Landlords have welcomed calls by a parliamentary committee for tax incentives for private landlords to improve the quality of their rental properties.

The recommendation was made by a House of Lords committee looking at the regeneration of seaside towns and communities. Following evidence provided by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), the Committee’s report recommended: “the introduction of stronger incentives for private landlords to improve the quality and design of their properties...this might include tax relief for making improvements to properties.”

The RLA has long argued that the Government should make tax deductible any work a landlord carries out that is recommended on an Energy Performance Certificate to improve the energy efficiency of rented homes.

John Stewart, policy manager at the RLA, said: “We welcome the recognition this report gives to supporting landlords to invest in raising the standard of housing for their tenants. We call on the Government to accept this proposal.”