New research from Citizens Advice finds more than two in five private renters (41%, equivalent to 4.5 million people) in England and Wales had to ration gas and electricity to afford their energy bills last winter.
Meanwhile a third (32%, equivalent to 3.5 million) struggled to heat their home to a comfortable temperature. The charity says this forced people to take drastic measures like skip hot meals, wear gloves inside, and limit heating to just one room.
A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition commented:
“Millions of renters are being forced to ration energy, live in cold, damp homes, or even skip hot meals simply because landlords are not required to upgrade properties to a decent standard. At the same time, household energy debt has tripled in the last decade, with people falling behind on bills they can no longer afford.
“The government cannot continue to delay action.
“It must urgently deliver on its promises to raise minimum standards in the rented sector and provide greater protections for private renters through the Renters Reform Bill.
“Alongside that, we need targeted financial help for households with their energy costs, a national programme of area-based insulation upgrades and reforms to electricity pricing to bring down bills.
“Without these reforms tenants will remain trapped in cold, damp homes with devastating consequences for health, wellbeing and household finances.”