I agree with you
Stacie Cohen
Policy Officer (Poverty and Growth)
People, Policy and Reform
Manchester City Council
Level 3
Library Walk
Town Hall Extension
Manchester
Landline: 0161 245 7421
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.manchester.gov.uk
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Ronald Mould
<ronald.mould@ren
frewshire.gov.uk> To
[log in to unmask],
07/02/2017 10:30 cc
[log in to unmask]
Subject
Re: New research: Energy
(In)efficiency: what tenants expect
and endure in private rented
housing
In Scotland we have an obligation for an action plan along with an EPC at
point of lease already in effect. This was set out in our Climate Change
Act 2009. The English limit of no less than an E doesn't kick in until
2018. Summarised here;
http://www.out-law.com/en/topics/property/environment/minimum-energy-efficiency-standards-for-uk-rented-properties/
Delaying until 2018 is just no good enough nor is the Action Plan-EPC.
Without effective policing and enforcement it is meaningless. These are
not so much steps as stumbles in the right direction.
Ron
Energy Officer (Communities)
Property Services, Finance and Resources, Renfrewshire Council,
Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley. PA1 1JD
0141 618 6076
0776 880 3776
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: 07/02/2017 10:08
Subject: Re: New research: Energy (In)efficiency: what tenants
expect and endure in private rented housing
Sent by: Fuel Poverty Research Network Announcements
<[log in to unmask]>
Many thanks for this information. It is certainly illuminating but also
frustrating and dismal in relation to the feelings of powerlessness that
tenants have. I agree that there needs to be greater legal implications on
landlords if they do not maintain the energy efficiency of their
properties.There is a vague move towards this in the UK, in that properties
have to be Band D or they cannot be rented out -but i'm sure there are
loopholes that unscrupulous landlords will find to continue to rent out
unsuitable properties.
Let's push for a change to the law in this regard in coming years,
Stacie Cohen
Policy Officer (Poverty and Growth)
People, Policy and Reform
Manchester City Council
Level 3
Library Walk
Town Hall Extension
Manchester
Landline: 0161 245 7421
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.manchester.gov.uk
Please consider the environment before printing this email
Michaela And Jeff
<thinkecoshop@yah
oo.com.au> To
Larissa Nicholls
07/02/2017 03:52 <[log in to unmask]>,
"[log in to unmask]"
<[log in to unmask]>,
Please respond to cc
Michaela And Jeff "[log in to unmask]"
<thinkecoshop@yah <[log in to unmask]>
oo.com.au> Subject
Re: New research: Energy
(In)efficiency: what tenants expect
and endure in private rented
housing
Hi Stacie,
You can download the report that Larissa is referring to here
Hopefully it is different over there but I would reiterate Larissa's point
about renting here in Aus. The tenants we worked with were pretty powerless
in the landlord/ real estate/ renter relationship. They also faced legal
and financial barriers to creating change.
I hope the report is helpful, feel free to shoot me any questions you have
about the project,
Michaela
just-change-new
THINK ECO
2/152 Alma Road, St Kilda East 3183
Jeff 0409 359 120
Michaela 0422 147 466
[log in to unmask]
think-eco.myshopify.com
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
From: Larissa Nicholls <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]; "[log in to unmask]"
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, 7 February 2017, 6:41
Subject: Re: New research: Energy (In)efficiency: what tenants expect and
endure in private rented housing
Hi Stacie,
Your context may be different but in Australian (state of Victoria)
landlords/agents are required to provide the attached information booklet
about tenant rights and responsibilities at the start of the tenancy. It's
very detailed and now incorporates links to an app to assist tenants with
letters etc.
However, research has shown that all this information has very limited
outcome for tenants wanting energy efficiency improvements when property
managers (real estate agents) are the main means of communication between
tenants and landlords. Even when improvements are free of charge, property
managers usually don't put the time to passing the tenant request to the
landlord. A non-for-profit org called Just Change did a trial which showed
that even with a third party involved to liaise for permission, it took
many contacts to achieve permission to improve the property's energy
efficiency. Michaela Lang (cc'd) may be able to send an electronic copy of
this report. I have attached another research report from this
organisation.
Under these circumstances, tenants fear rent increases or loss of the
property (particularly here where getting a rental property is very
competitive and leases are usually short). It is understandable in this
environments that tenants will not push their properties hard enough to get
permission to improve energy efficiency.
The state government is currently looking at issues relating to tenants and
landlords rights so you might find something of interest here:
http://fairersaferhousin g.vic.gov.au/renting
The social service organisations who do energy advocacy work here are
pushing for minimum standards for rental properties, e.g.
http://library.bsl.org.au /jspui/bitstream/1/7046/1/BSL_
response_to_Residential_Tenanc ies_Act_consultation_paper_ 2015.pdf
In my view, given the power imbalance in the tenant to landlord/property
manager relationship (in Australia at least), this problem won't be solved
by greater education of tenants. If governments take this approach, it
implies that tenants are missing out on energy efficiency because they
don't know/do enough. Although perhaps more difficult to implement, tenant
access to energy efficient properties will not change significantly without
property managers/landlords being forced to make improvements to the rental
properties.
Regards,
Larissa
Dr Larissa Nicholls
(Embedded image moved to file: pic11312.jpg)
Research Fellow
Beyond Behaviour Change Research Program
Centre for Urban Research
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
RMIT University - City Campus
Building 15, Level 2
124 La Trobe St
Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia
p +61 3 9925 9012
e [log in to unmask]
w http://cur.org.au/research-programs/beyond-behaviour-change/
On 6 Feb 2017 10:09 PM, <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hello
This research is very interesting in terms of the tenants response to the
power relationship with the landlord. I was wondering if there had been
further research into recommendations regarding what can be done to
assist
the tenant from a psychological perspective and/or help them understand
their rights?
Thanks,
Stacie Cohen
Policy Officer (Poverty and Growth)
People, Policy and Reform
Manchester City Council
Level 3
Library Walk
Town Hall Extension
Manchester
Landline: 0161 245 7421
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.manchester.gov.uk
Please consider the environment before printing this email
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