standards responsibilities and assistance Rebecca Jones Project - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Raising energy efficiency standards – responsibilities and assistance

Rebecca Jones

Project Development Coordinator National Energy Action

Overview

 NEA – who we are  Fuel poverty – causes and effects  Increasing energy efficiency  Current legislation – HHSRS  Assistance  Legislative changes  Questions and discussion  Feed-back and further information

National Energy Action – who we are

 National fuel poverty charity  Established 1981  Supporting households in fuel poverty  Supporting organisations that work with fuel poor

households

 Campaigning and working with government  Working with businesses and utility companies  Research and demonstration projects  www.nea.org.uk

Fuel poverty in the private rented sector

• Causes

Definition of fuel poverty “The inability to afford to heat the home adequately”.

 Households that need to spend more than 10% of their income on

fuel

 Children, young people, chronically sick, disabled, older people

and low income groups are most at risk Private rented sector specific causes

 ‘Hard to treat’ properties  Investment rationale is driven by the market and regulations as

• pposed to investment in own home

 Low income / vulnerable households  Transient populations

Exacerbated by:

 Rising fuel prices  Recession and overall inflation  Colder winters

Fuel poverty in the private rented sector

• Effects

Potential issues for the landlord

 Deterioration of the property  Increased maintenance and repair costs  Reduction in the asset value of the property  Fuel arrears  Rent arrears  Reduction in re-let potential

Impact on tenant

 Cold, damp home  Condensation and mould  Difficulties paying fuel bills  Health problems worsened

Increasing energy efficiency in the private rented sector – prioritisation

35%

Walls Savings: £130 - £160

25%

Roof Savings: £50 - £180

10%

Windows Savings: Up to £165

15%

Draughts Savings: £20

15%

Floor Savings: £20 - £70

Increasing energy efficiency in the private rented sector – measures Insulation

 Loft  Cavity wall  Solid wall  Highly recommended where there is electric / oil heating

Heating

 Consider new efficient system where old / partial system or

frequent callouts for repairs

 Heating controls

Ventilation

 Extractor fans  Trickle vents in windows

Advice to tenants

Increasing energy efficiency in the private rented sector – tenants

Role of tenants

 Efficient use of heating and hot water systems  Lifestyle factors that decrease potential condensation

 All inclusive rents could result in high landlord fuel bills;

these can be reduced through energy efficiency measures

Advice pack for tenants

 Heating control instructions  Energy advice leaflet  Advice on minimising condensation  Instructions on engaging with energy companies:  Sources of advice - Home Heat Helpline, CAB, Debt advice

agencies

Current legislation - HHSRS

 Housing Act 2004  Risk assessment tool to identify hazards  For use by local authorities in private rented, owner occupied

and registered social landlord housing sectors

 Principle: Any residential property should provide a safe and

healthy environment for any potential occupier or visitor

 Assessment:

 Scoring  number & degree of hazards  Banded as category 1 or 2 hazards

Excess cold Excess heat Damp and mould growth Pollutants Space (lack of) Security Lighting Noise Hygiene / sanitation Accidents (falls, fires etc) Structural collapse

HHSRS – local authority role

 Scoring based on risk to most vulnerable potential

• ccupant

 Statutory duty to enforce where category 1 hazards

are identified

 Enabled to address category 2 hazards  Formal and informal approaches to enforcement  Production of schedule of remedial works  N.B. No heating/inadequate/unaffordable heating can

be assessed as a CAT 1 Excess Cold hazard

• Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
• Warm Home Discount Scheme
• Fuel suppliers’ grants and hardship funds
• Cold Weather Payment
• Winter Fuel Payment
• Priority Service Register
• Local authority

Assistance

Legislative changes

 Mandatory minimum standards  April 2016 = “Reasonable” requests for energy

efficiency improvement.

 April 2018 = illegal to rent out F & G rated

properties UNLESS landlord has carried out maximum package of measures under Green Deal/ECO.

 Home Heat Helpline

0800 33 66 99

 Citizens Advice Consumer Service

08454 04 05 06

 Energy Saving Advice Service

Impartial ECO and other energy saving advice

0300 123 1234

Useful contact numbers

NEA London & South East contacts

Danni Crosland – Project Development Manager (based in London) Danni.Crosland@nea.org.uk 0207 250 8304 / 07711 593065 Rebecca Jones – Project Development Coordinator Rebecca.jones@nea.org.uk 01273 964 229/ 07738 417 448

Thank you – Any Questions??