New research shows that 60% of private renters do not know the energy efficiency rating of the property they live in and half of tenants are not aware of the standards currently required of landlords.
The findings come as the government is considering plans for higher standards in the sector.
At present all private rented homes are required to have an Energy Performance Certificate Rating of at least an ‘E’ unless it has a registered exemption. The government proposes increasing that standard to ‘C’.
The research comes from a representative survey of over 2,000 private renters in England carried out by the TDS Charitable Foundation which works to advance education about housing rights and obligations in the private rented sector.
The research also finds that just 58% of renters’ recall receiving a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate for their home, despite it being a legal requirement. Some 57% were unaware that they can report their landlord to their local council if they believe their property does not meet the required energy efficiency standards.
More broadly, over a third of renters (37%) said they struggled to afford their energy bills, whilst 64 per cent said they would be more willing to pay a slightly higher rent for a property with better energy efficiency if it meant significantly lower bills.
The TDS Charitable Foundation is warning that without a comprehensive awareness campaign to ensure improved understanding of energy efficiency requirements; the Government’s latest proposals are set to fail.
Dr Jennifer Harris, head of policy and research at TDS Group, said: “Warm, safe, housing should be the bedrock of a modern rental market. However, too few tenants are clear about the energy efficiency standards their landlords should be meeting.
“The government must avoid the temptation to think that simply changing laws to require higher standards is job done. It needs to be backed up by a major campaign to ensure tenants have all the information they need to hold their landlords to account.”
