According to the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), some landlords and letting agents may have to notify the National Measurement and Regulation Office (NMRO) about the heating systems in their rental properties by the end of this year.
Generally, anything considered a communal heating system needs to be reported to the NMRO.
The RLA initially believed that these duties would only apply to institutional landlords, such as those of university halls or nursing homes. However, the regulations could impact Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and bedsits. The landlord or letting agent could be required to send details of the heating network to the regulator.
The landlord must give notification to the NMRO about the heating system of the rental property by 31st December 2015. They may be required to install individual meters by the start of April 2016. There could also be ongoing responsibilities regarding maintenance and billing.
The RLA describes a landlord or agent as a heat supplier if all of the following apply:
- There is distribution of thermal energy in the form of steam, hot water or chilled liquids from a central source in the building, for example, a gas boiler.
- The thermal energy provides heating, hot water or cooling.
- The building is occupied by more than one customer.
- The landlord bills more than one resident for the heat or hot water that the individual has used (or a proportion of).