More than 40% of private renters in England and Wales were forced to cut back on gas and electricity use last winter to afford their energy bills, according to Citizens Advice. The consumer charity said 41% of renters, representing 4.5 million people, had to ration energy, while a third, or 3.5 million, struggled to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
Most renters facing these difficulties live in homes with poor energy-efficiency ratings, leaving them exposed to higher costs. Citizens Advice reported that tenants resorted to extreme measures such as skipping hot meals, wearing gloves indoors, and only heating one room.
Calls for Tougher Rules on Landlords
Citizens Advice urged the government to deliver on its pledge to require landlords to upgrade rental homes to a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030. Chief executive Clare Moriarty warned that millions of renters remain trapped in cold, draughty homes, adding: “By 2030, no renter should be living in housing that is excessively difficult and expensive to heat.”
Any delay in implementing these changes, the charity stressed, would leave renters stuck in unaffordable and poorly insulated properties for longer.
Renters Paying Hundreds More in Energy Bills
Research shows that 57% of private renters live in properties with an EPC rating of D or lower. Households in homes with an EPC E rating spent an average of £317 extra on energy bills last winter compared to what they would have paid in a home rated C. For those in the least efficient homes, the additional costs rise to £440 annually.
Despite these potential savings, many renters hesitate to request energy upgrades out of fear of rent hikes or conflict with landlords. Citizens Advice revealed that nearly one-third of renters avoid making such requests. Among those who did ask, 13% reported that their landlords increased rent, while 7% said their requests were rejected outright.
Government Response
A government spokesperson said: “Everyone deserves to live in a warm, comfortable home. We have consulted widely on requiring private rented homes to reach EPC C by 2030. This could lift up to half-a-million homes out of fuel poverty, while making renters hundreds of pounds better off.” However, the government has yet to confirm its next steps following the consultation.
Rising Energy Poverty in the UK
Energy poverty has become a growing crisis in the UK. Households in older, poorly insulated homes are disproportionately affected, with renters among the hardest hit due to limited power to demand upgrades. Campaigners argue that stricter rules on landlords are essential not only to protect tenants but also to reduce the UK’s overall carbon footprint.
