1st April brings New energy laws for Private rented

Tomorrow, 1^st April sees the New Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards come into force

All tenants living in private rented accommodation with F and G rated homes, as measured by Energy Performance Certificates, will be able to request improvements, such as more insulation.

Upon this request the landlord will then be legally bound to bring the property up to at least an E rating, although not (for the moment at least) if it requires upfront costs.

If a tenant considers that the landlord has not complied with the request to upgrade energy efficiency to at least E, they can take the case to the Tribunal General Regulatory Chamber, which will hear and determine applications.

This is just the first of several MEES reforms in years to come:

April 2018: by this date it will be unlawful to let out a property with an F or G Energy Performance Certificate rating, as a new let. There will be a few limited exemptions;

April 2020: by this date the requirement for a minimum E rating will apply, not just to new lets but also to existing tenancies;

2025: the target is for a minimum D rating;

2030: the minimum target will be a C rating.