There are a number of measures you as a landlord can take to improve the energy performance of your property. These include:
- Insulating your property properly is the most cost effective measure you can take. In most cases, cavity wall insulation is straightforward and inexpensive. Installing new loft insulation in most properties is an easy DIY job and should be done to a depth of 270mm
- If your boiler is over 15 years old, it’s probably time to replace it and you’ll get a better rating if you combine it with more modern controls. If you need to save space, buy a combi boiler, which does not store hot water in a tank, but heats hot water directly from the cold water mains as it is used
- If the property has a hot water cylinder, it should be set at 60°c. Any more is wasteful
- Fit a hot water tank jacket
- While double glazing can be fairly expensive, it will reduce noise and lower heating bills
- When purchasing new appliances look out for the Energy Saving Recommended Logo and choose the most energy efficient in their category
- Replace the light bulbs with energy efficient ones. Over its lifetime, one bulb can reduce your lighting costs by up to £60 and will last 10 times longer
- Fix dripping taps as soon as you can. One hot water tap can waste the same amount of water in a week as a hot bath
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