Taxpayer funding to the Green Deal Finance Company has ended the Green Deal itself, meaning likely redundancies and closures of some firms.

Low take-up was cited by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate, Amber Rudd.

Existing deals and loans in progress will be honoured, but there will be no new Green Deal loans.

Rudd said that the Government would work with the building industry and consumer groups on a new approach which would provide better value for money, while supporting the goal of insulating 1m more homes over the next five years.

The Green Deal’s failure comes after criticism that it was shambolic, difficult to understand, the loans were expensive and the scheme constantly chopped and changed.

However, its collapse does potentially leave private landlords who need to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties with a problem.

All rental properties must be up to at least an EPC rating of E by April 1, 2018.

Not only has the Green Deal been scrapped, but after an EU ruling, full-rate VAT is to be levied on energy saving materials and works, such as insulation.

The Landlord Energy Saving Allowance has also been stopped.

The Residential Landlords Association says it will seek clarification from the Government as to what support landlords will get.