The UK government proposes that private landlords in England and Wales must obtain Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) each time they rent to a new tenant.
For Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), landlords would need a new EPC every time a room is rented. Currently, EPCs are valid for 10 years, but the proposed changes aim to reduce this validity to ensure more up-to-date information about a property’s energy performance, which benefits prospective tenants and policymakers.
The reforms also include a requirement for an EPC for the entire HMO when a single room is rented out, ensuring compliance with energy performance standards.
There would be a 24-month transition period for HMO landlords to comply. The government argues that more frequent EPC updates will help improve property desirability and aid in compliance with regulations like the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), though it may slightly increase costs for landlords.
The government’s goal is to upgrade five million homes by the end of this parliament, ensuring that EPCs remain valid throughout tenancies, offering more accurate and up-to-date information for tenants.
Landlords are invited to respond to the consultation, with a deadline of February 26.
For landlords wanting further information, it can be found within the ‘Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime’ on the .gov website.
