes - the 'energy efficiency of the property' the 'running cost efficiency' of the property, and the move towards reducing Co2 emissions.

There result is conflicting.

At the mo I have a dilemma - a flat gas boiler needs replacing.

If I replace it wont tick the long term goal of reducing Co2 (or the more pressing need now to get off bought in gas for UK need). If I replace it fully with electric hot water, electric wall heaters etc I will reduce reliance on gas to more sustainable wind powered energy (ok depends on supplier but in the main elec now sourced from wind power). This will reduce my running costs (no gas cert & maintenance bills) but the chances are tenant bills will increase. I will be hammered on the EPC and probably get a lower rating yet long term this is getting off gas reliance.

There is no capacity within the EPC to equate this to tenant efficient use of the electric heating either to show that it will be more efficent (eg ability to only use heaters in rooms where needed) and to link them up to a cheaper off peak/Economy 7 system.

So what do I do??

Seething Landlord

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11:34 AM, 13th April 2022, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 13/04/2022 - 11:05
Perhaps you should ask your Member of Parliament, who will refer your enquiry to Michael Gove and eventually send you a long letter reviewing the current situation that you already know full well but with no constructive solution. The truth is that nobody has a clue how to reconcile the conflicting priorities.

Where you already have GFCH installed I can see no sensible alternative to maintaining it and changing it if necessary at the end of the new boiler's 10 year life, by which time things might be clearer.

Reluctant Landlord

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11:47 AM, 13th April 2022, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 13/04/2022 - 11:34
tempting to make a leap now and move to all electric though - both a new boiler and contractor proving difficult to get hold of, and the idea of not having annual gas checks is a bonus....

Jessie Jones

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13:53 PM, 13th April 2022, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 13/04/2022 - 11:47
Heating a house with electric is roughly 4 times the cost of heating by gas. The vast majority of energy use in a typical home is gas. Switching from gas to electric will roughly quadruple the amount of electric being used.
The increase in energy cost for your tenant will outweigh the cost of a new boiler in less than a year. And then there is the next 9 years to think about.
I doubt your tenants will thank you.

Mick Roberts

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14:03 PM, 13th April 2022, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Jessie Jones at 13/04/2022 - 13:53
Great stats there Jessie if true which I'm not doubting u. And at them prices then, that should be made more public cause none of us know what to do. Well, I do, I want to sell, & when I tell me tenants EPC, they say What has that got to do with me. AAAAAHhhhh......

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