Private rented sector worst offender for high carbon emitting homes

The study looked at the English homes rated an F or G on an energy performance certificate (EPC). It found the number of them rated in those bands fell by five per cent from 22 per cent to 17 per cent between 2006 and 2008, the most recent year for which data is available.

However, the EST found F or G rated homes were twice as common in the private rented sector as in the rest of stock.

The Trust said the worst G rated homes can emit over 22 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. By comparison an average British home emits five tonnes of CO2 per annum.

The EST said it could take £5000 or more to get such energy efficient homes out of an E or G rating, but it said there were grants available for landlords to help with the costs.

"There are some F and G banded homes that are going to cost more to bring up to a decent standard," David Weatherall, Housing Strategy manager for the EST. "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."

Grants available to landlords include the Landlord’s Energy Saving Allowance (LESA), a tax allowance that allows landlords to claim up to £1,500 against tax every year for every property they rent out. It can used to buy energy saving products, such as insulation for external and internal solid walls.

For most F or G banded homes, the cost of bringing their carbon emissions to around five tonnes a year would be under £3000, the EST said.

"On the whole our study is good news," said Weatherall. "Most F and G rated homes can be improved very cost effectively, for less than £3,000. That’s less than two percent of the sale price of the average UK home."