Tewkesbury Council is bucking the national trend by punishing landlords with failing EPCs.
It has issued several fines against one landlord totalling £4,500 and wants tenants to report those who could be letting out energy inefficient properties rated F or G.
LandlordZONE recently reported that some of the country’s biggest councils are failing to investigate those private landlords who can’t provide a valid EPC certificate.
A Freedom of Information request by technology provider Reapit found that only 147 fines were issued between October 2008 and August 2024, and only by Liverpool, Bristol and Newham.
Since April 2020, private landlords in England and Wales have been unable to legally let a property on an assured tenancy agreement unless it has a minimum rating of E, or it is exempt. Exemptions can include if the cost of making the cheapest recommended improvement required to improve the property’s rating to E or above would exceed £3,500.
Local authorities can currently impose a maximum civil penalty of up to £5,000 per property, for breaching regulations for three months or more, providing false or misleading information on the PRS exemptions register or failing to comply with a compliance notice. Landlords without a valid EPC also can’t serve a Section 21 notice.
Tewkesbury councillor Alex Hegenbarth (pictured), lead member for community and housing, says it’s working with landlords to make sure that properties with a current energy rating of F or G aren’t rented out unless they are exempt or brought up to standard.
“Our environmental health team regularly check that this requirement is being met and have recently issued several fines against one landlord totalling £4,500,” he adds.
Government proposals could mean all rentals will need an EPC rating of C by 2030, and all new tenancies will need to meet the standard by 2028. Failing landlords could face a £30,000 fine per property.
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