Faster, stronger action needed on cold homes

Chloe, Taunton
4 February 2011

We're a family with two children aged 13 and 8.  Since moving in nearly five years ago we've been asking our landlady to replace a rotten, draughty door and three single-glazed windows. 

She keeps telling us she can't afford it. 

On Christmas morning this year, when it went down to -10, we had thick ice inside half our windows.

We've had our loft insulated and our walls cavity filled through the Warm Front scheme.  This was great and didn't cost us, or our landlady, a thing.

So it's a shame to still have warmth leaking out through our draughty windows.  We pay to heat the house and you know exactly where the heat is going!

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.