Six-month reprieve for Scottish landlords on energy efficiency standard.

admin    Uncategorized     agents

EPC:

The Scottish
Parliament is introducing regulations which will delay the deadline
for meeting the new standards.

Landlords groups in
Scotland have welcomed the move which will give landlords an extra 6
months to prepare their properties to meet the new standard. The
deadline will be pushed back from its original 1^st of
April date, to the 1^st of October 2020.

Under the new rules,
homes in the private rented sector (PRS) will need to meet a minimum
EPC rating of “E” by 1 October 2020 before they can be re-let.

The new standards
are intended to improve the energy efficiency of, in particular,
older housing stock known to be inefficient and expensive to run in
respect of energy waste, carbon emissions and tenants’ heating
bills.

The rules will mean
that private rented sector properties in Scotland must achieve:

• An EPC of E at
  change of tenancy from 1 October 2020
• All currently
  rented properties an EPC rating of E by 31 March 2022
• An EPC of D at
  change of tenancy from 1 April 2022
• All currently
  rented properties an EPC rating of D by 31 March 2025

Local authorities
will be responsible for enforcing the standard and where appropriate,
granting exemptions. Failure to comply will result in liability to
fines of up to £5000 per property.

The Scottish
Association of Landlords (SAL) told the Scottish Housing News
that it has worked closely with “the Scottish Government and other
stakeholders, with requirements for rented properties now far
exceeding those for owner-occupied homes and the Scottish Government
providing loan funding to private landlords for EPC related works…
landlords will now have the time they need to check their properties
are compliant and carry out remedial work to bring them up to
standard if needed in time for the revised deadline.”

John Blackwood,
chief executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL), had
said:

“Privately rented
properties in Scotland are often held to much higher standards than
other types of housing so it is important that any new measures are
proportional and realistic.

“The change in the
timetable for landlords to improve energy efficiency standards is a
sensible one, and we are also very keen to see the correct level of
support for landlords to achieve these challenging goals.

“It is only proper
that tenants in Scotland have the reassurance of knowing that their
properties are energy efficient, their bills are reduced and that
their landlord is helping to tackle the climate emergency. We are
pleased that the government is allowing more time to get this
initiative right.”

There will be
exemptions in specific circumstances, see the legislation guidance
below.

Landlords will
generally only be required to carry out work to improve energy
efficiency where the cost of providing it can be financed by funding
provided by a grant or loan.

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2019: draft guidance

Energy Saving Trust – Landlords

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Six-month reprieve for Scottish landlords on energy efficiency standard. | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Six-month reprieve for Scottish landlords on energy efficiency standard.

If you enjoyed this article please consider sharing it!