Following yesterday's announcement concerning the new Fuel Poverty Strategy, questions have been asked as to why government will not consider extending the Landlord Energy Saving Allowance (LESA). Yesterday’s Fuel Poverty Strategy announcement outlined the government's commitment to improving the energy efficiency of the nation’s housing stock, and especially the rental sector. The British Property Federation considers the LESA, which is a tax allowance of up to £1,500 for energy efficiency measures which can be claimed per rented property per year, to be an important incentive for residential property owners seeking to take early action to comply and increase the energy efficiency of their properties. It is due to end in April 2015.

Given that the goal of the Fuel Poverty Strategy is for all private rented sector properties to have an energy efficiency standard of Band C by 2030, the Federation would like to see the an important source of energy efficiency funding extended to encourage landlords to meet energy efficiency standards.

Ian Fletcher, director of policy (real estate), said: “We share the Government’s desire to ensure that all private tenants live in warm homes. It seems illogical, however, to allow LESA – the only initiative aimed solely at private rented sector landlords – to lapse at this time. Landlords should be incentivised to take early action to comply with these new regulations and indeed go beyond the minimum standard, and we see LESA as an excellent way to achieve this.”