Faster, stronger action needed on cold homes

Alice, London
14 January 2011

I once rented a flat in Nottingham in the summer, in a beautiful detached house. Wonderful, till winter, when the central heating I was paying for poured through the uninsulated walls, windows and ceilings.

The bill for that quarter was four times what I had previously paid, so I moved out asap.

I was lucky, I could find something else. The most vulnerable people often have very little choice.

Action to protect tenants from landlords who are happy to take rent but are not obliged to insulate their properties is long overdue.

Natasha Khan, Bat for Lashes

"We suffered the worst mould you could imagine in my student house. Over our 2 year let, it got to the point where you'd have to dodge at least 20 slugs living off moisture in the carpet to reach the bathroom - then inhale black mould spores if the steam from the shower got too much. The cold, draughts and dampness were pretty extreme!"

Stop tenants feeling the chill

Stop tenants feeling the chill

Help end dangerously cold homes

Stop tenants feeling the chill

Need some help?

For free advice on paying heating bills and how to save energy, visit Home Heat Helpline  or call 0800 336699.

Find out your legal rights as a tenant at Shelter or call 0808 800 4444.