Unless you have been living in a bubble in the last week, you will be well aware of all the gloomy news reports about Scottish Power slapping a whopping 19% on gas bills and 10% on electric bills. But as depressing as this is for those of us with a large household to run, how is the rising cost of energy bills likely to affect us as landlords?
My tenants are generally no different to me: they have no desire to throw money away and would prefer to know exactly where they stand when it comes to a monthly budget. So how does the Energy Performance Certificate work and can it help them?
Energy Performance Certificates are designed to make life easier for both landlords and tenants. Landlords are required to provide an EPC on any property they let. Should you fail to do so, your tenants have the right to report you to trading standards.
Why is an Energy Performance Certificate good for landlords?
Well apart from the fact you run the risk of being issued with a fixed penalty notice of £200 should you decide not to bother, providing your tenants with an EPC will help them as it will give them a good idea of how energy efficient the property is and how much it is likely to cost them in terms of their energy bills. And at the end of the day, a happy tenant is more likely to be a long-term one, which is always preferable when you are a landlord.
