#ExpertView: Sustainable energy charity receives funding to help South West landlords
The Bristol-based Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has received £14,050 funding from the TDS Charitable Foundation to develop a project that will help landlords in the South West to better understand their obligations around Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
Landlords’ having a thorough understanding of their obligations has come to the forefront thanks to the requirement for any properties rented out in the private rented sector to have a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This regulation comes into force from 1st April 2018.
The funded project, called Get Ready for MEES, is an initiative that has been designed to inform landlords across the region of how the introduction of MEES will affect them and support them in improving their property’s efficiency rating, where necessary. The service will be publicised to landlords who rent F and G rated properties
Kate Thomas, Senior Project Manager at CSE said: “We’re encouraging landlords across the South West to engage with us to find out how they’ll be affected by these new regulations. We’ll be able to give advice on understanding the legislation, deciding what action to take and accessing any available financial support for doing so.”
The Foundation is a charity with a mission to raise the standards of private rented housing management and was set up by TDS, the UK’s leading tenancy deposit protection scheme. In the latest round of funding, it gave over £94,000 to 10 organisations across the country. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over £400k in funding support for organisations across England and Wales.
Click here for more information on the TDS Charitable Foundation
Professor Martin Partington CBE, QC and Chairman of the TDS Charitable Foundation, said: “Get Ready for MEES is a unique project, which we’re proud to support. It can be difficult to understand how changes in energy regulations affect individuals and the work undertaken by the Centre for Sustainable Energy will make sure that landlords across the South West understand their obligations.
“The TDS Charitable Foundation goes right to the heart of the private rented market, with grants aimed directly at benefitting tenants and landlords in communities across England and Wales.”
If you’re a landlord in the South West region and think you might be affected by the changes to MEES call the Centre for Sustainable Energy on 0800 082 2234. Their free-phone advice line is open 9-5pm Monday to Friday.
About TDS
Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) is a Government-approved scheme for the protection of tenancy deposits; TDS offers both Insured and Custodial protection and also provides fair adjudication for disputes that arise over the tenancy deposits that we protect.
We provide invaluable training in tenancy deposit protection and disputes for agents and landlords through the TDS Academy as well as joining with MOL to provide the Technical Award in Residential Tenancy Deposits.
TDS Insured Scheme: where a TDS member can hold the tenancy deposits as stakeholder during the term of the tenancy.
TDS Custodial Scheme: where TDS hold the deposit for the duration of the tenancy.
TDS Academy: TDS provides property professionals with invaluable training in tenancy deposit protection and tenancy deposit disputes.
TDS Northern Ireland: TDS is Northern Ireland's leading and only not for profit tenancy deposit protection scheme.
TDS can only comment on the process for our scheme, other deposit protection schemes may have a different process/require different steps. Content is correct at the time of writing.
These views are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the view of TDS, its officers and employees.
ARLA|Propertymark: For agents who would like to stay up to date, you can contact Propertymark | ARLA at: join@propertymark.com. By being a member of Propertymark | ARLA you will be eligible for TDS Insured best headline rates.
RLA: If you are a landlord and would like to keep up to date with any changes that may affect you or your responsibilities, you can contact the RLA at: info@rla.org.uk and quote reference: dg715 to receive 25% off your first year's membership.