East Riding of Yorkshire Council has written to landlords and letting agents in the area as part of an ongoing programme of informing and advising, following recent presentations by the council at landlord forums.
The letters inform landlords and letting agents of their obligations under the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2007, which underwent a number of amendments at the end of 2011 and were enacted from April this year.
The changes relate, in particular, to the responsibility of making an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) available to prospective new tenants, which should be done at the earliest opportunity, when the prospective tenant is given information in writing or when a pre-arranged viewing of the building takes place.
There are a number of new duties placed on landlords and their agents in terms of ensuring an EPC is either in place or has been commissioned before marketing commences.
Additionally, Trading Standards officers now have the power to require landlords and persons acting on their behalf, such as letting or managing agents, to produce a copy of an EPC or evidence that one has been commissioned.
There are also changes around the marketing of properties. The front page of an EPC should now be attached to written particulars concerning properties for sale or rent, including those made available electronically, for example website marketing.
For rental properties, an EPC should be attached where the written particulars include at least two of the following, a photograph of the building or any room in the building, a floor plan of the building, the size of the rooms in the building, the measured area of the building or the proposed rent.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council will continue to inform and raise awareness amongst landlords and their agents and encourage compliance with the regulations.
Further information can be obtained in a guide produced by the Department of Communities and Local Government at www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/2122141.pdf or by contacting the council on (01482) 396331.
