November 26, 2010
Energy Efficient Land-Lords
Landlords traditionally have been unwilling to spend money on improving energy efficiency in the homes they let out. However, with increasing governmental pressure, landlords are beginning to put into place measures to improve their sustainability and carbon footprint. Affectionately known as a green lease, the measures are designed to encourage both the landlord and the tenant to undertake a more sustainable outlook and their environmental behaviour. Some of the areas to be covered by the green lease include:
Repair – additional provisions may be included as to the standard of repair and use of sustainable building materials. Tenants may consider this to be too onerous and landlords may therefore wish to consider taking back repairing responsibilities (especially for plant and equipment) in order to control capital expenditure and the environmental performance of the premises.
Landlords are known as being the ‘biggest’ home owning polluters as they have more than one property. More than 25% of the CO2 emissions in the UK come from heating our homes.
Service charge – where landlords apply principles of good environmental practice in managing their premises, such as installing energy saving equipment, costs could be recovered through a service charge. Landlords may however come up against opposition from tenants for contributions towards capital costs in short term leases.
The Better Building Partnership has developed a ‘toolkit’ which includes a set of best practice recommendations and model form Green Lease clauses to assist landlords and tenants.
Waste management – detailing positive obligations on tenants with regard to packaging, waste and recycling activities.
There are other benefits for the landlord, such as: Improving the Value & rent ability of their properties, the tenant tends to stay longer & properties rent quicker due to lower running costs, they can re-claim the Cost of Energy Efficient Measures.
If you have been injured in an accident on public transport, or have a Back Injury at work then contact Bartletts Solicitors in Walton Vale, Liverpool. Bartletts are specialist Personal injury claim liverpool solicitors.
Filed under Loans by
