Private landlords whose homes do not meet minimum energy efficiency standards should be not be able to house tenants on housing benefit, the shadow energy secretary has argued. Speaking at an event hosted by Aldersgate Group, Caroline Flint called for a register of private landlords to ensure tenants receiving benefits are not placed in poorly insulated homes. ‘The state should not be subsidising substandard housing, or lining the pockets of those irresponsible landlords, who fail to make sure their homes are warm and properly insulated,’ she said. Ms Flint argued that such a move would also create employment by forcing landlords to improve their homes, and reduce fuel poverty by cutting bills. The government has introduced legislation to ban landlords from letting homes in the lowest categories for energy efficiency, however this is not due to come into force until 2018. Ms Flint also warned the government’s green deal initiative, which will see installers upgrade the energy efficiency of homes at no up front cost in return for a cut of the energy bills savings, could fail unless the Green Investment Bank is used to subsidise the scheme. Read more on the Aldersgate Group website.
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