Caroline Lucas MP, Leader of the Green Party, opened a major housing event in Brighton by calling for a street-by street programme of energy efficiency improvements to ensure an affordably heated home for everyone.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) South East Conference in Brighton, Ms Lucas highlighted the plight of tenants in poor private rented sector in her constituency who live in cold, damp, unhealthy homes. Ms Lucas called it "both a social and environmental scandal that anyone is living in these conditions."
She raised particular concerns about standards of energy efficiency and warmth in private rented properties, highlighting that housing is responsible for 44% of the City of Brighton's carbon emissions.
Ms Lucas cast doubt on the ability of the Green Deal, the Government's voluntary home energy efficiency programme, to tackle some of the worst insulated 3 million private rented homes in the country.
Instead she called for a mandatory register of private landlords, where it would be illegal to rent out properties with an energy efficiency rating of less than E.
Ms Lucas also raised concerns about the Green Deal and the new Energy Commitment Obligation, which would pass the cost of improving the energy efficiency of the Nation's housing stock onto poorer households and potentially push them further into fuel poverty. She said:
"What we need is a massive investment in green infrastructur.... Only by thinking big can we tackle these issues."
Repairs and Maintenance Conference and Exhibition
12th - 13th April 2011, Birmingham Airport. Chartered Institute of Housing
The conference will keep delegates up to date with the latest hot topics, legislative procedures and new industry initiatives in the sector. It aims to highlight new and more efficient working processes to help in providing an excellent and reliable service to both organisations and their customers.
The event will be hosted by John Denny, Chief Executive of Chester and District Housing Trust.
The programme includes a mix of presentations and workshops covering a wide range of issues. The guest speaker is Derek Redmond - former British, European, Commonwealth and World Champion and 2 time Olympian.
The Repairs and Maintenance Conference incorporates an extensive specialist exhibition of 20 stands.
For the full programme and further details click here.
Private Rented Sector 2011 - The Year of Change
13 April 2011: Edinburgh. CIH Scotland
The new Private Housing (Scotland) Act, mandatory Tenancy Deposit Schemes and welfare reform are imminent. This event will outline and examine the practical implementation of new legislation and policy.
It also includes a call to all social landlords to look at increasing housing supply by taking on the management of private rented housing.
The programme includes:
For further details click here.
Extra Care and CCRC Conference 2011
14 April 2011: Bristol. Tetlow King Planning
Tetlow King Planning is jointly organising this conference in conjunction with national care operator, Methodist Homes for the Aged.
It is the fourth in a line of annual conferences initiated in 2007 by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the first to be held outside of London.
The conference will explore a range of Extra Care and CCRC models and examine how developments can be delivered in today's uncertain planning and economic climate. The emphasis will be on private sector solutions that can be achieved with little or no public subsidy.
Speakers are drawn from various organisations engaged in the provision of care. They have a national perspective and will share their knowledge of the policy context, the challenges of delivery and the opportunities that exist.
This national conference is aimed principally at practitioners across the social care, housing and planning fields - in local authorities, housing associations and development companies - and anyone else involved in the development, financing, planning and provision of extra care and continuing care accommodation in all its forms.
For further details click here.