Government to crack down on landlords with draughty homes - 11/05/2011
The energy secretary has said that landlords will face minimum energy efficiency standards when letting out their properties.
Chris Huhne insisted that the Green Deal initiative, which comes into effect next year, would ensure that tenants do not need to live in "poorly insulated, draughty homes".
Under the programme, energy suppliers would carry out upgrades to properties with no upfront cost to owners.
They would be paid back through increases in bills, which could prompt consumers to switch energy to find a good deal.
New proposals outlined by the Department of Energy and Climate Change include making it unlawful, from April 2018, to rent out a property with an energy rating below 'E'.
In addition, the government wants landlords to be unable to refuse requests from tenants to improve their homes or business premises from April 2016 onwards.
"The Green Deal is a win-win opportunity for landlords by removing the upfront cost of work to upgrade the property making it cheaper to run, more environmentally friendly and ultimately more attractive to rent," Mr Huhne explained.
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