Half of all landlords will consider Green Deal, says NLA

Just over half of private landlords are considering taking up the Green Deal initiative, it has been claimed.

Under the Green Deal, due to launch on October 1, landlords will be able to get an upfront amount to make energy-saving improvements such as installing insulation or a new boiler. The loan will be repaid through utility bills by the tenants.

According to the National Landlords Association’s latest Landlord Panel survey, 63% say they are aware of the Green Deal and 56% are considering taking advantage of it.

All private rental properties with an F or G rated Energy Performance Certificate will be banned from the market after 2018.
 
David Salusbury, chairman of the NLA, said: “Whilst our research shows that many landlords are keen to take advantage of the Green Deal, a third of landlords are not yet aware of the initiative. We encourage landlords to become familiar with the Green Deal as the private-rented sector has a key role to play in ensuring Britain meets its energy targets.

“Furthermore, it is imperative that landlords future-proof their properties and their investments.

“The Green Deal is their opportunity to improve the quality of their properties and demonstrate their ability to engage with government initiatives without the burden of further regulation.

“If landlords don’t act now, they may find their property cannot be legally let come 2018.”

* The Residential Landlords Association is, however, unhappy with the concept that tenants must repay a loan to a landlord under the Green Deal scheme. It believes that tenants will resent this, and will also not be happy at paying higher utility bills.

The RLA is lobbying for landlords to be able to repay the Green Deal loans themselves, and has warned that tenants’ resistance plus steep energy bills could blight properties.