BTL landlords need to assess how green their properties are right ‘now’

With just over a month until the opening of the Green Homes Grant, buy-to-let landlords in England should be in a better position to assess what energy efficiency works are required in their properties, according to tax and advisory firm, Blick Rothenberg.

Hundreds of thousands of property owners, including buy-to-let landlords, will be able to apply for vouchers of up to £5,000 for energy-saving home improvements, with the poorest getting up to £10,000, as part of plans unveiled by the government last month 

However, many landlords are not aware of the precise jobs that need doing in their properties ahead of the opening of online applications for the Green Homes Grant. 

Heather Powell, a property partner at Blick Rothenberg, said: “The applications for the grant will open in just over a months’ time so buy-to-let landlords need to assess their properties now and get their applications in as fast as possible because thousands of people will apply. 

“It is also likely that the government will tighten energy efficiency regulations still further in 2021, making these works essential for many rental properties.”

The grant scheme will fund £2 of every £3 spent by a landlord, up to a maximum of £5,000, to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.  

Heather said: “Works can include wall and loft insulation, draught proofing and double glazing, all works that should improve the Energy Performance Rating (“EPC”) of a property.

“Landlords cannot let properties with an energy performance rating of F or G (unless they qualify for an exemption). 

“Landlords should be planning to undertake works that can be done with the grant funding that is being made available.  Their tenants will also benefit as they will get a reduction in their annual fuel bills.”

She added: “The 27 million homes in the UK, which generate up to 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions and energy demand in the UK, are some of the least heat efficient homes in Europe.  

“The government hopes the grants will improve these statistics and help the UK to meet the commitment to have net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

“Online applications by landlords will be passed to “registered local tradesmen” to do the necessary works – which the chancellor expects to help generate a further 100,000 jobs in the “Green Sector.”

Heather continued: “There are circa 2.2 million landlords in England, with an average of 1.8 properties each - a total of 3.96 million buy-to-let properties.  

“If landlords applied for grants to improve the energy efficiency of just 25% of their properties, and got an average grant of £3,300 for insulation, the Green Homes Grant funding would be £3.27bn, and 990,000 homes would have been improved. 

“The Chancellor announced £2bn to fund grants in 2020/21, and stated he hopes 600,000 homes to be improved, but he made it clear that his funding was based on estimates of take up of the funding, and indicated it is not capped, which is good news for BTL landlords.”  

Heather added: “ The full details of the Green Homes Grants has not been published, but given the grant funding announced was only for one year it is important that Landlords start reviewing their housing, assessing what work should be done that is eligible for the grant, so that that they can apply for the funding.  This is one of the few measures announced by the government in the last three months that assists landlords, landlords should make sure that they take advantage of the funding, and at the same time help the UK achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”

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