Atom bank study questions accuracy of EPC ratings
7 months ago | 7 comments
Call to impose EPC rules on landlords as tenants ration energy
10:00 AM, 16th September 2025, 7 months ago
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More than 4.5 million private renters in England and Wales, equivalent to 41% of the sector, had to limit their use of gas and electricity last winter to manage crippling energy costs, Citizens Advice reveals.
The charity says that 3.5 million renters, or one in three tenants in the PRS, found it challenging to maintain a warm home.
Many resorted to extreme measures such as missing hot meals, wearing gloves indoors or heating only a single room.
The organisation says the government must ‘urgently deliver promised new rules’ for landlords to upgrade properties to a minimum of EPC C by 2030.
Choose between heating and eating
Emily Wise, an energy adviser at Citizens Advice North Lancashire, said: “Sadly, this is an all too familiar story.
“Many of the renters we help day-to-day say their landlords are hesitant to fix the substandard conditions they live in.
“Leaky, cold and damp housing is a huge problem in our local area, as many homes are particularly deteriorated due to salty sea air and high winds.”
She added: “Too often, this is forcing renters to spend disproportionately on gas and electricity in an attempt to achieve basic levels of comfort, as well as having to regularly choose between eating and heating their homes.
“Despite this, many of those we help are reluctant to raise these issues with their landlords because they fear putting their tenancy at risk.”
Energy bills are higher
Citizens Advice says that with winter looming and energy prices remaining 50% higher than pre-2021 levels, tenants are struggling with poorly insulated homes.
It adds that more than half of renters (57%) occupy homes with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating below C, making them costly and difficult to heat.
Its research shows that tenants in homes with the minimum E rating faced an extra £317 on energy bills last winter, a cost that could have been avoided with an upgrade to a C rating.
The charity warns that delays to imposing tighter EPC rules will leave tenants stuck in uncomfortable and costly homes for years to come.
Tenants won’t ask landlords
The organisation also claims that many renters are hesitant to request essential repairs, such as better insulation or fixing draughty windows, because they fear rent rises or a strained relationship with their landlords.
Nearly a third (29%) avoid raising such concerns, while 13% of those who did request upgrades faced conditions like higher rent, and 7% were outright refused.
The charity is also calling for robust enforcement of the Renters’ Rights Bill to empower tenants to demand improvements without fear of repercussions.
It is also calling for financial support for landlords to ensure these upgrades are feasible.
Government must act on EPCs
The chief executive of Citizens Advice, Dame Clare Moriarty, said: “Our advisers are bracing for more calls this winter from renters trapped in cold, leaky homes.
“It’s unacceptable that so many tenants are afraid to ask for the very basics – like fixing draughty doors or replacing poor quality single-glazed windows.”
She adds: “By 2030, the government must ensure no renter lives in a home that is excessively difficult and expensive to heat.
“And renters must urgently be given the security they deserve so they can ask landlords to fix substandard housing without fear of retaliation.”
Tags:
citizens advice, cold homes, Energy Bills, energy efficiency, EPC C rating, heating costs, landlord epc 2030, Landlord regulations, poor insulation, renters, renters rights bill
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Member Since April 2023 - Comments: 174
11:36 AM, 18th September 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by moneymanager at 18/09/2025 – 11:17
It’s good to have the information to fom a balanced view. At the end of the day it’s never going to be up to us. My complaint was really about why do we in the UK pay way more for electricity than European countries. And what has happened to all the money we have paid in green levies on our bills which was supposed to pay for new infrastructure. It’s good to have the information you have provided. Thank you
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3508 - Articles: 5
1:37 PM, 18th September 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by moneymanager at 18/09/2025 – 11:17it’s all a bl@@dy scam.
You can create all the different mechanisms you like to generate power, but at every level they all depend on resources to build them so none are either enviro friendly or fully NZ ‘compliant’.
All that is happening (and this will always be the case) is that someone wants to push one idea/agenda over another.
Too many players, too many agendas and guess what – confusion results. Ultimately the only reason all this is even an issue is because there is a need to serve ever increasing human demand for energy.
No one country’s efforts is ever going to make a dent in the direction of travel and change what is happening to the planet (if you believe we have any real impact on this anyway), so there is no point bothering.
The man/woman who needs the utility (gas/elec/water) is at the end of the chain and is completely dependant on everything that is determined above them. The government tells you you have a choice to change things. You don’t. You never will even if you wanted to.
Member Since May 2025 - Comments: 74
2:05 PM, 18th September 2025, About 7 months ago
Well today’s news headline states “Two in five households (43%) will only turn the heating on if they are too cold this winter”.
Yet the article above says 41% of renters were too afraid to turn on their heating (so 59% were happy to). Hang on Citizen’s Advice – are you saying renters are 2% more likely to turn on their heating than home owners? Suggests tenants overall have it better than homeowners ! It’s also clear that fuel poverty is not just landlord’s fault – it’s Red Miliband’s fault.
The message I’m getting is it’s time to sell any energy company shares – looks like they are not going to get bumper profits this winter.
Personally the wood burner is going to be roaring this winter – last year’s gas bill was a shocker. If prices keep going up, then I will be spending the winter abroad somewhere warm as it will be massively cheaper than turning on the heating.
Member Since April 2023 - Comments: 174
3:55 PM, 18th September 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Suspicious Steve at 18/09/2025 – 14:05
Yes our tenants have better heating than we do.
Member Since July 2017 - Comments: 51
5:36 PM, 18th September 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 17/09/2025 – 19:38
you have to renew it every 10 years , I had put in new windows so thought it should go up anyway according to the last report.
Member Since July 2017 - Comments: 51
5:44 PM, 18th September 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 17/09/2025 – 16:51
no, I had to renew my report as 10 years was up, thus I noticed this. Being a grade C would mean it doesn’t need any more upgrading for the possible requirements in 2030 of a C grade. I am looking into this, I think the surveyor made a mistake.
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
6:21 PM, 18th September 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by loretta wight at 18/09/2025 – 17:44
Very frustrating. Did the surveyor know it was previously a C? How did he justify dropping it after replacement windows?
Member Since April 2023 - Comments: 174
6:25 PM, 18th September 2025, About 7 months ago
I had 2 flats that needed to have new boilers. So they had the most up to date possible at the time. Both were also due EPC’s but one increased by more points than the other. When I queried I was told the previous report must have been incorrect. You can’t win.
Member Since July 2017 - Comments: 51
6:38 PM, 18th September 2025, About 7 months ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 18/09/2025 – 18:21
don’t think he read it. He came across as Mr Know it all
Member Since October 2017 - Comments: 67
9:28 AM, 20th September 2025, About 7 months ago
This is such a complex issue Its not really down to the landlord. Tenants need to be made aware of where or why they are consuming so much energy.
I recall on a survey of Camdens properties I found many elderly people using the gas cooker to heat and yes moving into one room Both dumb ideas.
Draught proofing windows and door thresholds is one of the most effective and cheapest ways of keeping the house warm. If tenants claim no matter how much heat they use its near impossible to get the house warm – then the likely cause is draughts not insulation issues
of course one of the reasons for the corner pub was that t was a place to go where there was free heat, light and company etc. Now we rather stay at home and watch stuff on our screens
I recenrly noticed that large screen TV’s and computer screens have the lowest of all energy ratings G – do occupiers know this I didn’t