Policy Commitment
Chris Huhne has announced that government will regulate to drive-up the energy efficiency performance of the PRS from 2015 if a review of the private rented housing stock shows that no voluntary improvements has been made under the Green Deal; a loan interest loan scheme that is paid back through savings in energy bills, with the loan attached to the meter of the property, which starts in Autumn 2012.
Legislative Proposal
The Secretary of State will be able to make regulations requiring private landlords to make reasonable energy efficiency improvements to their properties. Such regulations would be a subject to the outcome of the review which will assess the energy performance of rented properties, planned in 2013.
Subject to consultation, landlords will be obliged to install measures for which there is funding available through Green Deal, ensuring there is no upfront financial cost for private landlords. No regulations would come into force before April 2015.
Provisions likely to include:
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review into energy efficiency of PRS, to commence in 2013
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necessary improvements which are funded by Green Deal or Energy Company Obligation
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exemptions to be set out in secondary regulations
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authority for Secretary of State to make regulations applying to both residential and non- residential properties:
Residential
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prevent landlords from unreasonably withholding permission for energy efficiency improvements from their tenants
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require councils to request improvements to the worst performing properties
Non-residential
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require landlords to bring their homes up to acceptable standard before rented out
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where the above is not possible, landlords obliged to implement all the cost effective improvements identified but would not be required to meet min standards
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