Housing standards being improved in East Lindsey district
Since the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 came into force on April 1 this year, East Lindsey District Council have issued 70 compliance notices to landlords with a further 330 to be served in the coming weeks.
The Council’s Housing Standards Team are working through phase 2 of the regulations to improve the energy efficiency of private rented properties throughout the district by ensuring the landlords carry out their duty that the properties they let meet a certain standard of living and legally have a minimum rating of E, irrespective of the tenancy start date. So far, 44 properties in the East Lindsey area have been improved and brought up to the minimum standard of E or above in relation to their Energy Performance.
The team are reviewing all private rented properties and identify any that provide low levels of energy efficiency, including poor heating, lack of insulation, draughts, or single glazed windows and serve a notice to the landlord to have improvement works carried out.
The regulations and work of the Council is helping to improve standards of living for tenants through assisting landlords, however fines will be enforced when works are not carried out.
Portfolio Holder for Communities and Better ageing, Councillor Wendy Bowkett, said: "The regulations were introduced to ensure that tenants can live in homes with adequate levels of heating and insulation, and whilst we will always assist landlords to comply with their obligations, we will also take robust action against those landlords that fail to provide their tenants with a property that is decent and safe."
For advice on the regulations and how to ensure compliance, landlords with properties in East Lindsey can call the ELDC Housing Standards Team on 01507 613573.
