Raising energy efficiency standards – responsibilities and assistance Fiona Hart Project Development Manager National En

1. Raising energy efficiency standards – responsibilities and assistance Fiona Hart Project Development Manager National Energy Action (NEA)

2. Overview • NEA – who we are • Fuel poverty – causes and effects • Increasing energy efficiency • Current legislation – HHSRS • Support for private sector landlords • Green Deal and legislative changes • Questions and discussion • Feed-back and further information

3. National Energy Action – who we are • National fuel poverty charity • Established 1981 • Supporting households in fuel poverty • Supporting organisations that work with fuel poor households • Campaigning and working with government • Working with businesses and utility companies • Research and demonstration projects • www.nea.org.uk

4. Fuel poverty in the private rented sector - Causes Definition of fuel poverty “The inability to afford to heat the home adequately”. • Households that need to spend more than 10% of their income on fuel • Children, young people, chronically sick, disabled, older people and low income groups are most at risk Private rented sector specific causes • ‘Hard to treat’ properties • Investment rationale is driven by the market and regulations as opposed to investment in own home • Low income / vulnerable households • Transient populations Exacerbated by: • Rising fuel prices • Recession and overall inflation • Colder winters

5. Fuel poverty in the private rented sector - Effects Potential issues for the landlord • Deterioration of the property • Increased maintenance and repair costs • Reduction in the asset value of the property • Fuel arrears attached to property • Rent arrears • Reduction in re-let potential Impact on tenant • Cold, damp home • Condensation and mould • Difficulties paying fuel bills • Health problems worsened

6. Roof Savings: £50 - £180 25% 35% Walls Savings: £130 - £160 10% Windows Savings: Up to £165 15% Draughts Savings: £20 15% Floor Savings: £20 - £70 Increasing energy efficiency in the private rented sector– prioritisation

7. Increasing energy efficiency in the private rented sector– measures Insulation • Loft • Cavity wall • Solid wall • Highly recommended where there is electric / oil heating Heating • Consider new efficient system where old / partial system or frequent callouts for repairs • Heating controls Ventilation • Extractor fans • Trickle vents in windows Advice to tenants

8. Increasing energy efficiency in the private rented sector– tenants Role of tenants • Efficient use of heating and hot water systems • Lifestyle factors that decrease potential condensation • All inclusive rents could result in high landlord fuel bills; these can be reduced through energy efficiency measures Advice pack for tenants • Heating control instructions • Energy advice leaflet • Advice on minimising condensation • Instructions on engaging with energy companies: • Sources of advice - Home Heat Helpline, CAB, Debt advice agencies

9. Current legislation - HHSRS • Housing Act 2004 • Risk assessment tool to identify hazards • For use by local authorities in private rented, owner occupied and registered social landlord housing sectors • Principle: Any residential property should provide a safe and healthy environment for any potential occupier or visitor • Assessment: • Scoring  number & degree of hazards • Banded as category 1 or 2 hazards

10. HHSRS – local authority role • Scoring based on risk to most vulnerable potential occupant • Statutory duty to enforce where category 1 hazards are identified • Enabled to address category 2 hazards • Formal and informal approaches to enforcement • Production of schedule of remedial works • N.B. No heating/inadequate/unaffordable heating can be assessed as a CAT 1 Excess Cold hazard

11. Support for Private Sector Landlords – CERT Carbon Emissions Reduction Target • Obligation on domestic energy suppliers to help customers reduce carbon emissions • Discounted loft, cavity and solid wall insulation • Discounted renewable energy measures such as solar water heating • Priority and super priority groups can receive free measures • Available until Autumn 2012 • Opportunity: Suppliers are looking to the private rented sector to identify priority and super priority customers eligible for free measures Recommendation: Take advantage of this scheme while it is still available

12. Support for Private Sector Landlords – Warm Front • Government’s fuel poverty programme • Heating and insulation measures • Eligibility criteria: disability or income-related benefits and an energy inefficient property • Declining Warm Front measures can lead to Carillion contacting your local authority and a HHSRS inspection being carried out • Recent changes: • Small increase in overall budget • New eligibility criteria April 2011 • Programme will be phased out by 2013 Recommendation: Take advantage of this scheme while it is still available

13. Support for landlords - LESA Landlords Energy Saving Allowance • Tax allowance for cost of buying certain energy saving items • Up to £1,500 against tax - properties you rent out in the UK and abroad • Claimed for actual expenditure • Claim when filling in tax return up to 1st April 2015 • Rules on apportionment and other restrictions may apply • Contact local tax office and tax advisor

14. Green Deal • Green Deal • Energy Act 2011 • “Pay as you save” financial mechanism • No upfront cost for measures • Costs recouped in instalments through electricity bill • ECO (Energy Company Obligation) • Vulnerable (under-heating) • Hard to treat • Eligibility criteria to be defined • Operational and legal framework under development including disclosure, accreditation

15. … other future legislative changes • Mandatory minimum standards • April 2016 = “Reasonable” requests for energy efficiency improvement. • April 2018 = illegal to rent out F & G rated properties UNLESS landlord has carried out maximum package of measures under Green Deal/ECO.

16. Useful contact numbers • Home Heat Helpline 0800 33 66 99 • Citizens Advice Consumer Service08454 04 05 06 • Energy Saving Advice Service • 0300 123 1234 • Warm Front 0800 316 2805

17. NEA Newcastle Office Fiona Hart Project Development Manager Fiona.hart@nea.org.uk Please complete a feed-back form