At the crux of the energy bill currently being passed through Parliament is a measure designed to help improve the energy efficiency of buildings and cut household bills by as much as 44%.
The proposed "Green Deal" will allow households and businesses to receive funding to have their buildings upgraded with energy efficient improvements, the costs will then be repaid at a later date through savings made on their energy bills.
The scheme puts extra emphasis on improving conditions for the rented sector by ensuring landlords accept any reasonable requests made by tenants to improve the energy efficiency of their property, this provision will have effect from April 2016.
Further improvements will be made to the living conditions of tenants from April 2018, when it will be made illegal for landlords to rent out a house or business property that has an energy efficiency rating of less than E.
Chris Huhne, secretary of state for energy and climate change said: "Our proposals provide a voice for tenants living in poorly insulated, draughty homes. The Green Deal is a win-win opportunity for landlords by removing the upfront cost of work to upgrade the property making it cheaper to run, more environmentally friendly and ultimately more attractive to rent.
For those landlords who don't take up the Green Deal then we will get tough so that by 2018 the poorest performing rented housing stock is brought up to a decent standard."
The Energy Bill is expected to come into force by Autumn 2012, firms with questions on the scheme can email green.deal@decc.gsi.gov.uk.
