TENANTS and landlords are being encouraged to seek support to help improve the energy efficiency of their rented property this winter.

The good news is that there are national grants available for tenants and their landlords to make improvements to help improve the energy efficiency of rented properties; this assistance is subject to certain stipulations and conditions. Under Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards the Government expects landlords to have spent up to £3,500 to improve the energy performance of E, F or G rated properties.

These grants offer the opportunity to install these measures for a contribution of as little as £1,000.

Even on an existing tenancy, if the certificate is the lowest F or G rating, the landlord would be required to make the necessary improvements to raise the EPC rate to minimum E.

In certain circumstances, landlords may be able to claim an exemption. This would need to be registered on the National Exemptions Register. The council will work with landlords to achieve this minimum, but failure to do this or register an exemption is an offence and the council could consider issuing a Civil Penalty.