Landlords, Are You Energy Efficient Enough?

Calling all landlords! Have you checked your buy-to-let property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating lately?

Landlords, Are You Energy Efficient Enough?
No?
 
Unfortunately, there have been some legal changes that might mean you’ve got some work to do (and money to spend), so you need to keep reading.
 
An EPC details how energy efficient a property is, recommends how to improve efficiency, and gives a general idea of associated costs.
 
At the moment, a rental’s EPC must be a rating of E or above as per the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and should be updated every ten years. However, the government looks set to increase this to a rating of C or above for all newly tenanted properties by 2025, and for all existing tenancies by 2028.
 
Sounds like a long time away, right? In actual fact, if your property is below a C, you may have some serious upgrades to do. So it’s worth getting on top of them now. Ignore it, and you’ll be facing a hefty fine.
 
In this quick read, we look at ways to upgrade your current EPC rating.
 
Double glazing
There’s no point in doing anything inside the property unless you’ve got good glazing in place. Double glazed windows reduce energy loss. While most new buildings have them as standard, if you own an older property, you may still have single glazed windows in place.
 
Insulation
Although one of the most expensive energy efficiency measures, it’s a good investment if you’re newly refurbishing a property and plan to hold onto it for the long term. Wall and roof insulation have a significant impact on energy efficiency and help to reduce heating bills.
 
Better boiler
An inefficient boiler is the number one culprit when it comes to a low EPC rating, so it’s worth fitting a new one to meet the EPC requirements. Good boilers can cost anywhere between £1,000 and £4,000 but will last for many years and save energy and money over time.
 
LED lightbulbs
This is by far the quickest and easiest way to boost your energy rating by a few points. Make sure all those old halogen bulbs have been binned and switch to eco-friendly LED ones instead.
 
Extras
 
-       Smart meters are a great way to understand how much energy a property is using.
-       Renewable energy sources such as solar panels sound complicated, but you can get government funding to help with costs.
 
At Grey & Co, we will remind you about the upcoming EPC changes as the time draws closer. If you decide to sell your rental in advance of the deadline, please get in touch with us on 0208 903 3909.

Get in touch with us

First Name*
Last Name*
Your Email Address*
Mobile Phone*
Are you looking to*
Please enter message here*
Please confirm that it is okay for us to contact you about this information as well as products and services. (You will always be given the right to unsubscribe at any point in the future)*

Register for Property Alerts

Ever missed out on the perfect property just because you heard about it too late, or the Estate Agent never told you about it as it was slightly outside of your criteria? Never miss out again by using our “Heads Up Property Alerts”.

Latest Properties

2 bedroom apartment boasting a private roof terrace with stunning panoramic views on Popes

Guide Price

£590,000

2 Beds2 Baths1 Reception
Abelard Place Popes Lane South Ealing London W5 4BZ

Striking and Contemporary 2 Bedroom Apartment on Popes Lane in South Ealing

Built in 2015 in a striking small luxury mixed development of 3 houses and 2 apartments

Private roof terrace with motorised roof access providing 360 degree views of West London

A superb rental investment or a fantastic first time buyers option. This property can be both!

Guide Price

£350,000

3 Beds1 Bath1 Reception
Poplar Grove Wembley Middlesex HA9 9DB

Top Floor Flat

3 Double Bedrooms

Spacious Reception Room

Spacious 3 Bedroom House with extended family home and off-street parking in Monks Park, Wembley.

Guide Price

£590,000

3 Beds2 Baths2 Receptions
monks park, wembley

three bedroom semi detached house

extended family home

close to oakington manor primary school

Meet Abigail

  Hello, my name is Abigail, and I am the Grey in Grey & Co. I started working here in 2002 as a Junior Negotiator and have worked my way up the ranks since then. I took over running the company in 2014 and have been enjoying the roller coaster that is leadership ever since.   During my 20 plus years at Grey & Co I have dealt with the sale of over £100,000,000 worth of property and overseen the management of assets worth £250,000,000 for clients around the world.   I also had the pleasure of working with my father, the founder of Grey & Co, for 15 years before he sadly passed away and from him, I learnt the work hard ethic and our values today are still the ones that he founded the company on all those years ago.   Be Remarkable, Be Passionate, Be Humble and Be Better.   As a community centric boutique family agency, you couldn’t find a better partner to take with you on your property journey.

Meet All The Team

Should You Move or Improve? Which Option Offers the Best Value in Wembley?

With rising labour and materials costs, is it now more cost-effective to move rather than renovate?

Latest News on the Renters’ Rights Bill

The Renters’ Rights Bill has just passed its latest stage in the House of Commons. Here, we’ll look at what happened and at what it could mean for landlords, tenants and anyone considering selling their rental property investments.

Three Ways Trump Could Influence the Wembley Property Market

Next Monday (January 20th), Donald Trump will be inaugurated as President of the United States of America for the second time. And whether you love or loathe him, there's no escaping from the fact that he's one of the world's most powerful person (again).