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12.04.2022
Eighteen months have passed since the government first published its consultation on improving the minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) in privately rented homes. That document set out plans to raise the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) energy efficiency rating to Band C for new tenancies from 2025 and for all existing tenancies from 2028. The consultation […]
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07.02.2022
The Government has committed to making changes to smoke and carbon monoxide legislation in England, following a consultation that ended in January 2021. It has not been confirmed when the amendments to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations will come into force and it is expected there will be a transition period to give landlords time […]
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13.05.2021
Three years after the introduction of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for new residential tenancies and one year since the legislation was extended for all existing residential tenancies, there remains confusion among landlords about how the regulations should be applied in different situations. On 1 April 2018, MEES introduced the requirement for residential landlords to […]
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23.02.2021
Landlords are reminded that they have only weeks left to comply with a new law requiring electrical installation safety tests to be carried out in private sector rented properties in England. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations were introduced last summer, making it compulsory for an Electrical Installation Condition Report […]
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12.01.2021
New scheme offering up to £5,000 per property opened 30th September and now extended to 31st March 2022. The aim of the scheme is to enable homeowners and landlords to upgrade their homes and properties with energy-saving features, such as insulation or double glazing, in order to reduce energy usage and improve the energy efficiency […]
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26.11.2020
Working from home has gone mainstream in 2020. Research by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), carried out at the height of the first Covid-19 lockdown in April, found that almost half of the population was working remotely. It’s a trend that likely to continue for some time given current government advice is that anyone […]
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12.11.2020
Landlords needing to carry out energy improvements works to meet minimum standards for private rented homes may want to aim for a higher Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating than is currently legally required in anticipation of planned changes to the rules. The government recently published a consultation seeking views on raising the minimum EPC rating […]
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15.09.2020
New regulations which make it mandatory for landlords in England to carry out five-yearly electrical installation tests in private rented housing came into force earlier this summer. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 mean landlords will have to ensure that electrical wiring, sockets, consumer units and other fixed electrical parts in […]
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02.09.2020
The Renters’ Reform Bill 2019-20 was included in the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019 with the promise that it would deliver a fairer and more effective rental market. The changes set out in the proposed Bill have significant implications for both landlords and tenants, most notably by reforming the grounds for possession when seeking […]
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27.08.2020
Landlords worried about meeting updated energy efficiency rules if they rent out listed and heritage properties are reminded they may be eligible to apply for a temporary exemption. Despite Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) first being introduced in 2018 there is still confusion over the rules for listed property or buildings within a conservation area. […]
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14.08.2020
The government has confirmed that the installation of insulation and low-carbon heating systems will take priority under the new Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, which will open for applications in September 2020. The government has announced further details of the scheme, first announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in July, which is designed to cut energy […]
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14.07.2020
Homeowners and landlords will be able to benefit from new financial incentives to make energy efficiency improvements to homes. A £2 billion Green Homes Grant scheme will be introduced in September offering property owners and landlords in England vouchers to pay for green improvements such as loft, wall and floor insulation. It follows a previous announcement […]
