03/11/2010 - Landlords face home insulation law
The Government is set to introduce a new legislation that could force private landlords to make improvements to energy-leaking homes.
Under the proposed new "Green Deal" initiative, homeowners will be given the chance to upgrade insulation on their property without paying for it up front.
All costs of the improvement will be added to future energy bills under the assumption that the energy savings made will more than compensate for the extra amount.
While ministers are hoping property owners will take up the scheme voluntarily, provisions to enforce the upgrades if necessary will be made in the legislation due to be published next month.
The Energy Bill will also hand local councils the power to insist that owners of the least-efficient properties in the area install insulation.
Some tenants find it hard to get insulation and other improvements carried out as landlords can be reluctant to pay for work they will not benefit from directly.
Officials said the take-up of the scheme among private landlords would be monitored, with powers to force them to meet reasonable requests from tenants available from 2015 if they do not.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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