Anybody looking to rent out their property in Bushey, Radlett and Potters Bar from April will have to ensure it meets minimum energy efficient standards due to new government regulations.
Under the Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015, which come into force on April 1, new landlords are banned from letting properties which have a low Energy Performance Certificate rating of F or G, unless an exemption applies. From April 2020, the same regulations will apply to existing landlords.
As well as being banned, landlords who aren’t complying with the new regulations could be fined up to £5,000 by our officers who are responsible for enforcement.
A third of households in England who are defined as fuel poor because they spend a significant proportion of their income on hot water and heating live in private rented accommodation. The measures will be introduced the same month as the we get powers to regulate more houses in multiple occupations (HMO), in a bid to crack down on overcrowding and beds in sheds.
Councillor Jean Heywood, portfolio holder for housing, said: “These new regulations, alongside the changes to HMO licenses, are designed to help ensure that tenants in the private rented sector are living in decent homes.
“The sad reality is that if you are a private sector tenant, you are more likely to face high energy bills because the property you live in is energy inefficient.
“Over the next two years, we will be looking to work with existing landlords to help ensure as many homes as possible in the borough meet the new standards.”
If a property does not meet the minimum energy efficiency level, a compliance notice will be issued by the council, requesting more information.
If it is found the property breaches regulations, the landlord will be fined and details of the breach published on the national PRS Exemptions Register for at least 12 months.
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