King Charles and Prince William could reportedly face costs of up to £10 million as new energy-efficiency requirements place greater pressure on landlords to improve their rental properties.
The proposed rules would require rented homes to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C or above by 2030. As major estate owners, the royal family’s Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall could also be affected.
An EPC assesses a property’s energy efficiency and environmental impact. It also provides an estimate of typical energy costs, with ratings ranging from A, the most efficient, to G, the least efficient.
According to The Guardian, rental properties belonging to the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster, as well as the Sandringham estate, currently have an average EPC rating of D.
That means significant work may be needed to bring the homes up to the proposed standard. Improvements could include better insulation, upgraded heating systems, double glazing and other energy-saving measures.
The report suggests that meeting the requirements across the royal estates could cost millions of pounds. Landlords who continue renting homes without completing the necessary work could also face financial penalties of up to £30,000 per property.
The size of the estates makes the potential cost particularly significant. The Duchy of Lancaster covers more than 18,000 hectares, or approximately 44,000 acres, while the Sandringham estate extends across roughly 8,000 hectares, or 19,000 acres.
Prince William controls the Duchy of Cornwall, while the Duchy of Lancaster provides income for King Charles. If the new standards take effect as planned, both estates may need to undertake extensive upgrades before the 2030 deadline.
