Are Electric Radiators a Suitable Choice for Landlords?

When you buy a rental property, you will have a lot of different things that you need to consider. Not only do you need to think about the layout of the property and the decor but also the heating system. This can be a significant cost for any landlord, both to install and to maintain, so it is important that you make the right choice. This is why an increasing number of landlords are looking for options outside of the traditional gas central heating model and are leaning towards modern electric radiators instead.

In this article, Rio Heating share their advice about electric radiators, the way they work and what their benefits can be to see if they are really a suitable choice for landlords.

EPC ratings

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of a property is an estimate of its overall energy efficiency. This will give a property a grading on how energy efficient it is and what its environmental impact is likely to be. These ratings are based on a scale from A to G, with A being the most efficient. The EPC will also include details on the energy cost of a property, as well as its carbon dioxide emissions and ways in which its energy efficiency can be improved.

An EPC rating will take many different factors into account, including the quality of insulation, the lighting and the windows in the property, but obviously heating will be a major factor in this as well. Laws are in place to ensure that landlords have more responsibilities than ever before to provide their tenants with energy efficient housing and from 2028 all rental properties will be required to have a rating of at least C.

Electric radiators can play a big part in boosting the EPC rating of a property. This is because they provide some of the most efficient heating solutions that are available and can help to streamline energy usage and running costs. As they are modular in nature, then appliances can be mixed and matched according to the room and its use.

As much of our electricity now comes from renewable sources, these electric radiators can help to improve your EPC rating by reducing your carbon emissions as well as the cost of running them.

Installation process

Fitting a new heating system can be an arduous and expensive task. It can involve extensive pipe work as well as potentially the installation of a new boiler. This can be extremely disruptive, and the bills can quickly rack up. However, when installing electric radiators, life gets a whole lot easier. As these units are freestanding, they can be placed anywhere within the property as long as there is access to a plug socket. They can be fixed to a wall or left to stand on the floor, so installing them really couldn't be any easier. They do not need to be connected to a heating system - all they need is a nearby power source. This means the heating system of a home can be transformed in a matter of hours if necessary, and they do not need any specialist fitting so it can be done by the landlord themselves.

Low maintenance

One of the biggest headaches for a landlord is the requirement to keep the property maintained. This means there can often be unexpected phone calls from a tenant because a boiler is no longer working, or pipe work is leaking. This can all be incredibly stressful and can require an awful lot of time to deal with. Electric radiators are much less hassle, as they require very little maintenance. All that is needed are basic safety checks by registered electricians once every five years to ensure that they comply with the safety requirements for rented properties.

Zoned heating

As electric radiators are individual units, it is much easier to control which ones should be switched on any given point. It is possible to group them together into zones or control each one individually, and these days, that can all be done from a smartphone. This makes it much easier for tenants to manage their heating bills as they can choose to only heat the radiators that they need. This also ensures there is much less waste of heating in unused spaces. If a property is left vacant for any period of time, then landlords can control the heating themselves from their own phone, ensuring that the property does not get too cold or damp.

A stylish choice

Radiators are rarely the focal point of any room and so they tend to be something that people aim to hide. However, boundaries are now being pushed when it comes to design and electric radiators are taking on a life of their own. There are now some very attractive designs and colours to choose from, which can actually be a feature in any room that you add them to. These are preferable to the traditional radiators that we are used to and the large storage heaters that can sometimes be used as an alternative. This gives landlords much more choice when it comes to the design of their property, and it can make the property more appealing to prospective tenants, ensuring that there is somebody taking residence as soon as possible.

Green credentials

An increasing number of tenants are concerned by their impact on the environment and so by offering an electric heating system you can appeal to a new breed of greener tenant. It is estimated that around 43% of the UK's electricity generation comes from renewable energy sources and this is only set to rise. By providing tenants with a heating system that runs on electricity instead of gas, you will have more green credentials to advertise.

Electric radiators are part of a more future conscious heating system. They can work for all types of tenants and can provide a number of benefits for both the landlords and those living in the property, making them an ideal choice.