Teignbridge District Council has recently been cracking down on rentals with poor energy ratings - and therefore higher running costs.

It has checked over 300 EPC 'G' rated properties so far, and contacted 48 landlords who may have lower than the minimum rating required. Properties must have at least an 'E' rating to be rented unless there is a valid exemption.

The majority of the contacted landlords have now reportedly improved their EPC ratings or are in the process of doing so. The council has also sent out nine compliance notices requiring landlords to evidence the improvements made, and plans to send more.

The EPC ratings of 28 properties with exemptions have now been improved to 'E' or above, and the council is reportedly working with 13 more landlords who are arranging improvements, trying to obtain consents for works, or collecting necessary evidence.

Executive Member for Housing Cllr Martin Wrigley said: "This important work is ongoing, and we will be contacting landlords of non-compliant 'F' rated rental properties over the coming weeks and months. We would encourage landlords to check compliance with MEES regulations now."

Landlords can face financial penalties of £1,000 for registering an invalid exemption or for failing to return compliance notices, in some cases followed by penalty notices and additional fines of up to £4,000.

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