The National Landlord Day run by the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) was held in Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh yesterday and nearly 400 landlords and letting agents from Edinburgh and around Scotland attended what was a very enjoyable day. If you have an interest in the letting market in Edinburgh or other main cities in particular then the topics covered by well chosen speakers was pretty interesting. The most interesting topics covered were:
1. Private Sector Landlords Boiler Scrappage Scheme
2. The Property Letting Market Outlook in Scotland
3. The New Housing Bill
4. The Pending Tenancy Deposit Scheme in Scotland
5. Changes to the Local Housing Allowance
I am planning to post my comments on what I learnt about each topic over the next couple of weeks. As it is brand new and a limited fund which will run out I thought it sensible to start with the Landlords Boiler Scrappage Scheme.
Harry Mayers of the Energy Saving Trust gave a good summary of a brand new scheme for landlords to allow them to scrap their old and in-efficient boilers paying £400 towards the cost of a new one. The scheme is open to any landlord to apply and they are able to apply for more than one property.
Private Sector Landlords Boiler Scrappage Scheme
Scotland has one of the most ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets in the world. The installation of an efficient heating system is one effective way of reducing your tenant’s household energy bills and CO2 emissions. There are currently an estimated 250,000 homes in Scotland that have boilers of the least efficient type (efficiency of 70% or less). To help address this, the Scottish Government has announced funding for a boiler scrappage scheme for private sector landlords in Scotland.
Scrappage schemes work by helping to meet the cost of replacing inefficient equipment with new more efficient alternatives – in this case boilers. The Energy Saving Scotland Private Sector Landlords Boiler Scrappage Scheme will offer landlords £400 towards the cost of upgrading inefficient boilers to an Energy Saving Trust Recommended boiler in each of their rented properties.
· Upgrading your boiler can result in: Higher EPC ( Energy Performance Certificate) ratings, which could make properties easier to let
· Lower energy bills for tenants leading to reduced rent arrears and defaults
· Reduced CO2 emissions from properties
· Reduced levels of fuel poverty experienced by tenants.
· You must be replacing a working boiler. The boiler being replaced must have a SAP2005 rating of 70% or worse as detailed on www.sedbuk.com. If you wish to clarify if a system is eligible, please contact the Energy Saving Trust Services Delivery Team on 0131 555 8659.
· You must replace this with an Energy Saving Trust Recommended boiler or a Microgeneration Certification Scheme accredited microgeneration technology. You can find a list of Energy Saving Trust Recommended boilers on our website or should you require further assistance contact the Energy Saving Trust Services Delivery Team on 0131 555 8659. Please note, an A-rated boiler does not automatically qualify as ESTR.
· You must be a registered private sector landlord and be fully responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the boiler. (This scheme does not cover individual owners/occupiers, council tenants or social landlords).
· The property where the boiler is to be installed must be a domestic address in Scotland.
· You must have received a quote for your boiler replacement before making an application.
· The applicant must make an application and receive their voucher before having their boiler replaced. Work on the installation must not have commenced before the date on which the rebate voucher is issued.
· The installer must be Gas Safe registered (for gas installation) and should be a member of a recognised industry body such as CLE, SNIPEF or OFTEC. Installation of a microgeneration technology must be carried out by a person qualified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
Once you have checked you are eligible you should:
· Obtain a quote for your boiler replacement
· Apply for a voucher online or via the phone on 0800 512 012
· Arrange the installation of your new boiler within 12 weeks of requesting the voucher
· Pay for the boiler and installation work up-front
· Claim back the £400 by sending the completed voucher and invoice back to us
On the application form you will be asked for all of the following:
· Your landlord registration number - to find this out check the following link or contact the Energy Saving Trust services delivery team on 0131 555 8659 and they will put you in touch with your local authority.
· Your correspondence and installation property addresses
· Some details of your rental properties’ existing heating system
· The date you received your quote for the new boiler installation
· The installer company name
· Installer accreditation number (e.g. gas safe number)
· Manufacturer and make of replacement boiler
Please note, if you proceed with your installation before you receive your voucher, you will invalidate your claim and you will no longer be eligible for the £400 rebate.
I will post Part 2 next week – regards – Jonathan
