The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 32: Aug/Sept 2017 | Page 38

Landlords: Are you prepared for the new minimum energy efficiency standards? The energy efficiency regulations in the private rented sector for England and Wales are changing from April 2018, making it unlawful to let residential or commercial properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘F’ or ‘G’- the two lowest grades of energy efficiency. The new rules will have very significant implications for landlords and for occupiers who wish to assign or sublet space, as properties will become unmarketable if they are not upgraded to meet the minimum standards. Landlords are being urged to take action now to avoid penalties and protect the value of their assets. Regional insurance company PIB is helping commercial landlords get ready for the new legal changes and has created an innovative package to support them, ensuring energy efficiency whilst keeping the investment as low as possible. Rupert Dixon, director of Renewable Energy at PIB said: “We have a unique insurance package for energy efficiency which covers the shortfall of any anticipated savings from installation of these interventions. We work with a number of funders and specialist contractors who audit properties on our client’s behalf, proposing a range of new measures to improve a property’s EPC rating. Where funding is required, the energy savings can be used to payback the loan (subject to sufficient savings available and funder’s approval), whilst still delivering an overall saving. This is then ‘wrapped’ into an insurance package to protect the asset and maintain the anticipated level of savings. “My best advise would be to act now and get expert advice, ensuring your property investment is energy efficient, whilst making sure you are compliant.” Rupert is a member of the Energy Managers Association (EMA), Investor Confidence Project (ICP), Energy Efficiency Finance Initiative Group (EEFIG) (Brussels) and the Energy Services Trade Association (ESTA). He works with owners, funders and developers across the Renewable Energy sector including, wind, solar photovoltaics, Waste to Energy, anaerobic digestion and tidal, providing comprehensive risk management solutions for all installation and operational phases. Rupert Dickson For more info: www.pib-insurance.com 0117 926 9937 [email protected] MEET THE TIGER PLANT TEAM Stuart Morgan and Andy Rohrer are the founders of a new machinery hire business based in Swindon, Tiger Plant. Just a few months in and Tiger Plant is growing rapidly offering machinery for small building projects (domestic and commercial) right through to major commercial developments. Andy and Stuart, who also own a property development company together, decided to set up Tiger Plant when they realised one of their own challenges on their building sites was getting the right plant to the right place at the right time. Andy said: “We wasted, so much time trying to source plant for our own projects we realised other businesses must be in a similar position. We’ve invested in high quality plant and can also supply people to operate the machines in a safe and efficient manner. The business idea emerged gradually but it’s rapidly grown.” Tiger Plant has another goal – to provide excellent customer service alongside well maintained plant to maximise output and efficiency. “Often when we hired in machinery it was poorly maintained and not in good order,” Andy said. “This meant 38 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2017 we were paying to hire plant and then had to endure down time in the project to get the machinery working properly or wait for someone to fix it.” Stuart said: “Our business customers vary enormously. We hire kit to other building companies and sometimes other hire companies which need extra capacity. We do this because we firmly believe in collaboration. We also support a lot of companies involved in projects around the environment such as those who are dealing with contaminated land, removal of diesel tankers, removal or installing underground equipment, and containers or those involved in digging trial pits for contamination assessments.” The range of plant on offer includes micro diggers, a selection of midi diggers and larger diggers up to 20 tonnes. Also available for hire are tele handlers, masted forklifts for moving pallets and other goods suitable for both inside and outside a business premises, dumper trucks, bowsers and compactors. Additionally machine operators can also be hired in so that the machinery comes with its own operator. Andy said: “Our ambition is to grow Tiger Plant and roll it out across the South West over the next year. The demand is there, and we are growing our team in order to meet that demand.” For more info: www.tigerplant.co.uk 01793 886444