Plans to jail property owners who fail to comply with energy policies blasted as 'bonkers'

Backbenchers are set to rebel against the plans which could see homeowners, landlords and businesses face years in prison and fines up to £15,000.

The proposals outlined in the Government’s controversial Energy Bill are set to be raised before the Commons for the first time on Tuesday when MPs return from their summer hiatus.

Ministers would be granted new powers which would enable “the creation of criminal offences” where there is “non-compliance with a requirement imposed by or under energy performance regulations”.

Property owners could be prosecuted for “provision of false information” in regard to energy efficiency and “obstruction of… an enforcement authority”.

The Bill would strengthen and in some cases replace rules on energy performance certificates (EPCs), currently based on repealed EU laws.

Social media users reacted with alarm to the proposals and disbelief, with one saying: “Sounds like another money grab.

“If hit with a penalty, can we then sue the Government for failing to meet their promised net zero targets?”

Another said: “Unreal. They don’t even catch thieves and muggers to put them in jail. What a crock of s**t.”

A third wrote: “So paedophiles, machete wielding youths and illegal immigrants get away with it 9/10 [times] but off to jail you go if you have a gas boiler.

“Bonkers - absolutely bonkers.”

Another said: “What a mad world we live in when the Government wants to send property owners to jail for not improving their EPC.”

MPs have expressed alarm over the ability to create new offences and the seeming lack of parliamentary scrutiny.

Craig Mackinlay, the head of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, has tabled an amendment to strip the “open-ended and limitless” powers out of the legislation.

“The Bill is festooned with new criminal offences,” he told The Telegraph.

“This is just unholy, frankly, that you could be creating criminal offences.”

“The ones we’ve found most offensive are where a business owner could face a year in prison for not having the right energy performance certificate or type of building certification.”

Hitting back against the claims, a Government spokesman said: “We have no plans to create new criminal offences, and any suggestion otherwise is untrue.

“Energy certificate legislation originated in EU laws, and our amendments ensure landlords, businesses and tenants are provided with the information they need to make their own decisions on energy efficiency in their buildings.”