Citizens Advice South Hams receives funding to help local tenants and landlords comply with new energy rules by April 2020  

Thanks to the Charitable Foundation set up by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) to improve standards in the private rental sector, Citizens Advice South Hams can continue helping tenants make homes energy efficient and warm, and advise landlords on how to comply with the new energy regulations and further legislative changes coming into force in April 2020.

The Citizens Advice energy team can conduct a home visit – arranged by either the landlord or tenant – and provide advice on changes and improvements that can be made to the home to increase energy efficiency, cut costs and keep homes warm in winter.

Nick White, energy advisor to the project at Citizens Advice says, “The law is changing soon and, if they haven’t already, it’s time that landlords of private properties take steps to make sure that homes they rent are energy efficient.

By April 2020 any property with an EPC rating of F or below will not be able to be rented out to new tenants or the tenancy renewed for existing ones.

However the good news is that often there are ways we can support both landlords and tenants in making these home improvements. Plus with better quality and healthier homes that are less expensive to live in, tenants are more likely to want to extend their tenancy, providing affordable and sustainable income for landlords in the long term”.

If you are a landlord or a tenant with a short hold tenancy in the private rental sector and would like a home visit, advice on improvements or switching energy providers, contact Nick White at Citizens Advice South Hams at nick@southhamscab.org.uk or call our Devon-wide Adviceline number 03 444 111 444 and ask for a referral to South Hams for an energy efficiency appointment.