Cold homes plans are too slow and too weak

5 August 2011

That's the verdict of almost 40 groups, including Friends of the Earth, Macmillan Cancer Support, Citizens Advice and Consumer Focus.

In a joint statement published today, they're calling on the Government to make sure it's illegal for landlords to rent out the coldest homes.

Living in a freezing home

More than 5.5 million households in Britain today can't afford to keep their homes warm.

That's more houses than in London, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool put together.

The problem is especially bad for those living in rented homes, with landlords who don't provide proper heating, or who have failed to take simple steps like adding loft or cavity wall insulation.

I am currently living in a flat with no central heating and rotted wooden single glazed windows. Needless to say over the winter my flatmate and I were horribly cold, we were both very ill due to the weather.

Jack, Brighton

Recent research commissioned by Friends of the Earth showed that living in freezing homes makes illnesses such as strokes, heart disease and flu more likely.

Children and old people are hit particularly hard.

It costs the NHS in England an estimated £859m annually to treat people made ill by living in cold homes.

An opportunity

Thanks to our campaigning the Government's Energy Bill includes steps to stop landlords renting out the coldest homes.

This is very welcome. But there's a problem:

• The new law starts too late - it won't be introduced until 2018.
• It won't stop some of the coldest rented homes from being rented out.
• Landlords can still throw out tenants who ask for warmth.

Take action now

Please help us end freezing cold homes now.