Industry News
England’s leaky homes costing poorer families £250 extra a year in wasted energy
T
hree million ‘fuel poor’ households will be paying an extra £250 a year on their energy bills because of poorly insulated
homes according to new analysis by the Local Government Association. Te LGA said households are wasting a
combined £770 million a year as expensive heat leaks through walls, roofs and windows of poorly insulated homes in England’s ‘fuel poor’ households. At its Annual Conference in Harrogate, the LGA
called for a redoubling of efforts to insulate all fuel poor homes by 2030, saving millions from energy bills every year. Tey say that 2 million households in fuel poverty need additional help to implement energy efficiency measures liſting homes up to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating C by 2030. Councils say additional help for these homes is
crucial for hitting the Government’s target to retrofit a total of 3.1 million fuel poor homes to EPC C standard by 2030 – at a required rate of almost 900 homes a day. A quarter of all families are now looking to
improve energy efficiency as bills have surged, but fuel poor households are the least likely to afford the measures and the most likely to be impacted by rising energy prices. Not only do poorly insulated buildings waste money, but they also increase carbon emissions and leave homes cold and damp. By focusing on fuel poor households, the LGA said this ambition would save:
• Up to £770 million a year from household energy bills by 2030;
• £500 million in NHS spending a year; and
• 670,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year from 2030.
While the Government has implemented a support package to ease the cost-of-living crisis over the short term and has expanded the Energy Company Obligation, the LGA said further measures are needed to reduce the long- term demand for expensive energy. A further increase in the energy cap is expected to apply from this Autumn. Te LGA says councils are best placed to
deliver programmes to help decarbonise England’s buildings as they have the local knowledge, experience, trusted status, relationships with residents and the ability to forge local partnerships. Te estimate the scheme would create 23,000 skilled jobs across the country.
Councillor David Renard, environment
spokesperson for the LGA, said: “So many homes are leaking more and more money as energy prices increase. Tis will hit stretched household budgets hard and the public purse, while adding to the climate crisis. “Investment now will save households further
down the line, ease the cost-of-living crisis and mean families have added security and flexibility within their budgets. “Ensuring homes are well insulated also
means fewer people are at risk of the health risks associated with living in cold, damp conditions, and this is work we have to do as part of our drive to net zero. Councils are keen to help the Government deliver on this win-win policy and increase the number of buildings insulated by winter.”
Tenants reveal most off-putting features of private sector rental homes and landlords
Research from Ocasa, the specialist rental platform, has revealed the things tenants find the biggest turn off when it comes to searching for a rental home, as well as what they cannot stand about landlords. Ocasa surveyed over 1,000 current tenants asking
them what they found the most off-putting about a rental property and a landlord. Tenants rank nuisance neighbours as the number
one red flag when looking to rent. A blanket ban on pets comes second, followed by a lack of parking. A lack of outdoor space along with being forbidden to redecorate or add personal touches to a property’s décor complete the top five. When surveyed on their thoughts and feelings
towards their landlords, tenants ranked their inability to maintain a rental property to a modern standard as the most off-putting. Landlords who failed to maintain safe living conditions were also out of favour along with those who consistently increase rents without reason. Tenants also dislike landlords who disturbed
them regularly by visiting the property for no real reason, as well as those that call time on the relationship without good warning or reason. Sales and Marketing Director at Ocasa, Jack
Godby, commented: “Te rental market can be a tough place to live at times and not only is it very expensive, but many tenants will be put off by out of
10 | HMMAugust/September 2022 |
www.housingmmonline.co.uk
date or unsafe living conditions, restrictive tenancy rules and the insecurity and uncertainty that oſten comes with living in someone else’s property. “However, standards are improving and the
industry is undergoing notable changes that focus on renting as a long term lifestyle choice, rather than a necessity due to the high cost of homeownership. “Tis is particularly evident within the build-to-
rent sector, which is providing a better quality of living coupled with greater security and flexibility to suit the needs of individual tenants. Of course, you may still fall foul of a nuisance neighbour but some things in life are unfortunately unavoidable.”
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