Win win proposal for energy efficiency
17 March 2008
It’s good news all round for landlords and tenants in Brighton and Hove with a Green Party initiative to get energy efficiency measures included in the local Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LAS).Tenants will be the first to benefit from warmer homes and cheaper fuel bills.
And it won’t be costly for landlords either, as grants are available to help them implement measures such as roof, cavity and hot water tank insulation, draught proofing, condensing boilers, and even long-life light bulbs.
Green councillor Vicky Wakefield-Jarrett (left) succeeded in getting the city council's Sustainability Commission’s to request that the council's chair of housing, Cllr Mary Mears, improve the LAS by bringing in energy efficiency measures for privately rented homes.
Cllr Wakefield Jarrett said, “This is a win–win proposal. If the LAS is enhanced in this way:
• landlords can apply for up to 100% grants for energy efficiency measures and get recognition for their efforts
• the tenants will have lower energy bills
• the city’s carbon footprint will be reduced”
Landlords who belong to the LAS scheme also benefit from free energy advice and trade discount cards
Cllr Wakefield Jarrett added: “I want to help better landlords get even better, in line with other authorities who are already saving energy in this way.
In Brighton and Hove, 21% of housing is in the private rented sector – the highest level in the South East - so there is a great opportunity to make a real difference here.”
Notes to editors:
For further information, contact Lizzie Deane, External Communications Co-ordinator, on 07899 8432061. What other authorities already do:
• Burnley award up to 5 eco-stars for basic energy efficiency measures installed.
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