Private Rented Properties In Scotland Will Need To Meet Higher Standards of Insulation

10th December 2019

Private rented sector properties in Scotland will need to achieve increased minimum standards.

EPC of E at change of tenancy from 1 April 2020.

All rental properties must have an EPC rating of E by 31 March 2022.

EPC of D at change of tenancy from 1 April 2022.

All rental properties must have an EPC rating of D by 31 March 2025.

The Regulations are designed to tackle the least energy-efficient properties in Scotland, those with an EPC rating of F or G on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). At present there are 23,000 PRS properties below EPC ‘E' (9% of total PRS properties) with 83,000 below EPC ‘D’ (24% of total PRS properties). The Draft Regulations establish a minimum standard of EPC band E for domestic private rented property, affecting new tenancies from 1 April 2020 and all tenancies from 31 March 2022. Similarly, from 1 April 2022 the landlord must not let the property unless the EPC is minimum of D. By 31 March 2025 all PRS properties will need to have an EPC rating of at least a D.

The Draft Regulations require that these standards must be met at the prescribed dates or have a valid exemption at the start of the tenancy.