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Tenant Requested Energy Efficiency Improvements

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Tenant Requested Energy Efficiency Improvements

Local solicitor and friend of the PDPLA, John Saulet, has updated us on recent regulatory changes which now allow tenants to request energy efficiency improvements to their properties. (The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published guidance for domestic landlords on tenants' rights under minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) legislation, on 24 March 2016.)

 

The guidance provides an overview of the:

  • Steps a tenant must take when preparing a consent request for a landlord to authorise energy efficiency improvements.
  • Steps a landlord must take when considering a tenant's request (including details of the situations where a consent request may be declined).
  • Process a tenant should follow to appeal a landlord"s decision to refuse a request.

Although the MEES Regulations 2015 apply minimum energy efficiency standards to private landlords and tenants, the guidance will also be helpful to local authorities and other organisations that provide support and advice to tenants on housing issues. 

In particular, a landlord should decide whether:

  • There are any grounds under which they could reasonably refuse consent to a tenant"s request for energy efficiency improvements.
  • They need to obtain additional advice or evidence before making a decision.
  • They require third party consent before consenting to the tenant's request.
  • They wish to make a counter proposal.

Chapter 3, Part 4 of the guidance describes the steps a tenant can take if it believes that its landlord has not complied with the MEES Regulations 2015.

The full guidance can be read here: 

DECC: Tenants' energy efficiency improvements provisions - guidance for domestic landlords and tenants (March 2016).

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About the author

Martin Silman

Martin began his landlord journey 30 years ago, while working in an international role for a global telecommunications company. Since retiring he has extended his portfolio, which he manages with his wife, but has always focussed on the ‘small student HMO’ sector preferring to offer homes in the community for small groups to the more common ‘pack them in and take the money’ mentality. He has chaired the PDPLA for the past 12 years and has overseen the Associations transition from small local self-help group to a much larger and more professional institution which is recognised and listened to nationally. Alongside his PDPLA role, he also has leadership roles in a number of other local organisations – bringing his unique perspective, driving for change and increased use of technology while respecting the history that brought us here.

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