The government is discussing new proposals that if passed, will mean that any Victorian built properties or "homes" built in the early 20th Century, that are rented out by landlords will have to be improved to increase their energy efficiency.

The changes that are being considered could make it a requirement that landlords who own properties falling into the above categories, will have to make sure improvements are made so that the buildings will achieve a minimum energy efficiency standard by 2018, before being allowed to rent out to tenants within four years.

Those properties with the lowest F and G ratings in the Energy Performance Certificate efficiency scale will have to achieve the minimum efficiency standard, it is estimated that 65 per cent of private rented homes falling into the category had been built before 1919.

The government is also proposing that tenants, by April 2016, will be given the power to request permission from landlords to have the energy efficiency measures carried out in their homes. Landlords may only be able to refuse the request if it is decided to be "unreasonable". 

The government could add the caveat that landlords would not have to "suffer" any upfront costs for the improvements, as they should be able to receive a grant from the Green Deal finance initiative or other government funded schemes.

Rented homes have the highest numbers of properties that come under the lowest EPC rating, with 8% that fall within the category F banding, whilst 3% fall within category G. These percentages are far higher than those homes which are privately owned. 

Although the figures may seem to be damning it is not as bad as it appears. The DECC (Department for Energy and Climate Change) has reported that a large percentage of the homes that fall between the F and G categories could just need one "tweak". They have cited an example that nearly 40% of those properties could achieve the minimum standard just by improving their loft insulation.