Landlords might have to embark on a programme of investment in order to bring their lettings portfolio up to scratch in terms of energy efficiency.

According to research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), more than one in three (35 per cent) of landlords in the UK do not know the energy performance of their rental properties.

Less than a fifth (17 per cent) could hazard a guess that their residences would be classified as the F & G band of the Energy Performance Certificate, despite government plans to make it unlawful to rent out energy efficient homes from 2018.

The organisation's figures showed this proportion of homes in the lowest energy efficiency ranking has not changed since the previous quarter

Ian Potter, ARLA's operations manager, pointed out: "The clock is ticking for the private rented sector (PRS) to improve its environmental performance but the investment just isn't there to ensure that this change takes place in the government's timeframe.

"ARLA has campaigned for the government to incentivise - through tax relief - the improvement of rental properties. Otherwise it is going to be exceedingly difficult for the majority of landlords to find the funds to improve stock."

The government's Green Deal is set to come into effect next autumn, so landlords will be able to access funds through the initiative to improve their property to rent in London.

However, ARLA warns that tenants may react badly to discovering that they have to make an extra payment on top of their energy bills.

"The issues of fuel poverty among too many of the UK's households has been raised again as we approach winter," Mr Potter noted.

"We urge the government to ensure that the Green Deal is an effective solution to the crisis we will face unless the energy efficiency standards in the PRS and the UK housing stock in general can be improved."

Landlord and Tenant News