Low Carbon Living Programme
Energy saving information for
tenants in the private rental sector
This information sheet outlines landlords’ and tenants’ legal responsibilities for energy efficiency
measures, details incentives for your landlord to increase the energy efficiency of your home, and
contains information about low cost ways of increasing your energy efficiency.
Information correct at time of writing – February 2012
WHY SAVE ENERGY?
Energy prices have doubled in recent decades. Using energy more efficiently in your home will help
you save money on expensive fuel bills and help you keep your house warm. Being energy efficient
can cut as much as £300 off your annual energy bill, which for gas and electricity averages at around
£1,000 per year in the UK.
Saving energy will also help you reduce your household’s contribution to climate change. Households
account for over a quarter of total UK greenhouse gas emissions through the use of fuels including
gas and electricity. You can increase the impact of your energy reduction by doing it with other
people in your community. To find your nearest group, look at the Low Carbon Hub
(www.lowcarbonhub.org).
1. HOW TO SAVE ENERGY AND MONEY
Here we summarise three key ways of saving energy and money and increasing the warmth of your
home. You can find further details on each of these measures in the leaflet, ‘Energy Saving
Information in Your Home, which will be available on the Low Carbon Hub from mid January 2012’.
Getting an energy audit
Your local low carbon community group or the Oxfordshire Low Carbon Hub may be able to help you
get an idea of how much energy you can save in your home (www.lowcarbonhub.org). You can
phone the Oxfordshire Affordable Warmth Network on 0800 107 0044 or your local Energy Saving
Advice centre on 0800 512 012. If you have a computer with an internet connection, the
Government’s Act on CO2 online calculator is a simple way of working out your current energy use
and what action you can take, available here: http://carboncalculator.direct.gov.uk, or the EST’s
online Home Energy Check at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/In-your-home/Home-EnergyCheck.
Reducing the amount of energy you use
There are lots of simple things you may be able to do to save energy which don’t cost
money or involve your landlord. These involve changing habits, such as switching off
lights and appliances when not needed, using your heating controls more effectively,
using the washing machine at lower temperatures, and monitoring your energy use by taking regular
meter readings or buying an energy display monitor. You may be able to get a free energy display
monitor from your energy supplier. Other cheap ways to reduce your energy consumption are
contained within the leaflet Energy Saving Information in Your Home.
Using energy more efficiently
A lot of energy in our home is wasted through poor insulation, draughts, and inefficient
lights and appliances. Insulating and increasing the energy efficiency of your home
means you can use less fuel to heat and power your home, and can help reduce
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condensation and mould. The most effective measures for energy efficiency are loft and cavity wall
insulation, an energy efficient condensing gas boiler, and installing double glazing. Other effective
measures include draught proofing, jackets for hot water cylinders, insulating pipes, using reflective
radiator panels, and installing individual thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) on radiators. Many
energy improvements are the landlord’s responsibility so you will need to ask your landlord to do
them, or get their written permission to do them yourself.
Cheaper and greener fuel tariffs
The variety of energy tariffs can be confusing, but you may be able to save money by checking if
your existing company has a cheaper tariff option for you. If they don’t, it may be worth shopping
around to compare different tariffs. Two organisations which are helpful are the Energy Best Deal
Campaign (from Citizens Advice Bureau and OFGEM):
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/fsfl_projects_energybestdeal and the Which? Switch service:
01992 822 867 / http://www.which.co.uk/switch/energy-advice.
Cocoon Your Home, a service supported by your local council, also offers a comparison service to
help you find a cheaper or greener tariff (www.cocoonyourhome.co.uk)
2. RESPONSIBILITIES AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
General responsibilities
If you are a private tenant and want to make energy efficiency improvements, first check your and
your landlord’s rights and responsibilities in your tenancy agreement. It generally makes sense for
tenants to encourage the landlord to carry out and pay for improvements and repairs, or if you are
eligible apply for a government Warm Front grant to cover the costs and get the work done (see
below).
