The National Landlords Association (NLA) says that private residential landlords should familiarise themselves with the Green Deal and begin making energy efficiency improvements to all relevant properties, as the Government formally launched the scheme.

The Green Deal is the Government’s vehicle to make the UK’s housing stock more energy efficient. The NLA warns that after 2016, landlords will be unable to refuse a tenant’s reasonable request for Green Deal improvements. Furthermore, under the new legislation, landlords will be forbidden to let any properties found to have a poor Energy Performance Rating (F or G rated) after 2018.

David Salusbury, Chairman of the NLA, said: “The Green Deal is a prime opportunity for private landlords to prove they are able to self-regulate and improve the energy efficiency of their properties. With over 4.5 million households currently renting private-residential property*, this will make a real difference to those who make their home in the sector, as well as helping landlords to future-proof their properties.

“It is imperative that landlords assess whether their properties are eligible for a Green Deal grant. The Government has made it clear that there will be consequences for those who do not voluntarily improve the energy efficiency of their properties by a specific time, so there is no excuse not to comply with the cost-neutral scheme.”