Campaigners claim private-rent energy costs in Chesterfield are unfairly high

New research reveals private renters in Chesterfield are paying more for electricity and heating than those in social housing because their homes are less energy efficient.
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Campaign group Generation Rent says lax regulations mean private landlords can avoid making improvements.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) provide information on the energy efficiency of a building, and are required when a property is built, sold or let.

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Homes are rated from zero to 100, with a higher score reflecting more energy efficiency.

Campaigners say private-renters are regularly having to pay higher energy billsCampaigners say private-renters are regularly having to pay higher energy bills
Campaigners say private-renters are regularly having to pay higher energy bills

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data reveals the median score for privately-rented flats with a rating in Chesterfield was 66 in 2018-19, compared to 74 for socially-rented ones

The estimated energy cost for private renters was £564 a year, much more than the £436 for socially-rented flats.

The figures only cover homes with an EPC rating and the ONS estimates that 53 per cent of homes in Chesterfield had one last year.

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For privately-rented houses the median EPC score was 65, while it was 68 for social renters.

Median energy bills came in at £766.50 and £677 respectively.

Dan Wilson-Craw, director of Generation Rent, said: “Private renters have had to put up with draughty homes for far too long.

“Even with recent minimum energy efficiency standards, landlords get an exemption if it would cost too much to make the necessary improvements.”

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The Government has recently launched the Green Homes Grant whereby homeowners – including landlords – can get financial help to make energy efficiency upgrades.

The Government will pay vouchers of up to £5,000 – or £10,000 for some low-earners – to cover up to two-thirds of the cost of work done by approved tradespeople.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: We are improving the quality of housing across the country by ensuring new homes adhere to strict energy efficiency standards, giving councils powers to deal with dangerous damp in privately-rented homes, and enabling renters to take landlords who fail to provide decent living conditions to court.