WHEN it comes to energy efficiency, Brighton and Hove properties are among the leakiest in the country. New legislation is forcing private landlords to improve their stock. But with the deadline looming, take-up is slow. FINN SCOTT-DELANY reports

WITH its Green politics and liberal population, Brighton and Hove is known for its sustainable and progressive outlook.

But look at its housing stock and you will see a different side of the city.

Closely associated with the Regency period, the splendid architecture contrasts sharply with practicalities of keeping these draughty properties warm, some houses suffering a chronic lack of investment.

Three-quarters of buildings in Brighton and hove were built before 1919 – and many are falling into disrepair, with an estimated 15,000 ‘hard to heat’ homes in the city

While efforts have been made to improve council housing, the private rented sector lags behind, with households which already spend a disproportionate amount of their income shelling out as much as £1,000 more than the average annual energy bill.

After years of inaction, a piece of legislation signed last year in the dying days of the coalition government, is set to shake-up the city’s poor housing stock.

In a bid to cut energy bills and carbon emissions, landlords will be banned from renting out the draughtiest homes from April 2018.

Campaigners hailed the move as potentially the most significant piece of legislation in a generation to improve the UK’s housing, which is some of the oldest and leakiest in Europe.

According to the fine print landlords will be forced to upgrade the energy efficiency of homes currently rated F and G to a minimum of E by 1 April 2018 – or be prohibited from letting them until they improve the rating.

The regulations also mean that as of April 2016, tenants living in F- and G-rated homes can request improvements such as more insulation and the landlord will be legally bound to bring the home up to an E-rating.

All this is good news for tenants. But what does it mean practically for landlords?

Sustainability experts in Brighton are hosting a seminar to support property professionals affected by an upcoming legislation change.

For the Green Building Partnership, a co-operative aimed at making building in Brighton and Hove greener, landlords are not acting quickly enough to meet the regulations.

Director Alex Hunt said: “Landlords have be made aware of the new regulations with enough notice to make updates before the legislation comes into effect. The problem is many have still not taken any action.

“From working in the industry we know it’s because there’s a lot of uncertainty over which measures offer most bang for the buck. With the knowledge to make informed choices, we hope people will act before the cut-off. Failing to do so will have negative repercussions on property owners, tenants and the wider industry.”

In partnership with the Green Register, the Green Building Partnership is leading a one-day technical retrofitting training course, aimed specifically at housing associations, landlords, developers, agents, architects and surveyors.

Covering emerging research, case studies and best practice, the course will outline how to simply and cost-effectively upgrade traditional and historic buildings.

With Government advice on energy-efficiency and retrofitting is typically generic, and tailored advice on local property harder to come by, Alex is hoping to fill the gap for owners of property in and around the city.

“In Brighton and Hove, we have some of the most inefficient buildings in the country”, he added.

“They’re expensive to maintain and many landlords struggle to finance the level of improvements required. We know the local building stock inside out and based on years of experience, we can advise on the best, most cost-effective, measures for different building types across Brighton and Hove and wider Sussex.”