One in three landlords cannot afford to upgrade their properties’ energy efficiency to meet tough new laws coming in today.
All new tenancies with Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of F or G must have upgraded to at least band E from April 1.
The law is meant to cut tenants’ energy bills by up to £180 a year, lower the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and increase landlords’ property prices.
Energy minister Claire Perry said: “These measures strike a balance between the cost to landlords and delivering benefits to tenants by reducing bills and making homes more energy efficient.”