Complete Green Deal solution for landlords launched by the NLA

I received an email from the NLA - National Landlords Association yesterday that started "The sun is shining here at NLA Head Office and we have some sunny news to share. NLA Green Deal launched this week, offering you a one-stop solution to improve your properties' energy efficiency."

Well it might have been yesterday when it was sent out, but I never saw it and today it has been snowing on and off. Anyway I thought I would find a bit more and came across the NLA's press release from Wednesday 6th February.

Here is what the NLA said "The National Landlords Association (NLA) has today launched NLA Green Deal, a complete Green Deal solution which will enable landlords to make energy efficiency improvements to their properties with ease.
The Government’s Green Deal offers landlords and home owners a cost-neutral solution to making their properties more energy efficient. Improvements such as cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, double glazing and boiler replacement can be made and any up-front cost to the landlord is refundable.

Partnered with providers MITIE and United Legal Services Ltd (ULS), NLA Green Deal aims to make the process of making energy improvements as smooth and simple as possible. From assessing the eligibility of your properties to finding a provider and installing the improvements, NLA Green Deal will provide landlords with a hassle-free all-in-one solution.

The works are paid for via a loan attached to the property’s electricity bill. But importantly, the electricity bill will never be more expensive than it would have been if the works had not been carried out. In essence, the energy savings made through the works will be equal to or more than the cost of the Green Deal grant.

Richard Lambert, Chief Executive Officer of the NLA, said: “Partnering with MITIE and ULS enables us to offer all private landlords an end-to-end, cost-effective solution with energy company subsidy and/or Green Deal finance. MITIE’s relationship with the different ECO and Green Deal providers as well its national delivery capability will ensure the best end-to-end solution for both landlords and tenants, and ULS will be able to supply the key support systems needed, as well as essential advice and guidance to assist landlords through this process.

“The Government’s Green Deal initiative highlights how important it is that the UK’s housing stock is energy efficient. Landlords only have a few years to comply with the scheme until their hands will be forced. And with the private-rented sector playing such a prominent role in the provision of housing, this is a key opportunity for them to prove they are able to self-regulate.

“We encourage all landlords with properties in need of energy efficiency improvements to take advantage of the Green Deal – it’s a win-win situation for both landlords and tenants.”

Stephen Giacchino, Director for Strategy and Corporate Development at MITIE, said: “We are looking forward to working with the NLA to help landlords maximise the investment benefit that the Green Deal brings to their portfolio, while delivering energy savings and increased comfort to their tenants.

“Landlords will benefit from MITIE’s experience in managing over 200,000 tenanted properties in the UK, our technical capabilities and national reach to install the right measures to help in the campaign to alleviate fuel poverty.”

Nigel Hoath, Managing Director of ULS Group said: “The software we have created enables landlords to establish what aspect of Green Deal they should be eligible for at a click of a button. We are very pleased to continue to work with the NLA in providing innovative products for landlords’ needs.”

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) estimates that expenditure on Green Deal measures is likely to be worth up to £17 billion over the next 10 years." More Here

The National Landlords Association (NLA) is the UK’s leading organisation for private-residential landlords. It has over 20,000 paid members, ranging from full-time landlords with large property portfolios to those with just a single letting. NLA membership helps landlords make a success of their lettings business by providing a wide range of information, advice and services. The NLA campaigns for the legitimate interests of landlords by seeking to influence decision-makers at all levels of government and by making landlords’ collective voice heard in the media. It seeks to raise standards in the private-rented sector while aiming to ensure that landlords are aware of their statutory rights and responsibilities.

It is a an excellent organisation for landlords to belong to particularly now as there is more and more legislation about, rental properties having to be registered with the local council in a couple of parts of  the country and more to come. It does not cost a lot to join and maintain membership and it quite a different organisation since I first joined in the 1980s when it was known as "The Small Landlords Association".

Meanwhile back to "The Green Deal" Luciana Berger MP, Labour’s Shadow Climate Change Minister said The Green Deal could end up costing people more than they save. - “For months Labour has been warning that to be successful the Green Deal must be a good deal for the public, after all the whole point of the scheme is meant to be that households save money on their energy bills.

“Unfortunately the Government hasn’t listened and now because of sky high interest rates, hidden charges and penalty payments the reality for most people will be that the Green Deal ends up costing them more than they save.”

And finally  Richard Lloyd, Which? Executive Director, said "Rising energy prices are one of consumers' top financial concerns so we support measures to make homes more energy efficient and save people money on their bills but we want to make sure consumers are aware of all the pros and cons before taking out financing through the Green Deal. The Green Deal might work for some people but, as with any financial product, whether it's a good deal for you will depend upon your personal and financial circumstances. Overall, people should tread carefully, check the small print and shop around."