NHIC - Homeowners should be under pressure to increase efficiency

Residential landlords could be among those who face increased pressure to improve the energy-efficiency of their properties in the future, it has been suggested.

The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) has suggested that mortgage restrictions should be imposed on properties that are not energy-efficient.

According to the organisation, this would encourage homeowners to make important improvements in order to be able to buy and sell properties.

The comments follow the publication of an energy efficiency survey by the Department for Communities and Local Government, which revealed that the standard assessment procedure rating increased from 42 to 51 between 1996 and 2008.

Andrew Leech, director at the NHIC, said: "The seller will find it difficult to sell their property because the buyer won't be able to get a mortgage on the place because it is not up to a certain energy efficiency standard."

He explained: "You possibly won't get a mortgage unless you are planning to increase the efficiency of the house by [around] another 50 per cent."

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