Faster, stronger action needed on cold homes

Pamela, Market Harborough
17 January 2011

My son rents a shared house in the North West with several friends from university. The house is an old Georgian building with inadequate heating.

The top floor, where my son has his room, is not on the heating system. Although he has a two-bar electric heater he does not like to use it for fear of incurring extra heating costs.

I suspect the house is also inadequately insulated as when I visited it felt freezing. 

My son has been very cold this winter, has lost weight and has been unwell - I believe in part because of the lack of warmth.

It does not seem fair to me that landlords are able to continue to charge tenants large sums whilst providing such poor accommodation.

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.