No, absolutely not. I’m not sure I entirely agree the government support is being funnelled into the right places mind. As you say, it’s mostly going to people who don’t need it as much. I’m absolutely taking them up on their £7.5k grant, I’d be a fool not to.
I’m all for requiring landlords to meet energy efficiency standard on properties they rent. The government shouldn’t be subsidising that though unless it’s a publicly owned property. A privately owned rental property is a business at the end of the day and they should be investing some of that profit back into the property. It’s an utterly travesty that the housing bill got watered down to exclude this requirement from landlords.
Your answer still has me confused, Obviously I understand why you will take up the offer you have.
The watering down whilst unfortunate, I think in practice probably doesnt mean a lot, there is already an existing requirement for properties to meet an E grade and isnt current enforced. Logically if thats not enforced they were never going to enforce the C grade either, and even if landlords complied they not going to do it without passing on the cost, so with no grants tenants live in the cold and high rents, or have better living conditions with extremely high rents, there is no fairy tale outcome of landlords insulating their properties and absorbing all the costs themselves, as there is no rent controls.
So the net result of these schemes is an increase in inequality. It is also the case home owners have an asset that the government is increasing in value, and to me thats the same argument as what you making about private letting as a business,
a business is an asset the same as a house is an asset. It is good you acknowledge though that the difference in means testing requirements has the help funnelled to those who need it less.
Then there is the practical point of view, one would assume if you provide grants for everyone, and especially target those with lowest disposable incomes, then the load on the NHS is reduced in winter months, and we also make a step in tackling the problem of rising long term sickness in this country.
Sadly it seems we stuck with people should be striving to own a home and renting as such is only a step on the ladder to get there (or not at all with supportive parents).
