Private Sector Housing Team secures funding to enforce energy efficiency in rented homes

Thanet District Council’s Private Sector Housing Team has been successful in securing over £76,000 of funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for a project to enforce minimum energy efficiency standards in privately rented properties across the district.

Since April 2020 privately rented homes must meet a minimum energy performance rating of EPC band E, and it is illegal to rent out homes below that standard, unless there is a registered exemption. Landlords renting properties with an F or G EPC rating can now be fined up to £5,000.

The funding will allow the council to work with private landlords to improve the energy ratings of their properties, referring them to our Home Energy Service for advice and working with them to bring them in line with legislation. The outcome will be the reduction of energy bills and improved living conditions for fuel poor and vulnerable families living in privately rented accommodation in the district.

Cllr Jill Bayford, Cabinet Member for Housing at Thanet District Council said:
“We believe there are up to 300 families in the private rented sector in Thanet who are living in homes with EPC ratings of F or G, and these homes are likely to be cold and hard to heat.

“With winter around the corner and rising fuel prices, this government funding will make a big difference. The grant will boost our enforcement capacity and allow us to take robust and proactive action to tackle these substandard homes and ultimately help residents reduce their fuel bills and improve their living conditions.”

Michael Gallagher, Head of Midlands Energy Hub said:
“Midlands Energy Hub is delighted to be supporting Thanet District Council with the PRS
Enforcement Competition, funded by BEIS. This competition looks to assist 59 local authorities across England and Wales with implementing and enforcing the requirements of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulations.

“Through improving the quality of housing stock, the whole project looks to target over 95,000 of the worst-performing private rented homes with the ultimate aim of tackling fuel poverty and reducing carbon emissions produced by the domestic housing sector.”

Thanet District Council employs a Home Energy Officer with responsibility for providing information and advice to all Thanet residents, whether they are owner occupiers, in rented accommodation or landlords. Advice is available on a range of subjects including help with paying energy bills to funding that may be available for home improvements.

If you would like information on how to reduce your energy usage at home, email energysaving@thanet.gov.uk You can also visit the Energy in the Home pages on our website where you can complete an online form to request support tailored to you and your home.

If you are a landlord or tenant in the private rented sector, you can find out more information about minimum energy efficiency standards on our website.