Private rented homes need to be greener

July 15th 2010

Many homes in the private rented sector need to be made more energy-efficient, a new study has suggested.

Homes in the UK are rated on an energy performance certificate, with properties registering F and G emitting particularly high levels of CO2.

Recent research carried out by Energy Saving Trust (EST) discovered that, while homes with these ratings were decreasing, they were still twice as common in the private rented sector than anywhere else.

According to the EST, it would cost £5,000 or more to improve the efficiency of such homes and place them in a lower category.

David Weatherall, Housing Strategy manager for the EST, said there are some homes with F and G ratings that may prove difficult to improve.

"They’re particularly large old homes that may not have had much investment over the years – and they often use old style heating systems and old style fuels. And many of them are in the private rented sector," he said.

According to the group, a house with a G rating can emit more than 22 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, compared to the annual average of five tonnes.