Chris Huhne, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, will set out radical plans to upgrade all 26 million homes in the country over the next decade.
Under the ‘New Green Deal’, households will be able to take out ‘pay-as-you-save loans’ from the local council , supermarket or chain store like B&Q. The loans of up to £10,000 will pay for double glazing, solar panels or other energy efficiency measures and will be paid pack over time through savings on fuel bills.
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Mr Huhne said the initiative will create more than 100,000 jobs over the next five years as home owners demand ‘green makeovers’.
However there is little incentive for private landlords to take advantage of the scheme because they are not paying the bills.
As a consequence many privately rented homes are badly insulated. At the moment about 670,000 homes, more than a fifth of the total 3.2 million in the private rented sector, are rated G or F, meaning they have some of the worst efficiency ratings in the country.
To force landlords to act the new legislation will “create powers allowing any tenant asking for reasonable energy efficiency improvements to receive them from 2015 onwards”.
It will also allow local authorities to insist that landlords improve the worst performing homes by installing insulation.
Let Insurance Services, a specialist insurance provider to the private rented sector, said it could cause problems for landlords and tenants.
“Anything that uses less energy and improves running costs for tenants is to be welcomed but the danger is that unneccessary costs of installations can be passed onto tenants and end up costing them more,” said a spokesman.
“It should also be remembered that there are many properties where it is next to impossible to improve energy efficiency without running foul of conservation regulations.”
Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK, welcomed the new measures.
“The Government is absolutely right to be including the private rented sector in its Green Deal energy efficiency plans. Without efforts to improve the millions of homes in the rented sector, the UK would be unable to reduce carbon emissions sufficiently or tackle fuel poverty,” he said.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change pointed out that landlords will only be forced to carry out ‘reasonable measures’ and the powers are under review.
Source - Telegraph
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2 comments:
It’s not just the landlords who should be aware and practice being green and environment-friendly we’re all responsible. By the way, if you think it's time to have your own place, why not try this great option of Rent to Buy Homes in Nottingham. It's the best option you have these days. Good luck in everything!
Very true we are all in this together :) I will have a look at the link sent. Thanks for reading our blogs
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