Generally speaking, unless the tenancy has a fixed term of more than 7 years, under the Landlord
and Tenant Act 1985 the landlord is likely to be responsible for making energy efficiency
improvements and repairs. Specifically, landlords are normally responsible for: repairs to the
structure and exterior of the property; baths, sinks, basins and other sanitary installations; fixed
heaters (for example gas fires) and water heaters but not gas or electric cookers; and, if you are
renting a flat or maisonette, other parts of the building or installations which affect you. (See new
legislation below).
As a private tenant you have the obligation to look after your accommodation, but also the right to
have it kept in a reasonable state of repair. You do also have the right to carry out repairs and
improvements yourself, but you must first get written permission from the landlord, which cannot be
unreasonably withheld.
Some types of tenancy, for example assured short hold tenancies, may make it easier for your
landlord to evict you if you ask for improvements or repairs to be carried out. Landlords may also try
to put up rents to pay for improvements but this is more difficult for them to do if they have benefited
from tax breaks or government grants (see below).You can ask the help of an experienced adviser in
finding out whether you can carry out improvements, for example, the Citizens Advice Bureau:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_family/home_and_neighbourhood_index_ew/renting_a_ho
me_index_ew/getting_repairs_done_while_renting.htm .
Talking to your landlord
If you want your landlord to make energy efficiency improvements, or repairs, the first step is to talk
amicably to him/her. Landlords may be reluctant to make energy efficiency improvements if they think
they have to bear the cost as they will not reap the financial benefit from reduced energy bills.
However, you may be able to persuade them that it is in their interest to do so by informing them of
the financial incentives available to them and to tenants, alerting them to their existing and future
legal responsibilities (see below), and mentioning that energy efficiency improvements usually help
preserve the fabric of the property.
You could ask the council or your local Low Carbon group in your neighbourhood to talk to your
landlord for you. You could also direct your landlord to useful background information, such as the
Energy Saving Trust’s information: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/In-your-home. It is advisable
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to put your repair request down in writing and keep a copy. If your landlord refuses permission they
have to give their reasons in writing. In this case you may need to take other action to enforce your
rights to repair. If there are health and safety hazards you could inform the Environmental Health
department of your local authority (see below), or you could challenge the landlord’s refusal in court,
where it will be your landlord’s responsibility to prove that they are being reasonable in refusing
permission. You should seek help from your local Citizens Advice Bureau before taking action.
Landlord’s legal responsibilities
You can encourage your landlord to make energy efficiency improvements by alerting them to their
existing and future legal responsibilities.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): Since October 2008, EPCs are required whenever a
building is built, sold or rented out. The certificate provides 'A' to 'G' ratings for the building, with 'A'
being the most energy efficient and 'G' being the least, with the average rating now being 'D'.
Tenants are increasingly likely to look at EPCs to decide whether to rent houses or not as it gives a
good indication of how high their energy bills are likely to be. Investing in energy efficiency will help
improve your landlords’ energy performance rating and maximize their pool of potential tenants by
improving energy efficiency.
Cold houses: Local authorities have a duty to take action against private landlords and other social
landlords under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (Housing Act 2004) if the condition of
the property affects the health of the most vulnerable occupier. Health and safety issues relating to
the energy efficiency of the house include excess cold, damp and mould growth, excess heat, carbon
monoxide, uncombusted fuel gas from faulty appliances, faulty appliance wiring. If the landlord fails
to give permission to have grant-funded energy efficiency measures installed you can complain to the
Environmental Health Department of the local authority (District Council in Northern Ireland). They
must investigate and, if appropriate, give your landlord a notice instructing them to carry out the
necessary repairs. If your landlord does not comply with the notice, they could be prosecuted and the
local authority can carry out the repair work itself. An EPC with an F or G rating may indicate an
excessively cold home.
Future legal responsibilities: New future legislation is being introduced that means that:

From April 2016 landlords will not be able to refuse reasonable requests from tenants, or local
authorities acting on behalf of tenants, to improve their property;

From April 2018 the government will make it unlawful to rent out a house or business premise
which has less than an "E" energy efficiency rating so landlords of these properties will be legally
obliged to make energy efficiency improvements from this date.
