RLA: Landlords could have problems when insulating older properties
Those considering making a UK property investment have been warned that purchasing older properties could lead to problems should they need to install insulation.
The energy efficiency of homes in the private-rented sector is becoming an increasingly important consideration for many tenants.
Furthermore, from 2018, a minimum energy efficiency standard for buy-to-let properties will be introduced.
Therefore, installing cavity wall and loft insulation is something an increasing number of landlords are likely to need to consider doing in the near future.
However, the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has warned that this could be more difficult in properties built before the 1980s.
"The main problem with them is that they have no cavity walls to insulate and with a lot of them you haven't got the traditional loft space to insulate with the loft insulation. With the properties that lack cavity walls, they may need internal or external insulation.
"All of that raises a lot of problems, not least because the technology is not terribly well-advanced and you have potentially got planning issues on the exterior appearance. With the interior, there is a lot of disruption because you might need to move light switches and fixtures such as radiators."
The government's Green Deal, designed to provide cheap loans to go towards improving energy efficiency of the country’s housing stock, is due to be introduced next year and could be used by landlords to fund improvements such as installing insulation.
However, some believe that more will need to be done to encourage uptake of the scheme if it is to be a success.
Last week, Knauf Insulation joined a campaign urging the government to include incentives to install cavity and loft insulation as part of the Green Deal, incorporating an ambition to insulate all lofts and cavity walls by 2015.
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