More than 100 homes on royal estates have energy efficiency ratings of F or G
More than 100 residential properties on estates inherited by King Charles III and Prince William have Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) with an F or G rating—the two lowest ratings. This was reported by The Guardian following an analysis of property data for the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the Sandringham estate.
The newspaper examined the EPCs of more than 700 residential properties listed in the land registry as belonging to one of the three royal estates. A total of 143 properties—roughly one-fifth of the sample—received an F or G rating. However, it is unknown how many of these were unoccupied due to renovations or sale.
In England and Wales, since 2020, it has been prohibited to rent out housing with a rating below E unless the landlord can justify applying an exception provided for by the regulations. In the sample analyzed, fewer than one in 12 properties rated F or G had a registered exemption. The rules also do not apply to some lease agreements entered into before October 2008, and for certain farmhouses, the application of the requirements depends on the type of lease.
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In the Duchy of Lancaster, The Guardian identified nearly 40 homes with an F or G rating among more than 200 properties. About half of them are farmhouses. At the Sandringham estate, 18 of nearly 170 certified properties had such ratings. The Duchy of Cornwall owned approximately 340 residential properties with EPCs, more than 80 of which received an F or G rating.
Journalists visited several homes with low ratings and reported mold, drafts through single-pane windows, and a lack of central heating in some units. The organization Fuel Poverty Action stated that some residents, particularly the elderly, are living in unacceptable conditions.
The Duchy of Lancaster stated that it has spent over 3 million pounds sterling over the past year on housing repairs and upgrades and is working to improve the energy ratings of historic buildings. Representatives from Sandringham reported that the estate’s properties comply with MEES regulations, taking into account various types of tenancies and applicable exemptions. The Duchy of Cornwall noted that since 2022, it has spent 11 million pounds on housing improvements and plans to allocate an additional 50 million pounds toward the condition and energy efficiency of its existing properties.
