Growing numbers of tenants are feeling less confident at being able to meet the vistas of energy in their rented properties.

That’s the claim from NatWest and S&P Global which has created what they call a Greener Homes Attitudes Tracker measuring sentiment about the energy efficiency of properties.

Following a survey the finance companies claim that 44% of renters are less confident than before about meeting energy costs – and NatWest claims “this is likely due to fear of the unknown in landlords raising rental costs per month.”

More than half of renters in the lowest income band with annual earnings less than £15,000 were less confident about being able to afford heating and other energy bills than they were a year ago.

Average bills are due to fall by some 7% this month, however a rise of 10 percent is forecast to come into effect on October 1, which will drive up bills this winter. However, Labour has pledged to cut energy bills by £300 per household from 2030, by investing in more clean renewable energy.

The NatWest/S&P survey also found that 39% of homeowners (either owning outright or buying with a mortgage) felt it “very important” to save energy compared to 34% of renters; and younger homeowners are more in favour of energy efficiency policy proposals than their older counterparts. 44% of homeowners aged 18 to 44 answered “very important”, versus 34% of those aged 45 to 64.

Lloyd Cochrane, head of mortgages at NatWest, says: “From our own research, we know that making greener changes is an important part of home ownership, particularly for the younger generation. We’ve seen a real shift in people being environmentally conscious – whether that’s looking to save on energy bills or taking public transport to reduce their carbon footprint.”