Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury: Some good news for people living in rented accommodation was reported last week. Energy and Climate Change secretary, Ed Davey, announced that new regulations were to be implemented from 2018 to force landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of the homes they rent out. Presently, almost 10% of England and Wales' 4.2 million privately rented homes do not reach the minimum standards. These regulations will help people who live in poorly insulated properties and generally pay about £1,000 more than the average to heat their homes. Landlords will be required to up upgrade the energy efficiency of hundreds of thousands of homes which are rated as F and G to a minimum of E by April 2018 or be unable to rent out their properties until the ratings are improved. In addition, from April 2016, tenants who live in F and G rated homes will be able to request more insulation and landlords will be legally bound to upgrade the homes to E rating.
Another interesting report told us about some straw houses that were being built in Bristol and about someone who has been living in such a property near Canterbury. More than 3 million tonnes of straw are wasted each year so this is a valuable, available material which is a superb insulator, both against the cold and noise.
Obviously, these measures will result in the reduction of carbon emissions from inefficiently insulated homes and so will help us in the fight against climate change whilst reducing energy bills.
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