Your responsibilities as a landlord span beyond decorating your rental property! When you’re providing a home for tenants, it is critical that your building considers all their needs. You have legal requirements to insulate and protect your house against the elements from installing functional facilities down to ensuring energy efficiency.
At SuperFOIL, we understand you want to apply the highest quality materials to your property, and you expect to see results. Please read our guide below to insulation from a landlord’s perspective. We’ll help you identify the most suitable solutions for your house.
Firstly, Do I Legally Require Insulation?
As a landlord, your domestic building must comply with the 2018 ‘Minimum Level of Efficiency’ standard. The act states any privately rented accommodation must meet or pass above the ‘E’ EPC band. If you rent out a property that falls short, you could owe a civil penalty of up to £5,000 as punishment.
To add a little more pressure, the EPC band is expected to change in 2022. The minimum energy requirements will likely increase to D or C bands. If you’re considering insulating a rental property in 2022, it’d be sensible to aim for band C to reduce future stress.
Where Should I Install Insulation?
There are three significant elements to insulating your house effectively. The floor, roof and walls are the areas to target and reduce heat loss. In order of importance, around 35% heating will escape through walls, 25% through your roof and 10% through the floor. With these figures in mind, your walls are a sensible place to begin your insulation, then tackle your roof, and finally, your foundation.
Wall insulation accommodates both solid and timber frame walls. Floor insulation is available for concrete and suspended floors. Roof insulation works with pitched and flat roof installs. No matter the materials in your property, you’ll be able to find a solution to retain heat energy.
What Insulation Materials Are Available?
There are plenty of options for insulation materials at different price points. Some solutions are better suited to underfloor applications, while others are lightweight to accommodate your roof. No matter the shape and size of your house, or your budget, you’ll be able to find insulation to suit your needs.
Fiberglass Insulation
Fibreglass is made from fine glass fibres, and it is one of the most readily available materials. You can apply fibreglass as loose-fill or slabs/blankets. Loose-fill requires a specialist blowing machine, so you’ll likely have to seek support from a professional when installing.
Mineral Wool Insulation
Similarly to fibreglass, mineral wool insulation is available as slabs/blankets and loose-fill. It is naturally fire-resistant and made from natural minerals or blast furnace slag. You can apply mineral wool as underfloor, roof and wall insulation.
Foil Insulation
Multifoil insulation retains heat as effectively as mineral wool and fibreglass but at a fraction of the thickness. When you’re pressed for space or time, the quick installation of a multifoil will insulate any area of your house. Vapour control properties also help prevent damp damage to your building.
Foam Insulation
Foam boards can be incredibly effective insulation. Polyisocyanurate and polyurethane are different types of foam insulation, while you may have encountered cementitious foam and phenolic foam. You can pair foam insulation with SuperFOIL insulation for a ‘combi’ solution.
What Insulation Solution Will Suit Me?
At SuperFOIL, we’ll help you identify the ideal product for your property. If you’re pressed for space, multifoil can insulate your walls, your flooring and your roof with a reduced thickness compared to traditional insulation types.
Often, the cheapest material isn’t necessarily the best performing insulation, so you’ll save more money in the long run by investing wisely.
Call our team on 01636 639900 to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency, and get one step ahead before the new rules for landlords in 2022 are implemented.
