Structural Factors Impacting Energy Efficiency Policy Implementation in the European Private Rented Sector

How to improve energy efficiency policies to address energy poverty? Literature and stakeholder insights for private rented housing in Europe

“…To what concerns landlords, the PRS across Europe mainly consists of small-scale landlords, which often results in a lack of professionalism, inadequate knowledge regarding energy efficiency issues, and inability to apply for grants or subsidies due to lack of confidence. In addition, landlords' possible mistrust of policy and legislation as well as the presence of a proportion of low-income landlords can also work as barriers to the implementation of energy efficiency policies [68]. Expansion of advice services through greater outreach to affected persons, closer integration of social association advice centres, job centres, and municipal authorities, as well as training relevant employees on how to deal with energy efficiency and energy poverty concerns, are considered beneficial for addressing social barriers [68].…”

“…In addition, landlords' possible mistrust of policy and legislation as well as the presence of a proportion of low-income landlords can also work as barriers to the implementation of energy efficiency policies [68]. Expansion of advice services through greater outreach to affected persons, closer integration of social association advice centres, job centres, and municipal authorities, as well as training relevant employees on how to deal with energy efficiency and energy poverty concerns, are considered beneficial for addressing social barriers [68]. A stakeholder working in the field of governance responded that "energy efficiency policy should be accompanied by general awareness raising of tenants' rights, due to the fact that many tenants fear that their tenancy agreement will be negatively affected if they raise energy efficiency issues to their landlords".…”