Climate change Minister weak on cold rented homes
Mike Childs
03 November 2010
Many of us have lived in cold houses where we've woken up on a winter's morning and had to scrape ice from the inside of the window. This week Chris Hunhe, the Government's Energy and Climate Minister, rode up on white charger to save us from freezing homes. Or did he?
In a speech at the London School of Economics he said the Government was going to take action in the forthcoming Energy Bill to get private landlords to insulate their homes. The private rented sector has got the highest proportion of chronically cold, leaky homes (Energy rating band F and G homes). He said "we will look to take powers to ensure that from 2015, any tenant who asks for energy efficiency improvements cannot be refused". He also promised to introduce a 'Pay and You Save' incentive for landlords and others to enable the cost of installing insulation measures to be paid back through savings on future energy bills.
But how's this going to work in practice? Some landlords will voluntarily respond to the 'Pay as you Save' incentive, and many have already taken action on energy efficiency, but a proportion will do nothing. Can you imagine the conversation between the worst landlords and their tenants?
Tenant: Please can you get the loft insulated, draught proof the doors and install double-glazing?
Landlord: Get stuffed.
Tenant: It's the law; you have to fit reasonable levels of insulation if I ask you.
Landlord: Your tenancy agreement's up in a few months, so you can shut up or clear off.
It's hard to expect tenants - most of whom won't even know about this new law - to take on uncooperative landlords.
Friends of the Earth members are joining thousands of others in face-to- face meetings with their MPs this weekend as part of The Big Climate Connection to demand mandatory minimum standards in the private rented sector. Minimum standards are simpler and give a clear, strong signal to landlords. They will also ensure that students, young people and some of the most vulnerable in society can live in warm homes, pay less in energy bills and reduce carbon emissions as well.
Chris Huhne and the Liberal Democrats have done well to secure some positive moves, but they could do much more. You can take action to support our campaign.
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