As a private or social renter in the UK, you have specific legal rights relating to energy — from the minimum energy efficiency standard of your home to protection against overcharging for energy. Many renters are unaware of these rights or feel powerless to enforce them. This guide sets out what your landlord is legally required to provide and what you can do when those obligations are not met.
For more guidance on energy costs and grants, see the Energy Hub.
EPC requirements for rented homes
Every rented property must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Since April 2020, it is unlawful for a landlord to:
- Grant a new tenancy for a property with an EPC rating below E
- Continue letting a property with an EPC rating below E (for existing tenancies from April 2020)
There is an exemption if the landlord has spent £3,500 (including grants) on improvements and still cannot achieve an E rating — they can register a ‘high cost exemption’ on the PRS Exemptions Register. If they have not registered an exemption, the tenancy may be unlawful.
How to check your property’s EPC:
Visit find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk. EPC certificates are publicly searchable. Look up your property’s current rating and check the expiry date (valid for 10 years from issue).
What about EPC C proposals?
The government previously proposed a requirement for rented homes to reach EPC C by 2028 (new tenancies) and 2030 (all tenancies). As of May 2026, this has not been legislated. The current minimum legal standard remains EPC E. The Warm Homes Plan is intended to provide grant funding to help landlords and tenants improve efficiency.
Your right to switch energy supplier
If your name is on the energy account — you are a direct customer of the supplier — you have the right to:
- Switch supplier at any time (check for exit fees on fixed-rate tariffs)
- Request a prepayment meter be replaced with a credit meter (subject to conditions — see Prepayment Meter Rights)
- Request a smart meter installation
- Access your energy data and meter readings
If your landlord pays the bills: In some rented properties, the landlord pays the energy supplier and recharges you through rent or a service charge. Different rules apply here — see Landlord Energy Sub-Metering.
Heating and hot water: landlord repair obligations
Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord must keep in repair and proper working order:
- The space heating system (boiler, radiators, underfloor heating)
- The hot water system
- Gas pipes and electrical wiring serving the heating system
This means if your boiler breaks, your landlord must repair it within a reasonable time. What counts as reasonable depends on circumstances — in winter with young children or vulnerable occupants, urgent repair would be expected within 24–48 hours.
If your landlord fails to repair heating:
- Report the problem in writing (email creates a timestamp)
- If no response within a reasonable time, contact your local council’s environmental health department
- Environmental health can inspect under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and issue improvement notices
Condensation, damp, and mould
From 20 March 2019, landlords must address hazards identified by environmental health within specific timeframes (the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018). The HHSRS category 1 hazards include:
- Excess cold (below 18°C in living areas)
- Damp and mould growth
Damp caused by structural defects (rising damp, penetrating damp) is the landlord’s responsibility. Condensation damp — which can be caused partly by poor ventilation but is exacerbated by cold, poorly insulated walls — is a grey area but is increasingly held to be the landlord’s responsibility to address.
Energy grants available to renters
Renters can apply for most government energy efficiency grants if they meet the eligibility criteria — often linked to benefits or income, and requiring the landlord’s consent for installation work:
| Grant | Available to renters? | Landlord consent needed? |
|---|---|---|
| ECO4 | Yes — if on qualifying benefits | Yes |
| Great British Insulation Scheme | Yes | Yes |
| Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) | Yes (no-gas-boiler homes) | Yes |
| Warm Home Discount | Yes — directly to your energy account | No |
| Cold Weather Payment | Yes — automatic if on qualifying benefits | No |
For full details on grants available to renters, see Energy Grants for Renters.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is a £150 annual one-off rebate on your electricity bill (from October–March each year). From 2022, the Core Group 2 rebate is automatic if you are on qualifying means-tested benefits (the DWP matches benefit claimants against energy supplier databases). You do not need to apply — but your energy supplier must participate.
If you are not in the automatic group but have a low income and high energy costs, apply directly to your energy supplier for the Broader Group (each supplier has its own criteria and limited places).
How to complain about energy issues
If you have a complaint about your energy supply or billing:
- Complain to your supplier — in writing, keep records
- If unresolved after 8 weeks — contact the Energy Ombudsman (ombudsman-services.org/energy)
- If your landlord is overcharging for energy — contact Ofgem or Trading Standards
- If your landlord refuses to repair heating — contact your local council environmental health