Landlord’s responsibilities include providing tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) (except for some HMOs, for example, bedsits or where you let out individual rooms) at the earliest opportunity.

From April 2018, privately rented properties must have a minimum EPC rating of E for new lets and renewals of tenancies (by April 2020 for existing tenancies). Where a property qualifies for an exemption, this must be registered on the National PRS Exemptions Register.

An EPC is prepared by a Domestic Assessor who visits the property and prepares a detailed report which covers elements such as glazing, insulation and heating.

If upgrades are necessary for a property to meet the minimum EPC rating, a landlord must contribute their own funding where third-party funding is not available, up to a cost cap of £3,500.