Let Zero is an Innovate-UK funded project, led by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which helps landlords and tenants across South Yorkshire to make energy efficiency improvements to homes in the private rented sector. As part of this project, Let Zero holds regular Energy Efficiency Cafés across the South Yorkshire region – where landlords can meet the Let Zero experts in person and discuss ways to make improvements to their housing portfolios.
The sessions are designed to be beneficial to landlords at any stage of their home improvement journey, with advice for anyone just learning about retrofit for the first time, as well as guidance for those already undergoing improvement projects.
Why visit one of our Cafés?
One landlord at a recent event told us: “I think the Let Zero project can provide real value to landlords, especially with their tool to assist landlords through their entire retrofit journey with everything in one place”.
Another explained what first bought them to an energy café: “I am conscious of the upcoming legislation requiring privately rented properties to achieve an EPC rating of C, so I wanted to speak to someone about my portfolio, and see what I could do to make some improvements”.
How do our dedicated retrofit advisors help?
The sessions are run by one of Let Zero’s dedicated retrofit advisors, who are on hand to give direction and advice on improvement projects. Ed Ogbee, one of the advisors, took us through their experience of the energy cafes: “We see a real mix of landlords at all stages of their retrofit journey. Many people who come to us are just starting out and want more information on the benefits of making energy efficiency improvements, to find out about available grants, or learn more about upcoming EPC regulation.
“Some already have an idea of what they would like to do but want to turn that idea into action. The knowledge and expertise in the Let Zero team makes us well placed to help them do that as we are building a network of trusted suppliers and can provide advice at every stage on how to take their project forward.”
At the energy efficiency cafés, landlords can also begin the process of getting a free portfolio assessment. Providing a few property details enables one of our experts to review a collection of homes and assess how close each is to achieving an EPC rating of C, including indications of likely project complexity, disruption potential, and cost scale (high, medium, or low).
What landlords take away from the Cafés
The energy cafes provide a great first step in helping landlords on their retrofit journey: “I am quite early in the process of upgrading my portfolio so am interested in any assistance I can get in upgrading my properties’ energy efficiency” one landlord told us after attending a recent event in Barnsley.
“The discussion we had today was really useful, and I feel much more ready to get going and start installing energy efficient measures in some of my properties.”
Energy Efficiency Cafés will continue to run across the South Yorkshire region throughout August and September.
Visit our Eventbrite page to see all upcoming dates
