The government has been told to raise the landlord cost cap to £10,000 to increase the number of private rental sector properties that have improved energy efficiency.

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The Chair of the London Assembly’s housing committee, Green Councillor Sian Berry, is responsible for the demand made to the government.

She has sent a letter to the Housing Secretary Michael Gove and London Mayor Sadiq Khan states that the introduction of an increase on the landlord cap which is £3,500 inc VAT, will significantly help in achieving the capital’s zero carbon target by 2030.

Berry’s target is to decarbonise all of the city’s 3.5 million homes with retrofitting and upgrading measures. She is calling for backing from the London Mayor to approach landlords and tenants to voice opinions on the issues surrounding retrofitting, and how UK authorities and the government can help achieve this.

Berry says: “We have a responsibility to do everything we can to make Londoners’ homes zero carbon and we can’t ignore our existing homes; these account for a third of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions alone. A full upgrade to zero carbon standards is an enormous task that will require political and financial support if the Mayor is to meet his 2030 carbon target.

 “The government must commit either to fully funding London’s ambition for zero carbon homes or giving us the powers to raise our own finance. In turn, the Mayor must work with private sector landlords and tenants to find and overcome any barriers to retrofitting.