Exemptions

There are various exemptions that apply to the prohibition on letting a property with an energy efficiency rating below E.

If your property meets the criteria for any of the exemptions, you will be able to let it once you have registered the exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register.

Information required for all exemptions:

• address of the property
• type of exemption you are registering
• copy of a valid EPC for the property

Below is a list of all exemptions types available, and are subject to induvial supporting evidence which is not specified below. For more information please see: Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard - landlord guidance

‘All relevant improvements made' exemption

Register this exemption if the property is still below EPC E after improvements have been made up to the cost cap (£3,500 incl VAT), or there are none that can be made.

This exemption lasts 5 years. After that it will expire and you must try again to improve the property's EPC rating to E. If it is still not possible, you may register a further exemption.

‘High cost' exemption

Register this exemption if no improvement can be made because the cost of installing even the cheapest recommended measure would exceed £3,500 (including VAT).

This exemption lasts 5 years. After that it will expire and you must try again to improve the property's EPC rating to E. If it is still not possible, you may register a further exemption.

'Wall insulation' exemption

You can register this exemption if the only relevant improvements for your property are:

• cavity wall insulation
• external wall insulation
• or internal wall insulation (for external walls)

AND

• you have obtained written expert advice showing that these measures would negatively impact the fabric or structure of the property (or the building of which it is part).

This exemption lasts 5 years. After that it will expire and you must try again to improve the property's EPC rating to E. If it is still not possible, you may register a further exemption.

'Third-party consent' exemption

Register this exemption if the relevant improvements for your property need consent from another party, such as a tenant, superior landlord, morgagee, freeholder or planning department, and despite your best efforts that consent cannot be obtained, or is given subject to conditions you could not reasonably comply with.

This exemption lasts:

• 5 years or,
• where lack of tenant consent was the issue, until the current tenancy ends or is assigned to a new tenant

In either case, once the exemption comes to an end, you need to try again to improve the EPC rating of the property, or register a further exemption.

'Property devaluation' exemption

Register this exemption if you have evidence showing that making energy efficiency improvements to your property would devalue it by more than 5%. In order to register this exemption you will need a report from an independent surveyor. This surveyor needs:

• to be on the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) register of valuers
• to advise that the installation of the relevant improvement measures would reduce the market value of the property, or the building it forms part of, by more than 5%

This exemption lasts 5 years. After that it will expire and you must try again to improve the property's EPC rating to E. If it is still not possible, you may register a further exemption.

'Temporary' exemption due to recently becoming a landlord

If you have recently become a landlord under certain circumstances you will not be expected to take immediate action to improve your property to EPC E. You may claim a 6 months exemption from the date you became a landlord. This exemption lasts 6 months from the date you became the landlord. After that it will expire and you must have either:

• improved the property to EPC E
  or registered another valid exemption, if one applies

To register this exemption, you need to provide this additional information:

• the date on which you became the landlord for the property
  the circumstances under which you became the landlord

How to register an exemption

• create an account
• enter the address of your property
• state the type of exemption you want to register
• upload all the required evidence, including a copy of a valid EPC for the property

Exemption data cannot be amended once the data has been submitted. Make sure you have checked everything carefully before submitting.

All exemptions apply from the point you register them. As the enforcing authority, Stratford-on-Avon District Council have powers to review and audit exemptions registered for properties in our area, and may subsequently contact landlords if we have queries or concerns about any of the materials submitted to the Register. There is no timeframe for this audit.

If you improve an exempt property to E after having registered an exemption (or stop renting the property out) you can cancel the exemption by going to your account ‘dashboard' page and selecting ‘View or manage my exemptions'.