Mansfield District Council has identified 166 private rental properties within the district that do not comply with new energy efficiency standards.
The authority has been contacting all the landlords who are not meeting the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards after being awarded £90,000 by the government to help enforce the new law.
Since April last year all rental property must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) at level A to E. Any that are ranked F or G have to make energy efficiency improvements to their properties, unless exempt. If they do not, they could be taken to court and fined up to £5,000.
Cllr Marion Bradshaw, Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities, Housing and Wellbeing, said: "Most private landlords meet these standards and do a good job at looking after their tenants.
"However there are always a few who rent out properties that are cold, draughty and expensive to heat. Often these are older housing stock rented out to low income or vulnerable households.
"Although we have identified 166 private properties that are being rented out in breach of the new regulations, we suspect the actual number is much higher and we encourage tenants to contact us if they feel their home does not meet the new standards.
"We prefer to work with landlords to improve standards rather than wave a big stick at them. However, enforcement action is an option if landlords choose not to engage with the project."
Mansfield District Council is among 59 local authorities to be awarded funding by the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to enforce the new law.
It has enabled the council to take on two enforcement officers, along with administration support, to target landlords who are renting properties that do not meet the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. The project will run until the end of March 2022.
The ultimate goal is to improve standards within the private rented sector and raise awareness among tenants and landlords of the new regulations.
Landlords who have properties that do not meet minimum standards will be advised of various measures to improve their energy efficiency such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and double glazing.
Action to enforce the new law is being supported by the Midlands Energy Hub, a BEIS-funded agency that works with local authorities to help deliver the government's Net Zero Strategy.
Michael Gallagher, Head of the Hub, said: “Midlands Energy Hub are delighted to be supporting Mansfield District Council. Through improving the quality of housing stock, the whole project looks to target over 95,000 of the worst-performing private rented homes with the ultimate aim of tackling fuel poverty and reducing carbon emissions produced by the domestic housing sector.”
Tenants who believe their rental property does not have an EPC or a certificate which rates their home from A to E on EPC rankings, can contact the council for advice on what measures they can request from their landlord. They should email the council (link opens in email app) or telephone 01623 463212.