What's Changing
From 2018, landlords will not be able to rent out properties that have an EPC rating of F or G. Changes to the Energy Act 2011 will mean that up to 18% of commercial and 1 in 10 domestic properties will need to improve their energy ratings or become unlettable from April 1st 2018. This especially effects older properties, with 65% of the F & G ratings belonging to homes that predate 1919.
Saving Energy and Carbon
With this change the government hopes that it will reduce energy and carbon emissions associated with the worst effected buildings in the country. By improving these properties tenants will benefit from lower fuel bills and may even bring people out of fuel poverty, a situation where over 10% of household income is spent on fuel bills. DECC estimates that tenants in a G rated property spend over £1,200 extra on fuel bills due to energy inefficiency, an F rated property is around £700 more.
Savings from 2016
You don’t have to wait until 2018 for energy efficiency changes to be made to your property. From 2016 landlords should not be able to refuse reasonable requests for consent to install energy efficiency measures from tenants. Reasonableness is determined by whether a grant is available under government schemes such as the Green Deal or Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
Make a Change
At Ingleton Wood, our energy assessors will be happy to help you be ready for the changes. We can survey your property, provide energy assessments & EPCs, suggest cost effective energy efficiency improvements, and even design and manage the installations for you.
If you would like to talk to us about how we can help you become ready for 2018 please contact us at sustainability@ingletonwood.co.uk