A campaign called Energy Guide says landlords can and should do more to save energy in the private rental sector. 

The campaign claims an analysis of government figures shows that 6.3 per cent of properties in the private rented sector are EPC-rated F and G compared to around just 0.7 per cent of social housing.

It also says that the latest Office of National Statistics data indicates that the average Energy Efficiency Rating for properties in England and Wales was D, suggesting there is a lot of work still to hit the target of having as many homes as possible in EPC band C by 2035.

The campaign says there are some “incredibly simple steps”: landlords can take to improve energy efficiency.

These include: 

– if you heat your home with gas, you could save as much as £275 a year by installing ‘zonal heating controls’ which heat specific     spaces rather than the entire property;

– installing a modern thermostat along with thermostatic radiator valves, so the heating will adapt to where you are based on the time of day and your location as it learns to adjust your heating based on your behaviour;

– upgrading your roof insulation to the recommended 270mm depth;

– upgrading appliances too, particularly a gas combi boiler – if yours is over 10 years old, it’s very likely to be G-rated under the ErP (Energy Related Products Directive) boiler rating system, meaning it could be less than 70 per cent efficient;

– encouraging tenants to switch off standby mode on all appliances;

– trading traditional light bulbs for LEDs; and

– avoiding the installation of a tumble dryer, which is one of the most expensive appliances to run.