Just over half of private landlords are considering using the government’s green deal energy efficiency scheme to improve their housing stock.

A National Landlords Association survey of its members has found 63 per cent are aware of the green deal, and 56 per cent are thinking of using the scheme.

Under the green deal, which launches next month, landlords and homeowners will be able to get work done to improve the energy efficiency of their home without paying up front. They will then pay back the cost of the work, with interest, using the money saved from fuel bills.

A survey conducted last week by Inside Housing suggested the majority of social landlords are not intending to allow their tenants to take part in the scheme.  Only two of the 17 largest social landlords in Great Britain said they would allow tenants to take up green deal offers.

The government is putting pressure on private landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their stock. Under the Energy Act 2011 it will be illegal to let stock with the lowest energy performance certificate ratings from 2018, and ministers have suggested they may take further action if the sector does not respond in advance of the change.

David Salusbury, chairman of the NLA, said: ‘It is imperative that landlords future-proof their properties and their investments.

‘The green deal is their opportunity to improve the quality of their properties and demonstrate their ability to engage with government initiatives without the burden of further regulation. If landlords don’t act now, they may find their property cannot be legally let come 2018.’