Royal estates rent out homes that fail to meet legal energy efficiency standards

More than 100 homes on the royal estates of King Charles and Prince William have been found to have energy efficiency ratings of F or G, according to a Guardian investigation. These properties, part of the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the Sandringham estate, fall below the legal minimum energy standards for landlords in England and Wales.

EPC ratings, introduced in 2007, assess a property's energy efficiency and influence energy bills and environmental impact. The minimum rating for new private tenancies is E, which was extended to existing tenancies in 2020. However, many of the failing royal rentals do not have formal exemptions from the regulations. Some landlords, including farmers leasing farmhouses, are reportedly using gaps in the rules to continue renting out poorly insulated and difficult-to-heat properties.

The Guardian has visited several of the worst-rated properties, discovering issues such as black mould and inadequate heating. The pressure group Fuel Poverty Action has criticized the royals for prioritizing profits over the health and welfare of their tenants. The two duchies, established since the 13th century, are exempt from most business taxes and have paid out over £400 million to the king and his family since 2018.

Fewer than one in 12 of the F and G-rated properties had registered exemptions, with the most common being that consent for improvements had been refused. The properties do not always comply with current regulations due to their historical status, and the royals have faced criticism for not investing in energy efficiency improvements.