Whether you’ve been a landlord for decades or just starting, you are most likely aware that managing rental properties comes with challenges and responsibilities. One crucial aspect that should never be overlooked is energy efficiency.
Managing an energy-efficient property isn’t just about being mindful of our planet; it can save you money in the long run and attract quality tenants. However, there’s no denying that the world of energy management can be confusing, but don’t worry, Properly is here to help.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through our top tips for energy efficiency landlords need to know and the key steps to optimise energy efficiency in your rental properties.
Understanding the Importance of Energy Efficiency
When landlords first think about energy efficiency in the context of their property, they often think it’s all about environmental sustainability and “doing their bit” for the planet’. Whilst these things are undoubtedly important, energy efficiency concerns the tenant more than anyone else. Tenants are becoming increasingly worried about the dramatically rising UK energy costs, making them far more discerning when it comes to the energy performance of a property.
Ultimately, this means that optimising the energy efficiency of your property can present significant benefits for you and your tenants. These include:
Attract Tenants: Prospective tenants are more likely to choose a rental property with lower energy bills, making your property more appealing.
Lower Operating Costs: Energy-efficient properties can reduce your operational expenses, improving your overall ROI
Legal Compliance: An energy-efficient property will ensure that the UK’s Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations are met, helping you to avoid significant non-compliance fines
Assessing Your Property’s Energy Performance
Before taking any steps toward making your property more efficient, it’s essential to understand its current energy performance. This will involve obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which will rate your property’s energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
Not only does an EPC help you understand how efficient your property currently is, but it also breaks down energy statistics, helping to shine a light on areas for improvement within your property and serving as a roadmap for upgrades. Thankfully, getting started with this is simple, as the UK Government website provides an online portal for finding yourself an assessor.
Making Upgrades
Once you have received an EPC, you should have a better idea of areas for improvement regarding the energy efficiency of your rental property. Now, look at some of UK landlords’ most common practices to futureproof their tenants’ energy consumption.
Sealing the Gaps
A common source of energy wastage in rental properties is drafts and gaps, leading tenants to use heating when it otherwise would not be needed. To tackle this, you should check all windows, doors, and any other openings for drafts. Seal gaps where necessary, and upgrade to double-glazed windows if you haven’t already, as this can significantly improve insulation and reduce heat loss. Don’t underestimate the power of a high-quality set of thick curtains.
Insulation Matters
A lack of insulation is another equally important contribution to energy inefficiency in properties. You’ll be painfully aware of how chilly our UK winters can become, and if your property’s walls and roof aren’t layered with sufficient insulation, heat can easily escape. It’s undeniable that assessing and installing internal insulation can feel like a big task, but trust us – the long-term cost savings make it more than worth it.
Efficient Appliances
Rental property energy efficiency doesn’t just concern its internal insulation but also the appliances that it hosts. Over the years, energy-hungry appliances such as boilers, radiators, lighting, and white goods have become far more efficient, but you could still be using outdated hardware within your property.
Once you have your EPC, you can use this to analyse the energy rating for rental property appliances and consider replacing any old, inefficient appliances with modern, energy-efficient models. This may be a financial sting initially, but it will mean your tenants will be paying far less for their energy, and this is a lucrative opportunity for you to increase your rental prices.
Remember to take advantage of any government grants available for energy-efficient upgrades, too! The UK government currently offers various levels of financial support to landlords who make energy-efficient improvements to their properties.
Encourage Responsible Tenant Behaviour
It should go without saying that once tenants occupy your rental property, the amount of energy they use is out of your control, but this doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do. When accepting new tenants, consider preparing a written package or having a transparent conversation about their energy usage.
Educate them about energy efficiency, encourage responsible energy usage, and provide simple tips such as turning off lights and appliances, closing curtains at night, and monitoring boiler pressure. It would also be helpful to liaise with your energy provider to install smart meters, as this helps tenants monitor and control their energy consumption.
Regular Maintenance
So, you’ve renovated your property with some modern upgrades, had an informative discussion with your tenants, and you’re now confident that your property is far more equipped for efficient energy consumption. However, your efforts should continue beyond there – regular maintenance of your property’s heating and cooling systems and other energy-related equipment is crucial.
Properly maintained systems work more efficiently and have a longer lifespan, saving you more than a few pounds in the future. Keep an eye on this, and conduct regular assessments on power-hungry appliances.
An energy-efficient property was once considered a luxury, but with today’s high cost of living, it’s a necessity. By taking proactive steps to improve the energy efficiency of your rental properties, you can reduce your environmental footprint, attract quality tenants, and save money on operational costs.
Start making a change today by organising an energy efficiency assessment for your property, and move forward from there. You’ll have to make an upfront investment, but your tenants, your wallet, and the planet will thank you for it in the future.
Properly are your rental property management experts.
Call us on 0207 459 4400 or email mariel@properly.space to find out how we can help you stay ahead with the energy efficiency of your rental property.
