Do you rent out houses/flats

[bythesea]

If you do, are you aware that from the 1st Oct this year to rent your property to a new tenant you will need to have an Energy Performance Certificate in place. This will need to be issued along with the lease and also needs to be available for any prospective tenants to look at. Failure to do so carries a £200 fine.

Well, thats the bad news, now for the good news, I can provide these certificates for around fifty pounds ~{for up to four bed properties POA on larger buildings} they are valid for ten years under cerrent legislation. This service is available nationwide through my network of contacts and in the Devon area directly from myself.

If your current tenant is remaining in the property or it is a case of a lease renewal then the certificate is not needed, however should the tenant move out you will need one, so arm yourself ahead of time to prevent short falls in income.

The trading standards will be policing this legislation so please do not be fooled into thinking you can get away with not having one. No doubt they will scour the to let ads and 'mystery shop' as prospective tenants.

In the interest of balance, yes I can produce this certificate but so can many others and a simple google search will give you all the detail you need.

PM if you want more info

[Rovingshark]

Another example of busybodies poking their noses into private business, presumably for 'green' reasons, although I'm sure it can be 'for your safety & protection' if necessary.
I see those involved with it as parasites who produce nothing and charge for the privilege.
Along with landlords' licences, gas checks, electricity checks, et cetera ad nauseam it simply pushes rents up so folks live in crappier premises than they could otherwise afford whilst increasing the landlords' paperwork in order to support a small army of bureaucrats.

Some people will think I'm being offensive but I'm simply stating what many think: there's too many snoopers, busybodies and statutorily-empowered leeches living off those who actually do business and create wealth.

RS

[Fiji Dave]

Originally Posted by Rovingshark

Along with landlords' licences, gas checks, electricity checks, et cetera ad nauseam it simply pushes rents up so folks live in crappier premises than they could otherwise afford whilst increasing the landlords' paperwork in order to support a small army of bureaucrats.

Gosh, yes, how terrible unfair of the govt to require landlords who want to rent out properties to have to have gas safety checks on boilers and gas fires... Don't they know a good dose of carbon monoxide poisoning is actually good for you!!

As for the certificates... don't you now need one to sell a house ( or something very similar) so why should you be able to rent one out without it?

Also - is there not the possibility that some people will actually want to look for houses with good energy efficiency - after all, it means they'll be lowering carbon footprints and saving money on bills. If i rented, I'd want to see one. This way landlords who won't fork out for decent insulation etc on a property they rent out (saving themselves money and hey, they're not paying the bills so why do they care..) will, eventually start to lose custom until they improve the property they want to rent - the upshot - rental properties actually IMPROVE in standards...

You can call it busibodies poking their nose into private business, but when you're offering a service to the public it's often a good idea to have some sort of regulations in place to ensure that standards improve, rather than drop.

[bythesea]

Originally Posted by Rovingshark

Another example of busybodies poking their noses into private business, presumably for 'green' reasons, although I'm sure it can be 'for your safety & protection' if necessary.
I see those involved with it as parasites who produce nothing and charge for the privilege.
Along with landlords' licences, gas checks, electricity checks, et cetera ad nauseam it simply pushes rents up so folks live in crappier premises than they could otherwise afford whilst increasing the landlords' paperwork in order to support a small army of bureaucrats.

Some people will think I'm being offensive but I'm simply stating what many think: there's too many snoopers, busybodies and statutorily-empowered leeches living off those who actually do business and create wealth.

RS

Fair point.... and on the most part I agree. However, it is legislation you have to conform with, it costs around fifty quid per property and lasts 10 years... thats an extra fiver a year. As a landlord, and I am guessing you are, you have to do nothing more than arrange an appointment and thats it. As for me being a statutorily empowered leech... hardly, I actually do business and create wealth i.e. I run a business just like you.

This is the same certificate that people need as part of the home information pack and by the end of the year all local autority buildings...i.e. town halls, libraries will need a similar ticket as will all business premises, rental properties are in no way being singled out here

[gwilson]

Is this just for England and Wales as per most law or is Scotland included ??

[bythesea]

Originally Posted by Rovingshark

Some people will think I'm being offensive
RS

Not at all, It is good to get things off your chest, better than bottling it up and exploding. The resulting mess is terrible and a potential bio hazard

[bythesea]

Originally Posted by gwilson

Is this just for England and Wales as per most law or is Scotland included ??

I believe... but dont quote me on this just yet, that Scotland and NI are a year behind on this legislation. Scotland and NI only introduced HIPs this year I think where as they came in last year in England and Wales. Therefore I imagine there will be the same delay on rental properties. Sorry for the non commital answer but as both Scotland and NI are off my radar as far as keeping up with current issues, at the moment things change at a rapid pace and it is hard enought to keep up with the rules for England and Wales, the scottish govt website would be the place to check out

[gwilson]

Originally Posted by bythesea

I believe... but dont quote me on this just yet, that Scotland and NI are a year behind on this legislation. Scotland and NI only introduced HIPs this year I think where as they came in last year in England and Wales. Therefore I imagine there will be the same delay on rental properties. Sorry for the non commital answer but as both Scotland and NI are off my radar as far as keeping up with current issues, at the moment things change at a rapid pace and it is hard enought to keep up with the rules for England and Wales, the scottish govt website would be the place to check out

cheers

[Rovingshark]

Originally Posted by bythesea

Fair point.... and on the most part I agree.

As I should have said, it's not personal in the slightest- if we ever meet, I'm pouring & you're drinking.

However, it is legislation ... thats an extra fiver a year.

My point is that it's an extra burden for which I see more problems than benefits. There are so many that it gets to the stage where I question whether it's worth carrying on unless my prices rise considerably; I'm sure others are in a similar position.

you have to do nothing more than arrange an appointment and thats it.

My point is along the lines of 'why the hell should I have to?', along with the many other similar appointments AND PAYMENTS required of me.

As for me being.........statutorily empowered

There is a new law making landlords need you; if your services were to the landlords' advantage then there would be no need for the law.

I actually do business and create wealth

How does writing certificates create wealth?

I run a business just like you.

My main business is building things. My landlording is a private arrangement and I'd be quite happy without outside interference (aka "help & guidance" )

This is the same certificate that people need as part of the home information pack and by the end of the year all local autority buildings...i.e. town halls, libraries will need a similar ticket as will all business premises, rental properties are in no way being singled out here

The fact that other peoples' business is also being interfered with is hardly likely to make me feel any better.

I'd suggest that the obsession with assessment, licensing, certification and similar is a contributory factor to the likely recession. We should stop navel-gazing & start producing real goods.

RS

[bythesea]

Originally Posted by Rovingshark

if your services were to the landlords' advantage then there would be no need for the law.
RS

This was never intended to benifit the landlord, it is of benifit to the tenant who has to pay the bills, it is information for the consumer if you like. If your houses are of a reasonable standard and decent efficiency then it could be used to raise your rents a little if the surrounding rental proerties are sub standard. Ot if you take advice from the reports recommendations on how to make the building more efficient.