What options do tenants have to keep down their gas and electricity bills this winter? (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Two-thirds of privately renting Londoners believe their properties could be more energy efficient.
Yet a poll of more than 250 tenants in the capital, commissioned by government-backed campaign group Smart Energy GB, also found that 65 per cent are confused about what improvements they are allowed to make.
So with thousands of Londoners planning mornings at the gym and evenings in the pub to avoid using their own gas and electricity, we take a look at what measures tenants can and cannot take to cut their energy bills.
Switching supplier
While it is currently difficult to find deals that come in below the per-unit caps in the government’s Energy Price Guarantee, there are some instances when it could be worth changing your gas and electricity provider. Some of the options available are considered here by Citizens Advice.
If your name is on the energy bill, regardless of whether you own or rent the property, you should be able to switch deal. But it is worth checking with the landlord first, and making sure there is no specific clause in your tenancy contract.
If you feel you are being unfairly blocked from changing supplier, consider getting legal advice. And if the property owner pays for power and passes on the charges, you may be able to challenge unfair bills.
It is possible that a landlord may ask you to return the property to their preferred provider when you move out — so be careful about signing up to long-term fixed agreements.
Repairs and maintenance
Anti-homelessness charity Shelter points out that a landlord is responsible for most repairs to the fabric of a property. This means they must repair gas pipes and boilers, windows and hot water systems if they become damaged or stop working through no fault of the tenant. No clause in a tenancy agreement can legally override this responsibility.
If you feel that a malfunctioning item is causing your energy bills to rocket then speak to your landlord. Shelter has some template emails to help with this.
Meanwhile it is a legal requirement for residential landlords to ensure their properties have Energy Performance Certificates with a minimum rating of E. On 1 April 2025 the bar is set to be hiked up to a minimum of a C rating for new tenancies. If an existing property falls below the specified level, landlords are required to pay for improvements to bring it up to scratch, barring certain exemptions.
Meanwhile, if you meet certain criteria for financial hardship, you may qualify for a grant towards efficiency measures through the Energy Company Obligation scheme.
Efficiency installations
Smart Energy GB uses the LIGHT acronym to encourage renters to consider the lighting, insulation, glazing, heating and technology in their home.
Campaign spokeswoman Kate Faulkner says lightbulbs are the domain of the tenant so swapping out power-sapping ones for LED alternatives is an easy win within the renter’s control. There are also various removable-glazing options on the market along with straightforward insulating measures such as draught excluders.
The key thing to consider, Faulkner explains, is that if you want to make alterations to a property’s fixtures and fittings, you will need a landlord’s permission.
However, if you are willing to spend your own money improving your rented house beyond the minimum efficiency level, which is often advisable to save money on bills, a landlord can not legally “unreasonably refuse”. The government has this guide to making your request.
Smart meter
Smart Meter Awareness Week took place last week. Run by Smart Energy GB, the annual campaign aims to accelerate the roll-out of the next-generation gas and electricity meters.
If you pay for the gas and electricity you use at home, whether you rent or own it, then you are entitled to a free smart meter. Contact your energy company or start here.
Smart meters can help you save cash by showing your energy bill accumulating almost live and in a more user-friendly format than traditional units.
Watchdog Ofgem recommends informing your landlord before agreeing to have a smart meter put in to a rented property but insists that even if there are clauses preventing meter swapping, an owner “should not unreasonably prevent it”.
Faulkner encourages open conversations between tenants and landlords and insists most energy efficiency measures would benefit both parties.
Whether you rent or own a property, check out Homes & Property’s 22 clever energy-saving tips for this winter, which include dining on stir fries and floating a “balloon” up your chimney.
