The aim of this toolkit is to provide practical guidance and support to local authorities on the effective and proactive enforcement of energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector (PRS). This covers both the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) (Excess Cold) and the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).

It has been developed following extensive research which comprised:

• A desktop review
• Interviews with local authorities and third-party stakeholders
• The development of a set of case studies highlighting proactive and innovative approaches to enforcement 
• A stakeholder workshop to test and explore the early findings from the research

The research was funded by Ebico Trust, a registered charity which is funded through any profit made by the energy supplier Ebico. A steering group comprising representatives from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Local Government Association (LGA), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), the Residential Landlords’ Association (RLA) and the Association of Local Energy Officers (ALEO) has overseen the research, which was carried out by the Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE) and CAG Consultants.

Warm Arm of the Law, aimed at policy makers, has been produced alongside this toolkit.