Energy Performance Certificates Difficult to Improve in Older Homes

Landlords looking to improve the rating of Energy Performance Certificates for their portfolio may find it difficult to insulate older homes.

Richard Jones, policy director at the Residential Landlords Association, said it is harder to treat properties built before 1980.

"The main problem with them is that they have no cavity walls to insulate and with a lot of them you haven't got the traditional loft space to insulate with the loft insulation. With the properties that lack cavity walls, they may need internal or external insulation," he explained.

If work needs to be carried out on the outside of the house, planning permission may need to be sought for certain procedures, while internal energy efficiency improvement work often causes "disruption" because landlords may need to move around light switches and radiators.

Meanwhile, recent research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents revealed that a third (35 per cent) of landlords are unaware of the energy performance of their properties.

Landlord and Tenant News