Tenants in the UK’s draughtiest homes risk paying £1bn extra in energy bills because of a government loophole letting landlords off the hook, a charity has warned. Landlords will be banned from letting poorly insulated homes from next Aprilunder new regulations designed to protect vulnerable tenants and cut carbon emissions. But campaigners argue that exemptions, which landlords were able to apply for from Sunday, will mean many homes are not upgraded. If all the landlords of the 300,000 properties affected apply successfully for exemptions, tenants would collectively pay £1bn extra for energy over the next five years, said climate change charity 10:10. The group said the regulations were “toothless” while the loophole existed, and made a mockery of Conservative election pledges to keep a lid on energy bills.
Guardian 2nd Oct 2017 read more »
