What is it?
The Green Deal came into force in October 2012, and applies to both Residential and Commercial Property. It allows the homeowner to make energy saving improvements to their home without having to pay up front, such as:
- Heating
- Ventilation
- Solar blinds
- Cavity wall installation and/or replacement or civility wall
- Double Glazing
- Lighting, including lighting systems, fittings and controls
- Water heating, including hot water controls, timers and temperature controls
Are you a suitable candidate for the Green Deal?
You may wish to see if your home can benefit from energy saving improvements and see if you can save money in the long term. There are various ways to check your suitability. You can contact an assessor or provider who will make recommendations as to which saving measures are suitable to your home. They will also advise you of the costs.
How to go about getting the work done?
If you decide to go ahead, you can then speak to a ‘provider’ who will make an offer called the ‘Green Deal Plan’ and will also arrange for installation to be carried out by an installer. A Green Deal Finance Company will provide a loan for works to be carried out. Small sums to repay the loan will made via your utility bills.
How do you know if the property already benefits from the Green Deal?
The burden is on the current owner to disclose that the property benefits from the Green Deal at the time of sale. This is because the Green Deal attaches to the land and any
prospective buyer or tenant will be liable to pay for the green deal benefits under the green deal plan. Further information with regards to the Green Deal can be located on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) specific to the property. If the existence of a green deal is not disclosed by a seller, a buyer has 90 days to seek redress after receiving the first electrical bill.Note there is no recourse after 90 days and the buyer will at that point be liable to make such payments under the Green Deal.Some lenders may refuse to lend against a property with a continuing Green Deal liability.
Future Implications
Any property that is not a dwelling must have a minimum ‘E’ rating on the EPCfor letting a property from the 1st April 2018 for new lettings and existing lettings must achieve a minimum ‘E’ rating by 1st April 2023.
Domestic private rented properties, assured, regulated and other specified tenancies (but not social housing) must achieve a minimum ‘E’ ratingfor letting from 1st April 2018 for new lettings and for any existing lettings this must be achieved by 1st April 2020. This means that even if a lease started and expires before the above dates, a Landlord cannot rent the property until the EPC is at a level ‘E’ rating.
Enforcement and Penalties
If a landlord fails to comply with relevant requirements there is an uncapped civil sanction.
A Landlord will also be liable for during void periods for payments, but the Landlord will not be liable for unpaid payments which the tenant should have paid as this is treated as a debt and will therefore pass to the new buyer/tenant.
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