It’s not only homeowners and buyers who want a greener home, demand amongst tenants is also increasing when it comes to eco-friendly rental property. This is encouraging the UK’s landlords to consider ways of green-proofing their investment properties and making improvements for their planet conscious tenants.
The experience of the pandemic has made many people living in the UK reconsider both their health and the environment and re-evaluate how to take greater responsibility for not only our own well-being, but also how we take care of and protect our environment.
By making even small changes, landlords can contribute to creating a greener planet. Those looking to go the extra mile can consider green leases too, where environmental obligations between the landlord and tenant become contractual, encouraging both parties to do what they can to make the property more sustainable.
Five ways landlords can make a positive difference to their tenants and the environment
- Back in 2018, the EU banned the production and importing of halogen bulbs as a move to help the planet. Fitting LED bulbs, which last five times longer than halogen bulbs, will also lower tenants’ electricity bills. The Energy Saving Trust claims that an average household can knock @£40 per annum off electricity bills by replacing every bulb with an LED.
- Installing a smart meter in a rental home will help tenants to be energy aware and monitor their usage and energy consumption on a daily basis.
- Replacing a normal showerhead with a ‘low-flow’ showerhead, which works by aerating the water, but maintains a normal pressure, will reduce water consumption by half.
- Installing a dual flush lavatory converter is not costly but allows you to save between 40-50% more water and is cheaper than removing and replacing with a new dual flush loo.
- Landlords should arrange with the local authority for enough recycling bins to be available for the property’s total number of occupants; this can really encourage tenants to recycle and create less waste.
