The Government’s Energy Bill – which will provide the legislative basis for the Green Deal – was yesterday given an unopposed second reading in Parliament. Following the earlier announcement on the increased per-household limit for Green Deal finance, a real boost was given to the policy with the of additional regulations to be placed on the private rented sector -  which currently includes a high proportion of the UK’s least energy efficient properties. Under the new proposals, landlords will not be able to refuse “reasonable requests” from tenants to improve their property from April 2012, and will be banned from renting out properties with F and G energy efficiency ratings from April 2018. The announcements seem to be the Government’s first step in recognising concerns held by many that the level of take-up that the Green Deal will be low without additional incentives, and are great news for tenants that may previously have struggled to persuade their landlords to improve their homes. What remains to be seen is whether they will go further to offer further carrots (or sticks!) to encourage homeowners to get involved. Let’s hope so!