Prince William has been accused of acting like a “rogue landlord” amid claims that dozens of rental properties he owns fail to meet minimum energy efficiency requirements.
In Britain, it has been illegal for properties rated below an E under Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to be leased without a valid exemption since 2020.
But a 15-month investigation by The Mirror and current affairs program Dispatches found one in seven rentals owned by Prince William’s £1.3 billion Duchy of Cornwall estate have bottom-tier energy performance certificates.
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William inherited more than 600 rental properties in 2022, with at least 50 of the 500 identified during the investigation rated F and a further 20 rated G.
Residents have complained their homes are cold and poorly insulated, with many being left at risk of “fuel poverty” because they can’t afford coal and wood to generate heat.
‘So cold and damp’
“There is mould appearing on soft furnishings and clothes because the air is so cold and damp,” one tenant who spoke as part of the investigation said.
“To make my property efficient it needs to be insulated but they won’t do that because of the cost.
“But you don’t want to say anything against your landlord for fear of eviction. There could be consequences.”
Regulation breaches can incur fines of up to £5,000 per property, and none of the 70 properties allegedly rated F and G have exemptions in place.
Since new rules were introduced four years ago, William and King Charles, the previous Duke of Cornwall, have raked in an aggregate amount of £91 million pounds in profits from the Duchy.
The findings were revealed as taxpayers fund a £369 million renovation of Buckingham Palace, and the Prince launches a homelessness campaign.
“It’s a disgrace that a billion pound royal estate appears to be acting like a rogue landlord. And getting away with it,” Fuel Poverty Action campaigner Jonathan Bean said.
“King Charles and Prince William have profited from renting out property that fails to meet even basic standards.”
A spokesperson for the Duchy said it was a “responsible and compassionate landlord” that works with tenants to address energy inefficiencies.
“Prince William became Duke of Cornwall in September 2022 and since then has committed to an expansive transformation of the Duchy,” they said.
“This includes a significant investment to make the estate net zero by the end of 2032, as well as establishing targeted mental health support for our tenants and working with local partners to help tackle homelessness in Cornwall.”
The bombshell report outlines other public contracts by which the Duchy generates millions of pounds in rental income, with tenants including the National Health Service, the military, a prison and some state schools.