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A PUBLIC CONSULTATION has been launched to determine ways to ensure rented properties are made warmer and more energy efficient.
Environment Minister Richard Bruton today announced a consultation around options to encourage energy efficiency upgrades in rented properties.
The government’s Climate Action Plan commits to upgrading 500,000 homes to a BER (building energy rating) of B2 or cost optimal energy.
It is estimated that around 21% of private rented accommodation have a rating of F or G, according to the government.
Oftentimes, rented properties, especially older rented properties, can be less energy efficient than owner occupied properties because of the “split incentive problem”.
A split incentive happens because landlords, who would have to meet the cost of the improvements, do not reap the benefits of a warmer home and cheaper energy bills.
Tenants, on the other hand, do not own the property and therefore have little incentive to invest. So, it can happen that neither party is motivated to upgrade the building.
As a result, tenants’ heating bills can often be higher than they could be and more energy is used, resulting in higher emissions.
“We must address this issue,” Bruton said.
“Today, we are outlining a number of options to address the problem. Improved properties will be welcome for tenants and landlords alike because they will result in improved living conditions, better health outcomes and enhanced asset value,” he said.
“The environment impact will be significant, with lower energy bills and lower emissions.”
Green leases
One of the options outlined in the consultation open from today is to encourage a wider use of green leases.
A green lease is basically a normal commercial lease with additional green clauses included.
These facilitate and or encourage cooperation between the landlord and
tenant to achieve beneficial environmental outcomes.
Green lease clauses are already applied to some extent in Ireland.
Green clauses might, for example, provide:
The public consultation will also consider the introduction of an enhanced grant for landlords who upgrade their rented property and their own home at the same time, provided both properties are brought up to specified BER standards.
It will consider linking the participation by a landlord in the Housing Assistance Payment scheme for a defined period of time to a free energy efficiency upgrade.
The introduction of regulations requiring all commercial buildings to obtain a minimum BER by a specified date in the future will also be considered.
Furthermore, the consultation will consider introducing a cost balancing arrangement, whereby a landlord unable or unwilling to upgrade to minimum BER standard compensates the tenant for higher heating bills.
All options will be put out to consultation from today. It will remain open until 17 January 2020.
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Can’t see this 16 year old as being a boh. Especially given the offences. Disgusting.
At least he’s been charged which will be some tiny justice for the mans grieving family.
Name him!
I thought that it was fascinating that the mother was charged with perverting the course of justice. I’m not sure of the details, but I envisage that she is one of those mothers that has a cut off the principle when teachers try to discipline her child, which is probably why he thought he could get away with it. Offences in school need to be treated in the same manner as offences on the street or we’ll end up with the same problems as the UK. ‘Bullies’ should be referred to an Garda Siochana for assault or intimidation. Student with fireworks and bangers are in possession of illegal explosives and should be referred to police also. We’ve let society get out of hand and have not been responsible in protecting the innocent from thugs.
This was a failure of by the mother in teaching her son right and wrong, as well as a failure of the state to take an active interest in the upbringing of children. If the parents can’t or won’t perform the repsonsibilities, the state must do it for them.
Not sure how public education works in Ireland or the U.K., but maybe there should be the adoption of police departments dedicated to the school system, and take student discipline from the principal, teacher, parent, etc.
In many places in the U.S., there are police empowered by the school districts to guard school property and “police” the students. Depending on the severity of the infraction, they can issue a fine against the parents, refer the students removal to an alternative discipline school, or go further to refer the students to the state for formal charges.
If that system were in place, maybe this kid would not have been free to murder.
have your say