How to check a property’s energy efficiency rating
An EPC will give an energy efficiency rating and an environmental impact rating. It will also estimate the energy use, carbon dioxide emissions, lighting, heating and hot water per year, along with the potential annual costs for each. This helps tenants calculate the typical living costs of your property.
If a property has been marketed for sale or to let or it has been modified in the past 10 years, it should have an EPC. You can find an EPC by postcode here.
Remember, it is a legal requirement to have an EPC for a privately rented property. If you don’t have one, you can obtain one from a qualified assessor. Book a property assessment online here.
How to improve an energy rating
To improve your rating, you should look at your most recent EPC to see what actions will best help.
You may be eligible for assistance to improve your rating, have a look at our grants page for more information Access to grants – Safe Suffolk Renters
How much will improvement work cost?
Improving an EPC rating from F or G to E is capped at £3,500 (incl. VAT). You can find out more about typical improvement costs on the Government website here. If costs exceed this, landlords can apply for an exemption via the Government’s PRS Exemptions Register. However, meeting the minimum EPC rating for rental properties may not resolve other hazards in the home like damp, mould, or excess cold.
What happens if minimum standards aren’t met?
The legal minimum standard a property must meet is E. A property with an EPC rating of F or G must be improved to E immediately or be registered for an exemption which lasts for five years.
To register an exemption, landlords must provide evidence that energy efficiency improvements will:
- need third-party consent
- cost more than £3,500, or that £3,500 or more has already been spent
- devalue the property
Other reasons may also be accepted. To find out more, you can read the full guidance on exemptions and the evidence requirements here.
Enforcement action
Where landlords do not notify us of an exemption, supply a new EPC or improvements to the energy rating of the property, a compliance notice may be issued. These may be followed up with further notices, potentially resulting in fines of up to £5,000.
All landlords are strongly advised to take action and speak to their tenants and other interested parties to improve energy ratings to comply with the minimum requirements.
Noteworthy EPC legislation changes
Since April 1, 2020, landlords have been prohibited from letting or continuing to let properties with an EPC rating below E – unless a valid exemption applies. If your property has a rating of F or G, you must improve it to at least an E rating before entering into a new tenancy.
Tenants can ask their landlords to make energy performance improvements based on EPC recommendations.
Tenants also have the option to request smart meters to manage their energy consumption effectively, especially if they are responsible for paying energy bills. Landlords can also consider installing smart meters for their properties, improving their energy rating.
