Private Rental Sector Report
Fuel poverty is a growing crisis in the UK. Millions of people struggle to keep their homes warm, forced to make impossible choices between heating and other essentials. The rising cost of energy, combined with homes that are poorly insulated, inadequately ventilated, and expensive to heat, means that for many, cold weather brings damp, mould, and worsening health conditions.
Nowhere is this issue more pressing than in the private rented sector (PRS).
Today, over 4.5 million households rent privately [English Housing Survey] across the UK. Yet, over a third of those households are unable to heat their homes to a comfortable temperature [Citizens Advice, Through the Roof] and nearly a quarter of private tenants are living in fuel poverty [Generation Rent].
Despite government commitments to improve energy efficiency, progress in the PRS has been slow. Many landlords are hesitant to invest in upgrades, and current policies do not go far enough to drive meaningful improvements. If we are serious about tackling fuel poverty, and cutting emissions, the PRS must be part of the solution—not left behind while other housing sectors move forward.
Created in collaboration with Impact on Urban Health, our new report, ‘Raising Standards in the Private Rental Sector: A Pathway to Equitable and Effective Retrofit’, highlights the urgent need for improvement, uncovers challenges unique to the sector, and offers comprehensive recommendations for improving energy efficiency in the PRS.
The report calls for bold action to bring the PRS into alignment with the UK’s decarbonisation goals, focusing specifically on the urgent need for policy reform and targeted investment in energy efficiency focused retrofits.
Download the report below.
