Why are private tenants in Wiltshire paying more for their energy?
There's a gap between average bills of those in social housing compared to private landlords.
Private renters in Wiltshire are paying significantly more for electricity and heating than those in social housing, new figures suggest.
The reason behind that could be that housing association properties are more energy efficient.
Campaign group Generation Rent says private renters have put up with draughty homes for too long as lax regulations mean landlords can avoid making improvements.
Energy Performance Certificates provide information on the energy efficiency of a building, and are required when a property is built, sold or let.
Homes are rated from zero to 100, with a higher score reflecting more energy efficiency.
The average score for privately rented flats with a rating in Wiltshire was 67 in 2018-19, compared to 73 for those rented by social landlords, Office for National Statistics data shows.
The estimated energy cost – for lighting, heating and hot water – for private renters was £622 a year, much more than the £448 for social rented flats.
Wiltshire scored very similarly to the national picture – as the median score across England was 68 for private rent flats compared to 73 for social rent.
Dan Wilson Craw, director of Generation Rent, said:
“Private renters have had to put up with draughty homes for far too long, because there hasn’t been much of a carrot or a stick for landlords to insulate their properties.
“Even with recent Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, landlords get an exemption if it would cost too much to make the necessary improvements.”
The organisation said the recently announced Green Homes Grant, whereby homeowners – including landlords – can get financial help to make energy efficiency upgrades, was an opportunity to make thousands of rented homes more comfortable.
The Government will pay vouchers of up to £5,000 – or £10,000 for some low-earners – to cover up to two-thirds of the cost of work done by approved tradespeople.
Dan Wilson Craw from Generation Rent said:
“The Government hasn’t told us how it will make sure the money goes to people who need it most."
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said new homes of all types are significantly more energy efficient than most older housing:
“We are improving the quality of housing across the country by ensuring new homes adhere to strict energy efficiency standards, giving councils powers to deal with dangerous damp in privately rented homes, and enabling renters to take landlords who fail to provide decent living conditions to court.
“We’ve also introduced Green Homes Grants, worth up to £10,000, to help cover energy efficiency improvements, meaning hundreds of thousands of homes will be warmer and safer this winter.”