The government is under increasing pressure to finally introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for all four million privately rented homes throughout the nation.

 

It is being stated that by instilling these measures that tenants will have their energy bills and carbon remissions significantly reduced.

Apparently the government was supposed to have new regulations in place in the first few months of this year, but the consultation paper on the plans has not yet seen the cold light of day.

Since the early 1990's, the UK has the highest amount of private rented residences standing at around 4 million of the estimated 22.8 million homes. It is said that generally those private rented homes are more than likely to have the lowest energy performance bands of F and G.

More than 30 industry groups have joined forces under the leadership of the UK Building Council and the banner of UK-GBC. They have demanded that the government stick to their promise of introducing energy efficiency standards for private rented homes  that must be no higher than an E band.

The UK Building Council is expecting the Shadow Energy and Climate Change Minister, Jonathan Reynolds, to have raised this issue in Parliament earlier this week.

The coalition group UK-GBC is issuing a warning that a lack of a minimum standard for privately rented homes would almost certainly undermine the market for the Green Deal.

John Alker, director of policy and communications at the UK-GBC said:"A minimum energy efficiency standard is not only crucial for upgrading the UK's poorly performing privately rented homes, but would also give a much needed boost to the flagging Green Deal.

 

"The Government is long overdue in setting out this standard, creating uncertainty for both landlords and tenants."

A spokesperson for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said they had plans to take consultation on the setting of an energy efficiency standard into the private rented sector, no later than Spring.

"The Energy Act 2011 gives us the powers to do this and requires the Secretary of State to introduce the regulations for minimum standards by April 2018, and for a tenant to have the right to request improvements by April 2016.

"We have been consulting stakeholders, including organisations supporting the release, on the detail of implementation."

Jonathan Reynolds the Shadow Cabinet Energy and Climate Minister  urged the Government to take immediate action.

"Over four million people live in private rented accommodation with at least half a million living in cold, leaky homes,

 

"The Government committed in 2011 to improve the energy efficiency of these homes but so far, it's the usual case of all talk but no action.

"With over half of those living in cold leaky homes living in fuel poverty and with fuel bills continuing to rise, now is not the time for the Government to dither and roll back on this commitment, which is why I have asked for a cast iron guarantee that they will get this sorted."