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WWF - Government risks creating loopholes for landlords on energy efficiency
Commenting on the proposals announced yesterday by the Government on minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes, WWF warned that loopholes risked offering a blanket exemption from the plans to a significant number of landlords.
The Government announced its intention yesterday to set minimum standards for the private rented sector at an EPC rating of E [1]. This would mean that after 2018 no privately rented home should be let unless they have an energy performance rating of band E or higher removing some of the very worst and unhealthy housing from the rented market.
Zoe Leader, climate & energy specialist for WWF-UK said: “The proposed minimum standard of band E for privately rented homes is an important precedent for improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock and most definitely a step in the right direction.
“However, it looks like landlords will not actually be required to improve their properties if they fail to meet the minimum standard unless improvements can be funded by the Green Deal or ECO. Given ongoing uncertainties around these policies, there is a high probability that these proposals will amount to a blanket exemption for a significant number of landlords.
“The Government must address these loopholes to ensure landlords are held responsible for the energy efficiency of the homes they profit from.”
Research undertaken on behalf of WWF and the UK Green Building Council in June showed that improving some of the worst performing homes in terms of energy efficiency to a band E could save an average of £409 per year on energy bills as well as reduce CO2 emissions of such homes by 25%. [2]
Notes to editors:
1. DECC: Private Rented Sector Energy Efficiency Regulations (Domestic) https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/private-rented-sector-energy-efficiency-regulations-domestic
2. Analysis for WWF and UK-GBC: achieving minimum EPC standards in housing http://www.ukgbc.org/resources/publication/analysis-wwf-and-uk-gbc-achieving-minimum-epc-standards-housing
For more information:
George Smeeton, Media Relations Manager WWF-UK
Tel: 01483 412 388, mob: 07917 052 948, email: GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk, twitter: @GSmeeton
