Landlords across the UK have applauded the government's new £2bn Green Homes Grant to help fund the cost of energy improvements to rented homes, as they can shortly be able to apply for vouchers.

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A spokesperson for a trade body, said: “Improving the energy efficiency of rental housing is good news for tenants, landlords and local economies. We encourage all landlords to make use of this as it will mean housing standards are improved, tenants will save money and it will reduce carbon emissions across the whole sector.”

The government has announced its pledge that its £2bn Green Homes Grants will provide at the very least, £2 to every £1 that homeowners and landlords will spend on making their homes more energy efficient, this will go up to the maximum of £5,000 per household.

The Treasury has already confirmed that the Stamp Duty threshold has been moved from £125,000 up to £500,000. If a property is sold within the price range up to £925,000, the stamp duty rate will be £8% over the threshold and 15% above the second band until March 31st 2020.

The spokesperson added: “We need to boost the supply of all types of housing, including those for private rent to meet the growing demand that existed prior to lockdown. The change to the stamp duty rates for the purchase of rental homes is welcome but could go further. The additional rates should be scrapped in cases where landlords invest in properties adding to the overall supply of housing. This includes investing in new build and bringing empty homes back into use.”