Private tenants in the South West will save hundreds on their energy bills following a council’s push to identify those with failed Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

Bath & North East Somerset Council has been targeting those with an EPC below the required band E to prompt landlords to make energy efficiency improvements.

Those found to be letting out homes below the legal minimum rating have been issued with compliance notices and told to bring their homes up to scratch or face a fine of up to £5,000 per property, unless they have an exemption registered.

The council reports that these energy efficiency measures have resulted in a drop in annual energy costs by an average of £388 per property and saved more than 125.7 tonnes of CO2 across the district, an average of three tonnes per property.

Fuel efficient

Councillor Tim Ball (pictured), cabinet member for neighbourhood services, says that with the cost of energy rising rapidly, it’s important for tenants in private rented accommodation to know that their property is fuel efficient.

“The campaign helped us to raise awareness of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards regulations amongst landlords, letting agents and tenants,” he adds. “Its success is a positive step towards improving the energy efficiency of homes in our area and, as domestic properties produce around 40% of carbon emissions in our district, it will help towards our target of net zero emissions by 2030.”

The compliance and enforcement project was funded by a £96,000 grant from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in partnership with the Midlands Energy Hub.

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