Private tenants living in cold out of fear of eviction

6th February 2017

Housing tenants in the private rented sector are choosing to live in cold homes out of fear of high heating bills and losing their tenancy, according to new research from Sheffield Hallam University.

The research, carried out by Sheffield Hallam University's Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) and funded by the Eaga Charitable Trust, an independent grant-giving trust committed to combating fuel poverty, was developed to provide a better understanding of the lived reality of energy inefficiency in private rented sector housing. The private rented sector is the fastest growing tenure in England. It houses a higher proportion of poor and vulnerable households than any other tenure and contains a higher proportion of the least energy-efficient properties. The research, which focused on private rental sector tenants across two areas of England, Hackney and Rotherham, revealed that tenants face considerable barriers to seeking help with cold homes that are unaffordable to heat. Respondents in both locations experienced dangerously cold homes and rationed their heating in winter due to energy inefficient properties and fears over high heating bills. The stress of maintaining a tenancy - particularly given the high demand for rental properties - meant that few respondents considered how easy the home would be to heat when finding somewhere to live. The relationship between tenant and landlord was one characterised by fear on the part of tenants that any complaint may be countered by retaliatory action such as rent increases or eviction if they spoke out. Most tenants felt reluctant to make contact with their landlord and instead found ways to work around problems. Keeping warm by routinely wearing coats inside the home, keeping blankets in living areas and spending extra time in bed or outside of the home were common practice, as was heating the home for very short periods in order to save money, rather than lobbying landlords for improvements. Issues such as excess cold, condensation, and extensive damp and mould were widely highlighted, with respondents also highlighting increased suffering associated with chronic health conditions (i.e. respiratory diseases and arthritis) known to be exacerbated by cold homes and the emotional strain of insecure tenancies and living properties they wouldn't have chosen to live in. Over half of participants used pre-payment methods to pay for their heating and therefore paid higher tariffs, but despite this, many valued pre-payment meters as a method of controlling spending on heating and electricity. Under the Energy Act (2011), tenants are able to request consent from their landlords to carry out energy efficiency improvements to properties. The landlord cannot unreasonably refuse consent. It is, however, the responsibility of the tenants to arrange funding. Although the majority of respondents were supportive of the Act in principle, the majority felt too afraid to approach their landlord about this. Dr Aimee Ambrose, senior research fellow at CRESR and lead for the project, said: "There is a key voice missing from the debate about energy performance in the private rented sector: that of the tenant. Tenants are under-researched and underrepresented, lacking a collective voice due to the absence of organised groups representing them. "The picture emerging from the accounts of respondents is one characterised by limited housing choice that leads to the acceptance of poor quality properties that would otherwise be unacceptable, to fear of challenging the landlord in case of retaliatory action, to enduring cold conditions and high bills, and to suffering the consequences for health and wellbeing. "This research represents a decisive step towards a stronger voice for tenants in the debate about energy efficiency in the private rented sector." Dr Naomi Brown, manager of Eaga Charitable Trust, said: "This is highly significant research which is hard-hitting in its depiction of the challenges that tenants in the private rented sector face. "The Eaga Charitable Trust is very pleased to have funded the research and hopes that it will influence positive changes to enable private tenants to live in warmer, healthier homes." You can read the executive summary here or the full report here.

You might also be interested in

Business Need Concrete Plans To Grow Economy

Thu 5th December 2024

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, responds to the Prime Minister’s Plan For Change, announced this morning

BCC Economic Forecast: Rising Business Costs to Hit Wider Economy

Wed 4th December 2024

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Forecast (QEF) has revised down growth expectations for 2024, but marginally improved GDP expectations for 2025 and 2026.

Businesses Crucial To Circular Economy Delivery 

Tue 3rd December 2024

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging policymakers across the UK to put British businesses at the heart of sustainability and waste reduction plans.

Invitation to tender: To deliver member and stakeholder insight to inform business planning

Mon 2nd December 2024

Our vision is to make this great city the best place in the UK to start, grow and run a successful and sustainable business. To achieve this vision, the Chamber needs a strategy that is representative of and responsive to the needs of its members.