Rented Property must have UPVC Double Glazing by 2012

tbs624

jstvj wrote: »

A friend of mine was considering painting her windows until some one told her that legislation is being introduced to force all Landlords to install UPVC double glazed windows by 2012.

Urban myth, presumably put about by UPVC salesman

pawpurrs

tbs624 wrote: »

Double glazing is one thing but UPVC is *not* ecofriendly

UPVC anything is my pet hate! I hate UPVC double glazing!
I take your point, what I meant was the house should be as eco friendly ad possible with insulation etc, I would never have UPVC dble glazing! Mind you, I have never lived in a house where it would be allowed anyway

Woodyrocks

poppysarah wrote: »

If you own you have the choice to install it. If you're in rented you don't.

I think all rented properties should meet high standards for insulation etc.

I would love it if this was the case. My HA house has terrible insulation. The windows are so thin that you can hear people talking across the road. The walls are permanently cold and you have to leave the heating on thrice as long because it takes so long to heat up and it doesn't retain heat after it is turned off. I have been told there is no plans to fit double glazing in the house. My gas bill is disgusting and the draft in the house is unreal. If the place was mine, I would happily go without to put double glazing in but as it is, I have no choice in the matter.

m_13

The EU has recently passed legislation which allow grants to be given from European Regional Development Fund for double glazing, insulation and other green measures in private homes including those which are rented out. From the press release in December 2008 (was voted on last week):

Current legislation on the EU Structural Funds gives new Member States only a limited right to use support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for housing. It can only be used for common parts of a building (or the entire building in the case of social housing) in deprived urban areas.

Today's proposal would allow the whole EU-27 to benefit from ERDF support for energy efficiency and renewable energy investment in all types of buildings. However, interventions can target only low-income households (as defined by national rules).

In concrete terms, interventions could co-finance, for example, national, regional or local schemes for insulation of walls, roofing and windows (double-glazing), solar panels, and replacement of old boilers for more energy-efficient ones.

Measures to speed up energy investment in buildings will contribute to the following objectives:

• inject dynamism into the European economy, promote EU competitiveness and job creation, notably in the construction industry;
• improve know-how in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energies;
• underpin the objectives of other Community policies such as energy security, environment and the fight against climate change.

To date, through the Cohesion Policy, the 27 Member States have planned to invest €4.8 billion on renewable energies and €4.2 billion on energy efficiency and energy management measures.

However, there's no mention of UPVC nor it being mandatory nor a date when it will start!

Geenie

tbs624 wrote: »

Double glazing is one thing but UPVC is *not* ecofriendly

Agree, and it devalues certain age properties, as an EA friend has told me many times. People don't like UPVC in Edwardian or older, and are put off buying because of the price to reinstate in wood.

Fred1_2

I'm sure I read somewhere that wooden windows are more energy efficient that uPVC (assuming both house the same DG unit of course).

Why are we still mucking about with air filled double glazing units in this country. I understand that argon filled triple glazed units have been the norm in most of Northern Europe for quite a few years. If it's proven technology, it should be pretty cheap by now.

I'm all for improving the energy efficiency of homes, but there are no carrots for landlords to do so. We pay out for the improvements and the tenant benefits from lower bills. In fact, with the credit crunch, we can't even get the finance to make the improvements we'd like to.

The govt could give landlords and owner occupiers loans at BoE base rate for energy efficiency improvements and reduce VAT to 5% the same as on electricy and gas if they really wanted to improve the UK's housing stock.

pawpurrs

It would put me off buying, but that is because of the age of properties that I like, it just looks wrong!

jstvj

Thanks all for your input. I am having my building scaffolded after Easter and it looks like I'll be getting out the sandpaper and paint brush again.