Councils are sending the wrong message to law-abiding landlords by failing to investigate those who can’t provide a valid EPC certificate.

A Freedom of Information request by technology provider Reapit asked some of the country’s biggest councils, including Liverpool, Manchester, Brighton, Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol, how many rogue landlords they had fined for not complying with current EPC rules.

Across all councils surveyed, only 147 fines were issued between October 2008 and August 2024, and only by Liverpool, Bristol and Newham.

Councils were also asked how many PRS properties are exempt from Minimum Energy Efficiency Regulations. Of the councils that provided data, only 325 exempt properties were known, with most unable to say how many were in their area.  

The funding behind enforcement also seems to be lacking, with one council admitting to operating “an intelligence led approach,” relying on complaints rather than proactive investigations, says Reapit. As a result, local Trading Standards is “not proactively undertaking exercises in relation to this issue”.

Basic paperwork

Reapit commercial director Dr Neil Cobbold (pictured) says the inability to provide basic paperwork can point to wider issues with the property, while lack of enforcement means unscrupulous landlords can continue to offer substandard properties without fear of getting caught.

This lack of EPC enforcement is undermining the government’s push for greater energy efficiency and brings into question the government’s EPC C deadline, says Cobbold.

“We estimate that over the next five years, landlords are being asked to collectively pay £24 billion to upgrade their properties to an EPC C by 2030. But what is the incentive for landlords when the risk of being caught is so low and the cost so very high?”

He adds that the rules and regulations around minimum energy standards and EPCs in the PRS are clear. “Local authorities simply need to enforce them better or risk undermining the government’s energy efficiency drive.”