Energy efficiency regulations for landlords introduced
New government regulations have been introduced requiring landlords to make energy efficiency improvements to their buy-to-let properties.
Energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne announced the plans, which will see minimum green standards applied to rental homes.
From April 2016, landlords who refuse "reasonable" requests from tenants to improve the energy efficiency of their properties will be in breach of the law.
Two years later in April 2018, it will become unlawful to rent out a house which has a rating of less than an E for energy efficiency.
According to government figures, this means that at least 682,000 buy-to-let properties will have to be improved over the next seven years.
Mr Huhne said the law will help some of the most vulnerable people in society, as more 250,000 of the least efficient rental homes are classed as fuel poor.
The legislation will operate under the Green Deal, which allows property owners to carry out energy efficiency upgrades without paying for the work up front.
Costs will be covered through savings in energy bills once the scheme is introduced next autumn.
"For those landlords who don't take up the Green Deal then we will get tough so that by 2018 the poorest performing rented housing stock is brought up to a decent standard," said Mr Huhne.
He also pointed out that energy efficiency improvements will have long-term benefits for landlords, as they will make their properties cheaper to run and therefore more attractive to potential tenants.
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