We have finally received a statement from Scottish Government regarding Private Rental Sector Energy Efficiency Standards. Please see below.
Private Rented Property Regulations (Scotland) Energy Efficiency Will Be Delayed with no fixed date agreed to bring into law.
What this means is that any property in Scotland can still legally be let, no matter what the rating might be. What we would recommend is that you use any vacant period between tenancies to consider energy efficiency improvements that would improve the property rating. The Scottish Government have indicated that they intend to bring forward their Carbon Dioxide Reduction Target, which the PRS Minimum Energy Efficiency Regulations form part of. We would therefore encourage all landlords to consider making improvements whilst there are still some grants left and whilst government loans are available as we have seen these start to disappear since their introduction.
“Private Rented Property) Regulations in Scotland will be delayed in light of the ongoing situation with Covid-19.
In December, the Scottish Government provided a brief update regarding the regulations which highlighted their intentions to introduce them in April 2021. However, the current national situation has resulted in a change to this plan.
Scottish Government has stated:
“Following a ministerial discussion, and in light of the ongoing Covid-19 situation, it was decided to once again pause the work to bring the PRS regulations in to law. Due to the ongoing pressures in the sector caused by the pandemic we are not now able to indicate a firm date, but can confirm it will not be in this Parliament. Any work to bring them back will only be done following a review of the pandemic situation and the impact that is causing on the building sector, coupled with the pressure on the Private Rented Sector.”
