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Cornwall Council is offering more support to landlords to improve the energy efficiency of privately rented properties.
The Council has been confirmed as one of 59 local authorities to have successfully bid for funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) fund.
The £91,237 fund will allow Cornwall Council to support landlords in making important energy efficiency changes, but also enforce standards which state that privately rented homes must meet a minimum energy performance rating of EPC Band E. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) gives an indication of the energy efficiency of a property.
Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for housing, Olly Monk, said: "The Council’s successful bid is good news for Cornwall’s tenants and private sector landlords. The funding will support landlords in making sure that their properties achieve an Energy Performance Certificate of E rating or above.
"This is good news for their tenants as we can, working in partnership with established award-winning social enterprise Community Energy Plus (CEP), ensure that privately rented properties meet MEES - the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard.
"The CEP landlord liaison service will be expanded to assist more landlords by offering free advice on improvements, and support work to overcome the barriers to compliance. This project will support our work to reduce fuel poverty, raise standards and meet the ambitions set out in our climate change action plan."
Around 20% of households in Cornwall live in private rented accommodation and while the majority will be living in homes that meet the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations, there are many estimated to have an EPC lower than the Band E required by legislation.
Landlords who own such a property must take steps to gain an EPC Band E energy rating or register a valid exemption where improvements are not possible. There's more information on the Council’s website and a full and complete guide explaining the Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard produced by The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
