Read the links provided by John B in this thread...

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=6658&page=1#Item_4

Might be of interest?

It's always a problem when the benefits and costs of an action (eg up-insulating a property) fall to different people.

If the landlord does not upgrade they get the benefit of a better return (due to not having to pay for the upgrade) and the tenant bears the costs of higher heating bills.

If the landlord does upgrade the landlord bears the cost of the upgrade and the tenant gets the benefit of lower heating bills.

The argument that the landlord would benefit from being able to charge higher rent due the higher desirability of a property is valid, but so far (and this will hopefully change after this winter) prospective tenants don't seem to be pressing for better insulation (i.e. they are not prepared to pay more for a better insulated property).

To the OP, if your problem is that you are currently renting a cold property, start talking with your landlord about what work could be done and what you would be prepared to contribute to the project. That may help the landlord to make the decision to improve the property.

...Of course some landlords are just tight ar5es, in which case you do have the ultimate power to shop elsewhere if you don't think you are getting a good deal.

Equids.

If the Warm Front scheme opens again...

http://www.basildon.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=263&p=0

"If your tenant is on a low income or on certain types of benefit they too may be able to claim a “warm front”
grant for insulation."

Is an Equid what you pay for your internet purchases with?

This is the requirement in Scotland. It is called the Repairing Standard and is part of the Housing Act. Not sure about England. I have just refurbished a flat for letting and althought not a requirement I made sure the builder draughtproofed as much as possible and put in underfloor insulation. It's a 200 year old ground floor sandstone flat so insulation was a must to make it comfortable. Also I couldn't help myself. :)


Repairing Standard
I/we must ensure that the house meets the Repairing Standard at the start of, and at all times
during, the tenancy. This duty applies only when you, as the tenant, inform me/us of work
needed to meet the Repairing Standard (or I/we become aware of it in some other way). You
should therefore notify me/us of any work required. I/we must complete that work within a
reasonable time of becoming aware of it.

A house meets the Repairing Standard if the following conditions are met:
• the house is wind and water tight and reasonably fit for human habitation (taking
account of the extent to which the house falls short of any building regulations, because
of disrepair or sanitary defects);
• the structure and exterior of the house (including drains, gutters and external pipes)
are in reasonable repair and proper working order (having regard to the house’s age,
character and prospective life and the locality). Where the house forms part of premises
(eg, a flat), this requirement includes any part of the premises that the owner is
responsible for maintaining, solely or communally, but the Repairing Standard only
applies if any part of, or anything in, the premises that the tenant is entitled to use is
adversely affected;
• the installations in the house for the supply of water, gas and electricity and for
sanitation, space heating and heating water are in reasonable repair and proper
working order (including installations outside the house but serving it, and which the
owner is responsible for maintaining, solely or communally);
• any fixtures, fittings and appliances provided under the tenancy are in reasonable
repair and proper working order;
• any furnishings provided under the tenancy are capable of being used safely for
the purpose for which they are designed; and
• there is satisfactory provision of smoke alarms

No, it's usually *not* in the interests to expend capital for something tenants otherwise pay for in heating bills but cannot tell on a brief visit before renting and which would put up the rental price to recover that capex. *That* is why rules such as the above and having to get an energy-performance cert done before rental are around. And even then many potential tenants will be too dim to understand the significance of a D vs an A on the cert (I would barely have noticed until recently).

Rgds

Damon

You say you put gas central heating in yet they say it does not have a central heating system??

Sound like very fussy tenants who expect an unrealistic level of warmth - 24c from an old stone property constant for not much money! I would explain that there isn't much more you can do and that if they choose to not use the heating system in place then it would be best they find another place. When you advertise for new tenants make a point of explaining the heating set up. Most people don't give a monkeys about the EPC because they expect every house to be perfectly warm for not much money.

Warm Front have installed for free GCH in 3 flats with elderly tenants that I manage. The landlord gains, but has to maintain this improvement (sometimes shoddily fitted). The tenant gains obviously.

Local housing inspectors can "insist" on insulatory improvements and in all cases we have complied as it's best to keep these monsters happy. As a matter of standard practice we now insulate roof spaces before we re-let housing stock as a green and responsible thing to do. Cheap rents as well. Landlords can be nice.

Hi Dickster. I have not seen a legal mechanism that allows Local Authority to insist on insulation improvements. Which I guess is the point the OP is making.

I'd be very interested in what gives them the power to insist on such improvements Do you know?

...err.. slightly Dickensian view of landlords there in the earlier posts...? ...its not all stove pipe hats, canes and twirling of moustaches you know...

J

Posted By: beelbeebubThe flexibility of rented property is an often overlooked benefit.

Too true. We managed to sell during the recession and are now renting paying a fraction in rent to what we did mortgage.

As house prices aren't rising we are not losing out in capital gains. We have no maintenance costs to worry about. And when the elusive dream plot comes along we don't have to worry about trying to sell before making an offer.

At least some of the SKY HIGH rents are as a result of some not very "professional" landlords taking out massive mortgages to by up a handfull of properties while keeping their day jobs. The interest they need to pay on the loans, money for someone to take care of the properties and often a letting agency to handle the finances are heavy overheads which are inevitably passed on to the tennant. Rents are too high and some properties are in a poor condition with the landlords just trying to make a quick buck and not looking after their tennants as they should.

staurtB:
I do not believe I have ever rented a 'professionally' painted place. Maybe I should rent some decent places. Also unless you do not have time or the job is really complex, i'd say professional decorating a waste of money. Though admit to saying yes to having it done.

The current place was last decorated by the original builders. I know, i have done a better job, removing paint brush hairs, so on. cleaned the builders paintwork off glass, plastic, etc.
Must admit drilling holes is a worry. without blue prints of the house though i'd like to know how you can guess where stuff is. Not ever seen blue prints for the wiring and piping of houses. Even new ones.
I tap the walls and guess. Drill a small hole, poke about and see. Common sense. Do builders carry x-ray tools and ultrasonics to guess whats laying behind walls?
James Norton:
Nothing against landlords in general, i am one. I just feel that vast majority need to trust tenants more.