Isle of Wight landlords who continue to rent out energy-inefficient homes can now be fined up to £5,000.
It is in a bid to improve some of the worst housing stock on the Isle of Wight, and potentially reduce energy bills at a time when the cost of living crisis is hitting residents.
The Isle of Wight Council approved a new minimum energy efficiency standards penalty policy at its cabinet meeting earlier this week. This sets out how it can penalise landlords of private rented properties.
It is in line with April 2020 government regulations introduced to tackle private dwellings with an energy performance rating of band F and G, the lowest possible.
The energy-inefficient homes impose unnecessary costs on tenants, the wider economy and the can lead to poor health outcomes, the Isle of Wight Council says.
Under the regulations, a landlord cannot continue to let or re-let their property with the lowest energy performance certificates. If they want to do so they must undertake work to increase the performance rating to at least an E.
Now, the Isle of Wight Council has set out how it can enforce the regulations by introducing fines of up to £5,000.
The amount landlords would be fined is at the discretion of the council but will be assessed by the severity of the offence, culpability of the offender, the offender’s track record and the actual harm to the occupiers.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting on Monday, Councillor Ian Stephens, housing lead, said they want to work with landlords and help them turn their properties energy efficient.
The council hope the sub-standard properties will be improved before the need for formal action but the policy provides a robust response where landlords commit offences, sending a strong message to landlords ‘operating unsatisfactorily’.
The fine will be paid to the goverment and force some landlords to then sell up and leave a family with no home…when the councils have nowhere for people to live…..you really couldnt make this stuff up
Its all about gain for government and councils nothing mor nothing less
No wonder rents keep getting higher and less available for ordinary people, the council needs to help Landlords – Council won’t pay reasonable rent,tell Tennant’s to stay put when not even paying rent forcing the land lord to have to pay to go Court etc.. There will be less Landlords taking on properties as risk is getting high,now rent’s don’t even cover landlords mortgage and insurances. I know I’ll go buy a£100,000 one bedroom flat,rent out for £450 month,but only get 7mths rent then have take court,£3000, mortgage £600 month insurance etc- I’ll not bother if I have a property I’ll sell it to second home buyer’s.
Freddie, there is a subtle plan to end private landlords as large banks and businesses are now buying into the property market for renting purposes, which is easier for the Gov to control.
SOON it will be illegal to buy a home with a mortgage IF it doesn’t meet a C rating on the insulation scale.
This again plays into the hands of developers, as most houses in this cat, are large old Victorian homes, with large gardens etc.
So developers will buy them cash, for a low price, and then build several boxes or flats on the site, as without the mortgage clients ensuring a fair price is met, less can push up the price if cash only.
Council attacking honest working people again. If people didn’t want to rent inefficient homes they wouldn’t, let the market decide
Landlords are people too, we are not parasites.
I presume that because the Council are introducing this Draconian policy that County Hall has a Triple A Star rating for energy efficiency?!
IoW Council – STOP these ridiculous ‘sound bite’ policies and concentrate on giving the Island Tax Payers an efficient and value for money service!
Sell it, it really is that simple.
It is sometimes staggering what landlord’s are expected to do for tenants when there is no encouragement to update our own properties in the same way.
The sceptic in me says that a nice back hander will move a property classed f or g or lower into an e the minimum required and therefore there will be no improvement
About time Tennant’s did something to improve their home, look at housing ass, Tennant’s get all repairs for free etc when everyone else has to pay others or learn to do it themselves and why are housing ass properties less or no Council tax?.
Thatcher started the buy to let craze. Labour made it profitable with all the benefits. Buy to let is immoral and wrong. People who would normally be able to afford a mortgage can not save for a deposit because these the rent is 3 to 4 times what a mortgage would be. It is a vile practice and needs to be banned.
I’m going to stop the “vile” practice by evicting 2 tenants and sell their “homes” – that good enough for you?
Problem is, as successive Governments have foolishly given more and more to the poorest in society to have more and more children the housing could never keep pace with the demand.
Years ago if you said your wife was going to have a child or another child, workmates would say ‘Best put in for more overtime mate’
NOW people do less days as tax credits make up the difference and so people with children work less hours, get help with rent and council tax, so see NO reason why their offspring won’t be able to do the same.
Make life hard for those who are poor and want kids, then only those who really want them will have them.
Yes please, that’s all we’re asking for. Stop profiteering off some ones home and allow them to own it themselves.
Sadly both single mums and neither are in a position to be able to own either the house they now rent or on the open market. I’ll tell them that you would like me to evict them and sell to “someone” else who might or might not rent the property back to them no doubt at a revised rent – I’m Sure they will be delighted to know that you have their best interests at heart in making them and their children homeless.
It would be nice if the fortune of both mums changed and they were able to buy – perhaps even the homes they now occupy but until that happens both I and they are very happy with the settled (and not vile) arrangements we have.
How dare the IWC presume to tell landlords what to do – is this stalinist Russia?? If this imbecilic policy ever sees the light of day I will sell my properties and trouser the profit making my tenants homeless – and will be making sure that non islanders buy them. FU IWC.