Warm Homes campaign could help 150,000 tenants in draughty houses22 December 2010
More than 150,000 tenants who can't afford to heat their homes properly could be helped by Friends of the Earth's Warm Homes campaign, a new report reveals.
The research, by Government watchdog Consumer Focus, calculates how many households renting from a landlord or letting agency could escape fuel poverty if a minimum energy-efficiency standard were enforced.
It comes as peers today debate the Energy Bill, containing the Government's Green Deal to improve the nation's homes.
Low-cost solutions
The report shows that 40 per cent of the worst insulated properties could be improved for less than £1,500. These very cold, hard-to-heat homes are a serious health risk to people living in them.
A recent poll for Friends of the Earth revealed tenants suffered most in the big freeze with half saying they felt uncomfortably cold at home.
Houses rented from a landlord or lettings agency are the most likely to lack basics such as loft and cavity-wall insulation.
Millions of families will pay a fortune trying to heat poorly insulated houses this winter.
Dave Timms, Warm Homes campaigner
Friends of the Earth's Warm Homes campaigner Dave Timms said: "The Government should give families an early Christmas present by setting a binding timetable to introduce a clear minimum energy-efficiency standard for Britain's worst rented homes."
Broad support
Friends of the Earth's Warm Homes campaign is supported by 30 organisations including Consumer Focus.
Manchester and Bristol City Councils, Age UK, Citizens Advice, Macmillan Cancer Support and housing charity Crisis are also on board.
And more than 130 MPs have signed a parliamentary petition backing a new law to protect tenants.
This would make it illegal to let dangerously cold homes from 2016 - and give landlords more financial help to improve properties.
Please ask your MP to protect tenants in cold, draughty homes.
© National Energy Action
