economy
King Charles and Prince William face £10m energy upgrade bill for estates
New rules could affect nine in 10 rental properties in duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster and at Sandringham
TL;DR
- King Charles and Prince William could face a £10 million bill to upgrade rental properties on their private estates to meet new energy efficiency rules.
- The government plans to require landlords to ensure properties have an EPC rating of C or higher by 2030, a significant increase from the current E rating.
- A Guardian investigation found that almost 90% of domestic properties on the duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster and the Sandringham estate have EPC ratings of D or lower.
- Failure to comply could result in fines of £30,000 per home, and the potential total cost for upgrades could exceed £10 million.
- The royal estates are noted to be less energy-efficient than average rental properties, often due to their age and heating methods.