Local landlords only have until 1 April to improve energy efficiency of properties

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You must order an EPC for potential buyers and tenants before you market your property to sell or rent

Local landlords only have until 1 April 2020 to make sure the energy efficiency of their properties are at least an E grade, if they want to continue to let.

If you are letting, or planning to let a property, covered by the Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard Regulations, and your property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of F or G, appropriate action must be taken.

An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.

Landlords planning to let a property with an F or G rating must improve this to E, or register an exemption.

You must order an EPC for potential buyers and tenants before you market your property to sell or rent and you can be fined if you don’t get one when you need one.

You will never be required to spend more than £3,500 (including VAT) on energy efficiency improvements.

If you cannot improve your property to EPC E for £3,500 or less, you should make all the improvements which can be made up to that amount, then register an ‘all improvements made’ exemption.

If your property is currently empty, and you are not planning to let it, you don’t need to take any action to improve its rating until you decide to let it again.

Further reading:

• www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home/energy-performance-certificates
• www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance