Energy certificates "muddled" say RLA » Housing » 24dash.com

Energy Performance Certificates for rented properties are set to create a new level of confusion when they come into force on October 1st.

And that’s largely because of the “muddled thinking” that has produced a puzzling list of requirements and exceptions – says the professional association for private sector landlords.

The Residential Landlords Association - whose members own over 100,000 private rented properties throughout the UK – is calling for government clarification as soon as possible.

“It’s not the EPC exemptions that are difficult to understand it’s the types of properties they apply to,” says Richard Jones, lawyer and lobbying team leader for the Residential Landlords Association.

“Unless the muddle is sorted Energy Performance Certificates will become just another piece of baffling legislation on top of everything else that has plagued private sector landlords over the last couple of years. Is there really any need for new levels of confusion?”

For instance: A typical self-contained property with its own kitchen/bathroom facilities, or shared flats and houses, need one certificate for the whole dwelling. For self-contained flats within the same building - one EPC per flat. For bedsits with shared kitchen/bathroom, or a room in a hall of residence or hostel – no EPC at all. For an individual room in a flat or house - where a tenant rents a room with, for instance, exclusive use of a bedroom and shared use of the kitchen, toilet and bathroom – no EPC. For mixed self-contained and non self-contained accommodation – one EPC for each unit but none for the remainder of the property.

“Shared houses cause the most confusion,” says Richard Jones. “If they are let on a single tenancy the house needs a certificate but no EPC is needed where there are tenancies for each room.

“And, meanwhile, if a landlord gets it wrong they face fixed penalties of £200 for each dwelling.”