Hastings council to clamp down on poor housing

Hastings Borough Council is launching a project to clamp down on poor housing in the borough.
Hastings Borough CouncilHastings Borough Council
Hastings Borough Council

The authority said it wants to make the worst performing rented properties in town more energy efficient and added the work will help lower rates of fuel poverty and improve living conditions.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations state that from April 2020, privately rented properties should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or above.

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Those with an F or G EPC rating should not be rented out, unless exempt, the council said.

The council’s housing renewal team will work with landlords to meet these standards and will be investigating properties that do not.

Failure to comply with the necessary improvements may lead to a maximum penalty of £5,000 issued to the landlord.

Cllr Andy Batsford, lead councillor for housing and homelessness, said: “There are around 14,500 households living in rented properties in our borough and in 2018 there were over 5,000 households living in fuel poverty.

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“The team will be looking to ensure as many as possible of these properties meet the minimum standards, so improvements can be made to the quality of life of our residents, whose physical and mental health can be severely impacted when living in a cold home.

Properties with lower EPC ratings tend to be poorly insulated or have insufficient heating systems, meaning their tenants have increased energy bills from trying to heat their home.

“These new rules are also benefiting the landlords with lower ongoing maintenance costs, higher tenant satisfaction and a more desirable property that has an increased market value.”

For help and advice on making improvements or to report a property that does not meet the necessary standards, visit www.hastings.gov.uk/housing/landlord/MEES.

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