Many social housing and local authority landlords have an issue with getting the right type of tenants. Quite naturally, Landlords want tenants who will pay on time, take good care of the property, and keep open lines of communication with both the letting agent and the landlord.These tenants also tend to be the ones who stay in a house for longer. In short, Landlords prefer tenants who both think in the longer term but who also care about others. At some point most landlords have found that compromising slightly on rent to get a better client can save more money than holding out to get the highest possible rent no matter who the tenant is.
However, although it is cheaper to screen tenants and even to attract the best through small discounts, it is even cheaper to pre-qualify them through your marketing and packaging of your rental property – this is where EPCs can play a role. The sort of client who cares about the energy efficiency of a home is the sort of tenant that most landlords will want to attract – while it may show the tenant has green credentials, it can also show that the tenant is considering their long term financial situation by gauging how expensive the bills may be. So, if a house has a good (or even average) EPC rating, it would be fair to say that there is an associated weighted factor of influence in terms of the occupant.A prospective tenant who asks about the energy efficiency of a home is the sort of tenant who is planning for a long term stay. They are also the sort of tenant who is prepared to take responsibility for their tenancy and to think of the place as their home rather than as an extended hotel room.
An EPC tells you how energy efficient your property is on a scale of A-G. The EPC will make recommendations about how a property’s energy efficiency can be improved, in addition to a potential rating if the recommended work is carried out. The average property is rated D or E
An EPC is a mandatory element of the HIP, which is a legal requirement for the sale of all domestic properties
If you hold a valid EPC you will not be required to obtain a new certificate every time you re-let a property
Where improvements have been undertaken to a property, you may order a new EPC to reflect the new improved energy efficiency of the property
Domestic EPC’s are valid for a 10 year period, except where a property is being sold and a HIP is required
Non-compliance with domestic EPC legislation will result in a fine of £200. This is in addition to the cost of a compliant domestic EPC
