A new survey of Scottish properties shows that one in three tenants is not requesting energy efficiency improvements from their landlord because they believe that neither investment nor improvements will be made. Tenants are losing out on at least £400 each year in savings by not getting upgrades despite two thirds wanting the changes.
According to the survey most property investors are keen to improve the quality of the homes they protect with landlord insurance quotes and want to see more direction from the Scottish Government. The survey of 1,000 people in Scotland, found 59% believe it is their landlord’s responsibility to ensure a tenanted property is energy efficient, compared to 41% who thought it was up to the tenant. One of the problems is that a tenant may not see the home as his long term abode and is reluctant to spend his own money or his landlords on improvements that will only benefit him short term.
David Bird, customer operations director at E.ON, said: “What’s clear is that there’s some confusion surrounding energy efficiency and who the responsibility should lay with in making rental property energy fit. We’d urge both renters and landlords to think seriously about making improvements to their properties. In some cases, renters can be eligible for free cavity wall and loft insulation, and costs for installation can often be much cheaper than you’d think, so always speak to your energy provider to make sure you’re aware of all the offers available.”
The survey reports a significant amount of interest in putting in solar panels and landlords are also hopeful for another boiler-scrapage scheme in the future. The Scottish Government said they have been offering a number of ways to make homes more energy efficient, including £4.7 million for the boiler scrappage scheme, £500,000 in vouchers to private landlords, and the home insulation scheme that was run by local authorities. The survey was based on a 1940s three bed semi, with a ten-year-old gas boiler, but E.ON were quick to acknowledge that there would be a considerable variation throughout Scotland.