Landlord has lied about EPC rating in advert. Advice?

[implicata]

DC is embarking on their first student flatshare. Contracts on the verge of being signed. The property advert said it had a EPC rating of C, but now we've checked we can see it is actually an F. It doesn't appear to have any exemption to recent rule changes that require a minimum of E, so it seems to be illegally let. Can the tenants insist the landlord makes the necessary upgrades? It has no thermostat or double glazing. It also isn't elligible for the price cap (as it's a community heating scheme) so the estimated annual bill just for heating and hot water is £3600 between 5 tenants!

www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance

Are they dealing direct with the landlord or an agent?

Does he have an exception cert? If it costs more than 3.5k you can register an exception.

Direct with landlord

They've asked the landlord this question, but no reply yet. But he has another flat in the same block, rated D, with double glazing and a thetmostat, so there's no obvious reason why this property can't be upgraded.

My daughters have been through similar recently. Landlord hiked up the rent by 25% but refused to make the improvements. They moved out and he readvertised it as an A!

Have you read the exemption information and penalties on the link? I know this is really tough to fight because there's such a shortage of accommodation.

Still waiting to hear from the landlord, who is "looking into" the EPC discrepancy. If he says in writing that he'll make the necessary updates before winter, then fine. If it comes down to a "take it or leave it" decision my DC can leave it, because he has a contingency option (aka commuting from home until something else turns up), but his friends are at risk of having no accommodation for term start. 🙁

It also seems inappropriate that the £3600 the landlord is requesting for heating over the 12 months is based on the supplier's estimate, presumably from the previous occupants' usage. If the EPC is improved, they may need to try and negotiate a switch to a usage-based bill instead.