Private sector landlords in the dark

Well over one-third still have no idea what the correct energy rating is of properties they let out – even though it has been illegal for the past four years to rent out properties without an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
Since last month, landlords have also been required to attach a copy of the front page of the EPC to the more detailed information about a building to let, known as the “written particulars”.
Well over half of landlords surveyed by the landlords’ association, ARLA, have never heard of the Government’s flagship Green Deal policy, due to be launched in just two months time.
One in seven of those landlords that have bothered to acquire EPCs admit that some or all of their properties fall into the bottom rating categories, F and G. Under the Energy Act 2011, none of these properties will be permitted to be rented out from January 2018 unless their energy performances are improved.
ARLA operations manager Ian Potter expressed concern that “landlords aren’t as clued up as they should be on energy performance.” With energy prices rising and household income falling, “making a rental property more energy efficient could mean a big difference for tenants, and help a property stand out.”
The special tax break for landlords, the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance, (LESA), enables landlords to claim a tax allowance of up to £1,500 p.a. for certain basic energy saving measures. Landlords associations are pushing for this to be increased to £14,000, to enable whole-building makeovers to be undertaken. Under current plans, private sector landlords are not permitted to partake in Green Deal Finance schemes – possibly one reason why the majority still professes ignorance of the entire Green Deal concept.