Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Team from a report by Property118. Read the original article for full details.
Propertymark urges wider access to energy-efficiency funding for landlords
Propertymark has called for greater access to energy-efficiency funding for landlords, warning that tying support for private rented homes to tenants' income risks leaving Northern Ireland's least efficient properties behind.
The professional body set out its position in a response to the Northern Ireland Government's Department for Communities consultation on the proposed £150 million Warm Healthy Homes Fund.
What the fund proposes
The Warm Healthy Homes Fund is set to replace the existing Affordable Warmth Scheme. According to the source report, the fund targets lower-income households, and it is this income-based focus that Propertymark has flagged as a concern for the private rented sector.
Why it matters for agents and landlords
For letting agents and inventory clerks operating in Northern Ireland, the outcome of this consultation could shape how — and whether — landlords in the private rented sector can access funding to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Propertymark's central argument, as reported, is that an income-linked approach risks leaving the least efficient properties without the support needed for upgrades.
The consultation response represents Propertymark's formal engagement with the Department for Communities on the design of the replacement scheme. Agents with portfolios in Northern Ireland may wish to follow developments as the proposed fund moves forward.
Source: Property118