Damp, cold and full of mould

21 February 2023

The private rented sector has widespread problems with damp, mould and cold, driven by the poor energy efficiency of privately rented homes. At a time when renters are struggling to keep their heads above water, the average tenant is facing annual energy bills that are £350 more expensive due to poor insulation. People living in the least efficient homes are paying £950 a year.

Our research found that:

31 % of renters feel unable to heat their home to a comfortable temperature
1.6 million children in privately rented homes are living in cold, damp or mouldy homes
Renters in homes with an EPC D-G were 73% more likely to experience damp than those with an EPC of A-C
They were also 89% more likely to experience excessive cold than homes with an EPC of A-C.

We are calling on the government to:

Strengthen Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to upgrade all homes in the private rented sector to EPC
Raise the costs cap from £3500 to £10,000 for landlords to make improvements to their properties
Extend Awaab’s law to the private rented sector to place strict timelines on landlords to deal with serious issues such as damp and mould
End Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, so that tenants do not risk eviction when complaining to their landlord about their housing conditions
Kickstart the market for green finance to help landlords cover the costs of retrofitting their properties, through low interest loans and green mortgages