Landlords should be ready for new Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), say Future Energy Solutions

Landlords should be ready for new Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), say Future Energy Solutions

From the 1st April 2018 there will be a requirement for any properties rented out in the private sector to have a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The regulations will come into force for new lets and renewals of tenancies from 1st April 2018 and for all existing tenancies on 1st April 2020. It will be unlawful to rent a property which breaches the requirement for a minimum E rating, unless there is an applicable exemption. A civil penalty of up to £4,000 will be imposed for breaches.

Landlords and housing associations should avoid these fines by taking up renewable solutions, explain experts Future Energy Solutions. By adopting the latest clean energy tech, those with properties to let can not only make cost savings but can improve their appeal to potential tenants by offering reduced bills.

Under the Energy Act 2011, from April 2018 onwards, there will be amendments made to the EPC requirements for property owners, under the name of the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) which is also referred to as the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). The new changes will make it unlawful to let residential or commercial properties with an EPC rating of F or G, until their energy efficiency has been addressed. Furthermore, buildings with a current EPC rating of E, may also be affected, as the rating may fall beyond this point upon re-assessment or the minimum standard may be raised to D.

Applicable properties that fail to achieve the minimum E rating, will be required to implement the necessary changes to improve the asset’s performance, until the property reaches the minimum standard. Until this has been done, a landlord may not let or in some cases continue to let, a property that fails to achieve the minimum standard.

It has been reported that 75,000 commercial properties have F or G ratings, with a further 65,000 with an E rating.

Joel Tetlow, Managing Director of Future Energy Solutions, said, “Landlords and housing associations need to be aware of this new (Meps) law and take advantage of the rapidly growing renewable technology market. Combining a property portfolio with investment in clean energy tech can deliver fantastic returns and allow property owners to boost their profits without huge outgoings or the need for costly, frequent maintenance. Every property portfolio is different but there are lots of solutions on the market that could help transform a rental property.”

Future Energy Solutions are experts at delivering bespoke solutions to both homeowners and businesses. By acting as renewable technology consultants, the firm is able to provide unbiased, honest advice on what clean tech will give each client the best benefits, taking their situation into consideration. For landlords and housing associations, Future Energy Solutions can make recommendations on solutions that scale based on the number of properties the customer owns, offering cost effective prices. With the expertise of the firm’s team, customers know that their chosen installations will be completed on time and on budget. To find out more visit future-energy-solutions.co.uk/.

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Future Energy Solutions helps businesses and homeowners understand how renewable technologies can reduce their energy demand and meet requirements to obtain their Codes of Sustainability. The team behind Future Energy Solutions are highly experienced and specialists in the renewable field, using this knowledge to help customers obtain the most suitable technology for their needs.