Real Estate & Environmental News in United Kingdom from Propertyshowrooms.com

Deadline set for landlords to improve energy ratings

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Landlords must improve the energy efficiency rating of their property by 2018, following the establishment of the deadline.

From April 2018, it will be unlawful to rent out a house or a business premises with less than an 'E' energy efficiency rating.

As such, around 682,000 properties will have to be improved or taken off the market.

While the big changes come in 2018, from 2016, landlords will not be able to refuse reasonable requests from tenants or local authorities regarding improvements to the property.

Ian Potter, operations manager of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, commented: "We remain concerned about the lack of detail on greening rental stock.

"So far, there is no clarity on how energy improvements will be assessed or enforced or, importantly, how this assessment will be funded."

Meanwhile, Ian Fletcher, director of policy at the British Property Federation, said that the decision "seems reasonable for the private rented sector".

"But if the capacity does not come on stream or the Green Deal fails there will be significant consequences in terms of reducing housing supply and potentially poor works if there is a last minute rush."

EDF allowed to buy British Energy

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

French Energy company EDF wins permission from the European Union competition authorities to buy British Energy, subject to certain conditions...

Cautious backing for £900m housing plan

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A £900m package to insulate people’s lofts, give sub-standard homes new bathrooms and kitchens and repair crumbling council homes was announced by the Chancellor yesterday...

Downturn hits £30bn efficiency savings plan

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Falling property prices and the credit crunch will hit parts of the government's plan to save more than £30bn through efficiency savings over the next few years,...

Big bills 'likely' for careless owners

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Property owners have been warned by one home improvement firm to expect big energy bills if they do not adopt energy-saving methods...

Abu Dhabi rescues £3bn wind farm

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Government of Abu Dhabi has stepped in to help to fund the world’s biggest offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary after the withdrawal of Royal Dutch Shell from the project...