More than 100 homes on the inherited royal estates of King Charles and Prince William fail to meet the legal minimum energy standards for landlords, the Guardian can reveal.
An analysis of a large sample of domestic lets on the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the Sandringham estate found that one in five have Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of F or G.
EPCs are documents that provide an energy efficiency score for properties, in relation to their running costs. Introduced in England and Wales in 2007 as concern grew about carbon emissions, they help to estimate energy bills and environmental impact. The most energy-efficient properties are awarded an A rating and the worst are given a G.
The revelations are likely to be embarrassing for Charles and William, both of whom have cultivated reputations as environmental advocates. Since 2020, it has been illegal to rent out properties with EPC ratings below E, unless the landlord can demonstrate that it is exempt. In the majority of failing royal rentals, no formal exemption has been cited.
