Caroline Lucas has today announced her opposition to proposals which would link payment of housing benefit to energy efficiency standards in rented homes.[1][2].

Speaking about the plans, Caroline said: "Energy efficiency in the domestic sector is vital in the fight against climate change and fuel poverty. However, seeking to withhold Housing Benefit payments[3] to those who live in energy inefficient housing will do little to drive improvement, and a lot to hurt tenants who are in receipt of benefits."

She continued: "Forty-four per cent of our carbon footprint comes from domestic properties, and this is a particular problem in Brighton and Hove where twenty-one per cent of residents live in the private rented sector. The solution to this is not for the Government to endanger the tenancies of our most vulnerable citizens, but instead to follow the Green Party's policy proposal of making a long-term investment commitment of £4 billion a year into energy efficiency measures until 2025. Alongside tough regulation of private landlords, this would transform our country's homes, while creating 80,000 jobs in the process."

Caroline will also be meeting this Saturday with the CEO of the Brighton Housing Trust [4], where she will discuss the challenges they face, and what she can do to help the organisation if she is elected as the MP for Brighton Pavilion constituency. Brighton Housing Trust works to increase the provision of affordable housing, and challenges discrimination faced by homeless people.

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01272 766 670

[1] The full consultation can be found here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hb-consultation.pdf

[2] The specific proposal reads: "We would like to consider whether the payment of Housing Benefit should be made conditional on housing meeting certain defined standards in terms of quality, energy efficiency and carbon footprint. Housing Benefit would not be payable on properties which fell below certain standards."

[3] Housing Benefit statistics can be found here: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/hbctb_arc.asp

[4] For more information about the Brighton Housing Trust please see: http://www.bht.org.uk/index.php