Nottingham landlords could face a �5,000 fine if their property doesn'�t have an EPC E rating as the city council bids to crack down on cold homes.

The authority has agreed to adopt financial penalties under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property in England and Wales) Regulations instead of serving enforcement notices and civil penalty notices.

Its report says the current option is no longer suitable as it believes 'bad practice' will continue in the PRS and that housing conditions will only remain the same.

Nottingham '� which hopes to become carbon neutral by 2028 '� has already received DLUHC funding to help identify rented properties that have an EPC rating below E and says it will now be able to serve compliance notices on the owners.

Those who fail to comply could face a fine ranging between �800 to �5,000 depending on 'culpability and harm factors'�, with income received used solely to further its enforcement work.

Expensive heating

Its report adds that where properties have an EPC rating below E, it is highly likely that the property has poor thermal efficiency, making it expensive to heat.

'This can lead to those within the private rented sector entering into '�fuel poverty'� where 10% of the household income is spent on energy and heating the home. With the current energy crisis and the increase in the cost of living, the number of households that will be considered to be fuel-poor will increase.'�

It comes as the government plans to require all newly-let properties to have a rating of band C by 2025, while properties with existing tenancies would need to comply by 2028.

Read more about EPC regulations.