Propertymark is calling for changes to Northern Ireland’s proposed £150m Warm Healthy Homes Fund, warning that its eligibility rules risk excluding some of the least energy-efficient privately rented homes.
The trade body wants financial support for landlords to be linked more closely to the energy efficiency of individual properties rather than whether tenants meet income and benefits criteria.
It argues that under the proposed approach an inefficient rental property could miss out on funding solely because the tenant living there does not qualify.
Propertymark welcomes the wider ambition of the Department for Communities (DfC) scheme, which is designed to tackle fuel poverty, improve thermal comfort and increase the energy efficiency of Northern Ireland’s housing stock.
LANDLORD ACCESS
Henry Griffith (main picture, inset), Senior Policy Officer at Propertymark, says: “The success of the Warm Healthy Homes Fund should ultimately be measured by how many inefficient homes it helps to improve. Making access to funding for landlords dependent on the income of their tenant risks missing some of the properties that need investment most.
“The cost of improving a property sits with the landlord, so the energy efficiency of the property should be a key consideration when deciding where financial support is directed. If a property is particularly inefficient, that should be a stronger reason for support, not a reason for it to be excluded because of who happens to live there.”
Propertymark also wants landlords to be able to apply directly rather than relying on tenants to initiate applications.
The organisation says this will become increasingly important as Northern Ireland develops proposals for Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
It says the average EPC rating of privately rented homes in Northern Ireland is 61, compared with 67 in England and 65 in Wales, meaning landlords could face substantial investment if properties are eventually required to reach EPC Band C.
FULLY FUNDED MEASURES
Propertymark backs proposals within the fund to fully finance measures including cavity and loft insulation, draught proofing, ventilation, replacement windows, solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage for eligible properties.
It also supports proposed grants of up to £35,000 for a fabric-first, whole-house approach, increasing to £45,000 for hard-to-treat properties.
Griffith adds: “There are some very positive elements to the proposed Fund. Fully funded measures give landlords a genuine opportunity to improve their properties, while the substantial grants available for whole-house and hard-to-treat properties recognise that some homes will need much more significant investment.
“If the UK Government wants to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock, it needs to make sure financial support reaches the properties that need it most.”
