The British royal family could face unexpected financial difficulties due to strict environmental standards and property ownership rules, reports infohub.kz.
According to an investigation, about 90% of the surveyed properties in the Sandringham estate, as well as in the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, do not meet the required energy efficiency rating of C, which will become mandatory in the UK by 2030. Previously, the minimum standard was level E.
To achieve the required rating, the Crown will have to spend around £10 million, as upgrading each property is estimated at about £10,000. If buildings are not brought into compliance, owners face fines of up to £30,000 per property.
In Sandringham, 99% of rental homes have a low rating from D to G. In the Duchy of Lancaster, the proportion below the norm exceeds 90%, and in Cornwall it is 80%. Representatives of the residences stated that modernizing ancient and historic buildings in rural areas is a challenging task, but renovation work is already actively underway.