Energy efficient landlords

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) a government quango are doing their bit to cajole landlords into providing more energy efficient housing.

They have provided a begging letter for a tenant to send to a landlord seeking to persuade their landlord to install energy saving measures.

How nice! I wonder out of interest how many of these letters have been sent. Perhaps one for ever member of staff employed by the EST to come up with the idea. Probably not a very efficient use of tax payers resources.

Landlords will respond to environmental concerns if sufficient incentives are given. Look at the take up of the recent boiler scrappage scheme.

Tax system up until recently against energy efficient landlords

Don't forget up until very recently the tax system mitigated against a landlord from installing such energy efficient improvements as Upvc windows by classing them as an improvement rather than a repair. Thereby preventing a landlord from setting the costs against rental profits.

It is now possible under the Governments Landlord Energy Saving Allowance (LESA) to claim up to £1500 against tax every year for certain insulation works. This includes loft, wall and draught proofing.


Landlords need cash incentives

Perhaps Property Hawk could produce a letter that landlords could send to some of these quangos asking their workers to resign and give up their idiot jobs. Put the £50,000 of costs they save the public purse per post into a fund. Then this could be given as a real grant to incentivize landlords into taking action. Now I'd definitely send that letter and landlords would be 'properly' set up to start making a real difference.