Buy to let landlords must ensure minimum energy standards.

The first impact of the Energy Act is happening with prospective buy-to-let landlords being required to demonstrate that their purchase has achieved minimum energy standards before the mortgage funds will be released.

In summary from April 2016 any tenant can request that the landlord implement "no upfront cost" improvements and the landlord cannot reasonably refuse

From 1^st April 2018 landlords entering a new short hold tenancy agreement must provide the tenant with a current  EPC that demonstrates the property is rated E or above

and from 1^st April 2020 all landlords, even those with longstanding lease agreements,  must provide the tenant a current  EPC that demonstrates the property is rated E or above.

With the additional legal protection given to tenants by the Deregulation act landlords would be mad to ignore this important new set of  laws.

To help members understand the requirements we have produced this handy guide