Big step forward for Warm Homes campaign12 October 2010
Friends of the Earth's Warm Homes campaign took a big step forward last week at the Conservative Party conference.
At a fringe meeting, Climate Change Minister Greg Barker revealed the forthcoming Energy Bill will contain legislation on the energy efficiency of private rented homes.
This is significant progress and a welcome commitment.
For the first time, this Government has recognised the importance of regulating energy efficiency in existing properties, not just newly built homes.
And it also shows their acknowledgement the private rented sector needs extra attention beyond the planned 'Green Deal'.
Thousands of our supporters wrote to their MPs about this issue.
With your help, we have won the argument that a new law must be included in the Energy Bill.
Calling for a strong law
But the Minister didn't give any firm detail of what this might look like.
We need to keep building the pressure to ensure the Government brings in a strong law.
We are calling for a tough minimum energy efficiency standard for private rented homes. This would make it an offence, from 2016 at the latest, for landlords to let the very worst insulated properties - those so cold and hard-to-heat they are a health hazard - until they are improved.
And all landlords should be given better information about how to make properties more energy efficient and tax breaks to encourage them to take action.
Take action
Did you know?
As well as contributing to climate change, poorly insulated and heated homes make people ill. The NHS spends £859 million each year dealing with winter-related disease due to cold housing.
Over 4 million UK households now live in fuel poverty - meaning they spend more than they can afford trying to heat their home. The problem is particularly bad in the private rented sector - the oldest and worst maintained part of the housing stock.
