King Charles owns over 30 rental homes on his Sandringham Estate that “fail minimum energy efficiency standards”, according to a new investigation.
It comes after The Mirror’s investigation into the Duchy of Cornwall, where they claim vulnerable tenants were at risk of fuel poverty, with some living in cold, damp and mouldy homes.
One tenant explained: “It is very cold and the main problem is the single glazing.
“It lets out all the heat.”
King Charles owns over 30 rental homes on his Sandringham Estate that “fail minimum energy efficiency standards”, according to a new investigation.
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They continued to tell The Mirror that many tenants have single-glazed windows that have become entirely rotten.
“We think it is because King Charles does not like the look of double glazing, but you have to be careful what you say because they are so powerful,” they added.
“Many of these properties were built under Queen Victoria and they need to be modernised.”
A Sandringham spokesperson would not comment on individual properties but told the publication it “invests in an ongoing programme of improvement” and that “energy efficiency was prioritised”.
It is unclear if the King has immunity from the regulations, which carry fines of up to £5,000 per property for breaches.
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Since 2020, landlords have not been legally allowed to rent out homes rated below E under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards regulations.
According to the investigation, more than 30 rental homes on the Sandringham Estate are rated below these standards, with eight homes rated G and one getting the lowest possible score of one point out of 100.
It is unclear if the King has immunity from the regulations, which carry fines of up to £5,000 per property for breaches.
A 2022 investigation by The Guardian claimed the monarch has a personal exemption in his private capacity written into more than 160 laws.
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Sandringham is the much-loved country retreat of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
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A Sandringham Estate spokesman told The Mirror: “The Sandringham Estate has a mixture of tenancy types, which include a number of older properties and properties of different construction types and heat supplies.
“The estate continues to invest in an ongoing programme of maintenance and improvement works, with energy efficiency prioritised so that all properties comply with standards contained in the regulations.
“While we do not comment on individual properties, exemptions often exist on the small number that may not fall within the MEES legislation.”
GB News has reached out for comment from Buckingham Palace.