Bills 'affect renters' choice of property'

Date:Thursday 2nd October 2008
Author:

Households bills are the second most important factor for renters choosing a property, new government research shows.

Figures released by Communities and Local Government found that only location featured higher in renters' lists of priorities.

Furthermore, 77 per cent of renters do not believe their landlords care about energy efficiency.

All new tenancies signed from the first of this month onwards require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which will keep landlords and tenants informed about energy emissions from the property.

Communities minister Iain Wright said EPCs would help tenants find better value and more energy efficient properties.

David Salusbury, chairman of the National Landlords Association, noted: "Landlords who own properties without proper insulation or older, inefficient boilers could find tenants are looking for energy efficiency and ever-cheaper fuel bills."

Carbon Trust has doubled the maximum limit of its interest-free loans to £200,000 to assist small businesses in acquiring low-energy equipment.

The news was reported by CN Plus, which said large lighting installations and boilers were among the purchases being made with the loans.