By law, most tenancies in England and Wales which began on or after 1 October 2008 are required to have an EPC. This details the energy efficiency of a property, giving a standard energy and carbon emission efficiency grade from 'A' to 'G', with 'A' as the most efficient.
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However, EPCs are often at the bottom of tenants' lists of requirements, if there at all. Many tenants are unaware of the law, and even if a property receives a low grade, it does not seem to affect whether a tenant will want to live in a property. Given that the average efficiency grade is 'D', at the lower end of the scale, it seems that EPCs have a limited influence on a tenant's choice of property.
Sussanne Chambers, Director of the NLA, said: "It seems many landlords are left wondering about the effectiveness of an EPC. What has become apparent is that tenants don't seem to be interested in them, or use them as a deciding factor in choosing a rental property. As always, it is the responsible landlords who have commissioned EPCs and for whom they are now part and parcel of their lettings business."
(CD/KMcA)
