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February 2023 - Housing

Citizens Advice survey reveals more than half of the renters in England are living in cold, damp or mouldy properties: A survey conducted by Citizens Advice has suggested that more than half of the people who rent properties in England are living in conditions that are excessively cold, damp or with mould issues.

The survey also found that those with the least energy efficient homes were affected most, with almost three-quarters of tenants living in a home with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D-G more likely to be living with damp than those with a rating of A-C. For these people, the issue is exacerbated by a lack of insulation and high energy bills, meaning homes are more likely to be cold, leading to other issues such as mould and damp.

Almost nine in 10 tenants with an EPC rating of D-C are more likely to experience excessive cold found the survey, than their A-C rated counterparts.

When it comes to how much people are currently paying for heating in England, the survey found that renters in the private sector are paying £350 more per year due to their properties being insulated ineffectively, while those in properties with the most poor insulation are paying up to £950 extra. 

The impact of living in an excessively cold, damp or mouldy home has caused many renters to feel stressed (40%) or anxious (36%) found the research, with Citizens Advice calling for the government to follow through on its promise to make sure all private rental properties are upgraded to a minimum EPC C by 2025. 

Gillian Cooper, head of energy policy at Citizens Advice, said: “Improving energy efficiency in privately rented homes has never been more urgent. It’s the step needed to keep people’s essential bills low, while also helping to protect their mental and physical health.” Yonder surveyed 2,000 private renters aged 18 and over in the UK between January 23-31."

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