Starting with the 1st of April, important legislative changes will happen in the property market and property develops and UK construction companies need to be prepared for it. Privately rented properties need to reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating E before being able to grant a new tenancy to new or existing tenants.

If a property will fail to meet this standard, then the owner will face fines up to £4,000. If you are reading this and you are a landlord then you need to make sure you’re not at risk and the first step towards that is acquiring an EPC from an accredited EPC Register assessor.

Most landlords are familiar with the colourful diagram that offers an overview of a building’s energy efficiency rating. The rating is given by a qualified assessor after he had surveyed the property. The score can be between 1 and 100 and it determines the energy efficiency rating. Starting with the 1st of April, a score lower than 39 means the property is not legally equipped to be rented.

So what can you do to improve your property’s EPC rating?

First of all, make sure that every cavity wall contains proper insulation. Then, replace inefficient lighting with energy saving CFL or LED light bulbs that can cut electricity bills by up to £100 over its lifetime. One of the quickest ways for your property to lose energy is through the windows. Double glazing can reduce heat loss by up to 75%. If your property still relies on an old boiler, then it is time for an upgrade. A more costly investment is installing solar panels, however, your property will benefit from this free energy source for years. The last advice would be to compare business energy providers and see the green options available. This could bring you an up to 40% saving on your business energy spend.