Tenancy Deposit Scheme says the Government must ‘hold Landlords and agents to account’ for failing in their legal duties, with more than half of all private renters not being informed about the energy efficiency rating of their homes.

As Dr Jennifer Harris (pictured), Head of Policy and Research at TDS, explains, all private rented homes are required to have an Energy Performance Certificate Rating of at least an ‘E’ unless it has a registered exemption, although the Government is proposing to increase that standard to ‘C’.

Legal requirement

However, a survey carried out by TDS shows that 60% of private renters do not know the energy efficiency rating of their home and half are not aware of the standards currently required of their landlords.

The survey also reveals that just 58% recall receiving a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate for their home, despite it being a legal requirement. 57% are also unaware that they can report their landlord to their local council if they believe their property does not meet the required energy efficiency standards.

TDS is warning that without a comprehensive awareness campaign to ensure an improved understanding of energy efficiency requirements, the Government’s latest energy efficiency proposals are set to fail.

The Government must avoid the temptation to think that simply changing laws to require higher standards is job done.”

Dr. Harris says: “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.”