Energy efficiency 'becoming increasingly important for tenants'
Those with homes listed with london lettings agents could find they are better able to attract tenants if they improve the energy efficiency of their properties.
According to the Residential Landlords Association, although tenants do not currently place a high premium on properties' green credentials, this is set to change.
Richard Jones, policy director at the organisation, explained that this is largely due to the reduction in utility bills that increased energy efficiency brings, particularly in light of recent rises to electricity and gas costs.
"At the moment, I don't think tenants necessarily distinguish between properties that are energy efficient and those that are not. As time goes on, particularly because of rising costs - which the industry predicts is pretty well inevitable - it is going to become more important," he commented.
However, on top of the benefits of lower bills, an increased awareness among both tenants and landlords of environmental issues is also likely to increase the importance of energy efficiency, said Mr Jones, noting that "people are generally becoming more eco-sensitive as well - landlords included".
Owners of properties listed with London lettings agents could improve the green credentials of their portfolios following the introduction of the government's Green Deal next year, which will offer low-cost loans to go towards making energy-efficient upgrades.
Mr Jones suggested that such upgrades are badly needed to improve the UK's current housing stock.
"There is the cost driver as energy costs go up because our stock of housing, particularly the older stock in this country, is generally pretty inefficient in energy terms," he said.
It follows a recent survey by the Association of Residential Letting Agents which found that more than a third (35 per cent) of UK landlords are unaware of the energy performance of their properties.
In addition, more than one in six landlords (17 per cent) said they believed that their properties fell into the minimum category of energy efficient performance - the F & G bands of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
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