Letting agents are being encouraged to start considering how the properties they manage can become more energy efficient by tapping to funding schemes that are starting to emerge.
Propertymark points out that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has now opened for applications for grants of £5,000 towards the cost of an air source heat pump, £6,000 for a ground source heat pump, and £5,000 for a biomass boiler for properties in rural locations and those not connected to the gas grid in England and Wales.
It is being introduced alongside the new 0% VAT rate on selected energy efficiency materials and grants available to low-income households through local authorities.
Currently, private rented properties in England and Wales must have a minimum E rating on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). UK government proposals are for a minimum C rating for all new tenancies by 2025 and all existing tenancies by 2028.
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns for Propertymark, said: “The challenge of retrofitting the UK’s housing stock is going to be huge, but funding schemes are now starting to emerge and Propertymark continues to urge policy makers to come up with more incentives for the sector.
“Better energy efficiency can reduce bills for tenants and make a property a better proposition to be let out, but there is not a single solution.
“Now is the time for letting agents to begin conversations with their landlords to look at all the options and explore how they can maximise grants and other financial support available.”
But what is the point of committing to an air source heat pump when they’re so expensive to run? If people are struggling with energy prices now then doing so will only make their situation worse.
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and noisy.
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1. If you switch to an Air Source Heat Pump you’ll likely need to buy new radiators.
2. If you switch to an Air Source Heat Pump your hot water wont be as hot.
3. If you switch to an Air Source Heat Pump your utility bills will likely go up.
4. If you switch to an Air Source Heat Pump the installation cost is double what the grant provides.
But most importantly… AGENTS ARE NOT UTILITY SALESMEN. The government has already made us border control, why on god’s green earth are we going to make more work for ourselves with zero gain?
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There will be a u turn as totally unpractical or either that or mass homelessness.
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Nonsense, cannot be achieved. Go down this route and the mass exodus will turn into a flood. If you think we have problems now, wait and see …….
UK government proposals are for a minimum C rating for all new tenancies by 2025 and all existing tenancies by 2028.
A new boiler has been moving a property Band F to an Band E and a Band E to a Band D. You would have to rejig the data input to make a better return or put another way, cook the system!
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