The NLA supports the Welsh Government in their objective to achieve net carbon by 2050, specifically in their bid for housing decarbonisation in Wales. A recent report* on decarbonising existing homes in Wales called the ‘Better Homes, Better Wales, Better World’ by the Decarbonisation of Homes in Wales Advisory Group laid out seven recommended steps for the Welsh Government to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
It can be incredibly hard for landlords to know the history of the houses they let out – many of the works to improve energy efficiency are not obvious from superficial inspections, and much of the work done to a property can be lost in the purchase cycle. This makes it very hard for landlords to make energy efficient upgrades. The Better Homes, Better Wales, Better World report suggests creating a housing passport, or a ‘Home LogBook’, for every home in order to guide energy efficiency decisions and investments.
The Advisory Group also suggests the Welsh Government urgently create financial support mechanisms to enable owner-occupiers and private residential landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. We believe this would provide adequate incentives for landlords to make improve their rental properties to an energy efficiency rating of Band A.
Gavin Dick, Local Authority Policy Officer at the NLA and member of the Advisory Group, says:
“Housing passports have been successfully introduced elsewhere in Europe and provide a systematic approach for renovations. Landlords, and other homeowners, need to know what steps they need to take in order to plan effectively for the future.
“If the Welsh Government is serious in its commitment to decarbonising housing, it should provide these free to all homeowners, along with funding to assist with upgrades. Given that 32 percent of Welsh housing was built pre-1919, raising energy efficiency levels to Band A is an expensive and demanding exercise. Homeowners need to be encouraged and incentivised to make these changes.”
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