Charities unite to protect tenants from cold

21 September 2010

The 15 organisations, including Age UK, Crisis and Disability Alliance, want the Government to make it illegal to rent out the most badly insulated houses until they are brought up to scratch.

It's a disgrace that millions of vulnerable people in Britain live in poorly insulated and dangerously cold homes that make them ill, while paying far more than they can afford trying to stay warm.

Dave Timms, Climate campaigner

Properties rented through private landlords are four times as likely to be cold as social housing provided by the local authority or a housing association.

Friends of the Earth is calling for a minimum energy efficiency standard for private rented homes so they are better insulated and cheaper to heat.

This would protect tenants from high fuel bills and ill health, while creating jobs, saving the NHS money and cutting CO2.

Carbon emissions from homes make up almost a third of the UK's total. Improving the worst private rented homes is a vital step to slashing national emissions.

The urgent need for minimum efficiency standards in private rented homes has been backed by MPs from across the political spectrum.