Landlords’ incentives
You may be able to persuade your landlord to undertake energy efficiency improvements by letting
them know about the financial incentives available to them. The Landlords Energy Saving Initiative
and the Green Deal are outlined below:
1) Landlord’s Energy Saving Allowance (LESA). LESA is a tax allowance that allows landlords to
claim up to £1,500 against tax every year per property for energy efficiency improvements. Landlords
can claim for cavity wall and loft insulation, solid wall insulation, draught proofing and hot water
system insulation, and floor insulation. Further information about LESA is here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Privaterenting/RentingOutYourProperty/DG_175186.
Research shows that the majority of landlords are not aware of LESA. (Source: Manches LLP,
Oxford).
2) Green Deal. In Autumn 2012 the Government is launching an energy efficiency loans scheme
called the Green Deal. The plan will allow homeowners, tenants, landlords, and business to access
finance to pay for the cost of energy efficiency improvements which will be paid back through savings
on lower fuel bills. There are likely to be a range of providers of the loans and energy efficient
improvements including housing associations, cooperatives, and private companies. The Green Deal
is currently under consultation, more details can be found from the Department for Energy and
Climate Change (DECC).
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Grants and Loans
Energy efficiency grants for tenants
Many independent fuel companies and local authorities operate grants or subsidised schemes and
also provide energy efficiency advice. You can find your local centre on 0800 512 012 or the Energy
Saving Trust website. Or you can contact your local authority. The Cocoon Your Home service also
offers grants for insulation. You can select between a range of installers based on time to install,
previous customer satisfaction rating and cost including grants. The phone number for Cocoon is
0800 80 48 777 and the website address is www.cocoonyourhome.co.uk.
Warm Front scheme grants
If you are a private tenant and on benefits you may also be eligible for a Warm Front grant (run by
Carillion) but must have written permission from the landlord. The maximum Warm Front grant is
£3,500, or £6,000 if oil-fired central heating is to be installed. Warm Front grants can be used for
insulation and draught proofing, space and water heating improvements, improvement to the energy
efficiency, repair or replacement of any part of any space or water heating system, conversion of
open solid fuel room fires to closed solid fuel room fires, providing space or water heating systems
which use energy from renewable sources.
You may be able to get a Warm Front grant if: you have not applied for a grant for another property in
the last twelve months; you or your partner get Pension Credit; you or your partner get Income
Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment And Support
Allowance and there is also a child under the age of five in your household, a pensioner or a severely
disabled person.
You can get more information about the Warm Front grant by going to the Directgov website at
www.direct.gov.uk/warmfront, or by calling Carillion Energy Services on freephone 0800 316 2805.
Landlords aren't allowed to raise the rent on properties which have benefited from a Warm Front
grant for a set period after the completion of the works. If your landlord attempts to do this, you
should get help from an experienced adviser, for example, at your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Able to pay tenants
If you are able to pay you are still eligible for subsidised insulation schemes. See for example
http://insulation.carillionenergy.com. Cavity Wall or Loft Insulation currently costs around £149. The
Cocoon Service also offers grants for insulation and is supported by your local authority (0800
8048777 or www.cocoonyourhome.co.uk).
These basic insulation costs are likely to rise steeply after Autumn 2012, when the Green Deal
comes in, and utility company subsidy is no longer available for these measures.
Further resources:
Energy Saving Trust: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk For free, independent and local energy-saving
advice, call them on 0800 512 012
Guide: ‘Repairs, a guide for landlords and tenants’ is a useful guide to what your landlord is
responsible for, and can be obtained here:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/repairsguide
‘Energy Best Deal Campaign’: a series of advice pages and short films produced by the Citizens
Advice Bureau and OFGEM: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_193548
DECC: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/green_deal/green_deal.aspx
Directgov website at www.direct.gov.uk/warmfront
Written by Jo Hamilton and Ruth Mayne. This work is part of the Low Carbon Living Toolkit and is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. If you have any
questions or tips to suggest please email them to us at lowcarbon@hotmail.co.uk.
V1 22/03/2011
Whilst we have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of this leaflet, this information should not be relied
upon as a substitute for formal advice. Low Carbon West Oxford (LCWO) will not be responsible for any loss,
however arising, from the use of or reliance on this information. LCWO is a registered charity 1135225.
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