More than one and a half million children in England live in cold, damp or mouldy private rented homes, Citizens Advice reveals as it calls for Awaab’s Law to be extended to private sector

Private renters must receive the same legal protections against living in mouldy conditions as social housing and housing association tenants, Citizens Advice has said.

Shocking new research from Citizens Advice shows 1.6 million children currently live in privately rented homes with damp, mould or excessive cold.

According to a survey by the charity, more than half of private renters in England - 2.7 million households - are struggling with one or more of these issues.

New legislation has been tabled by the government to protect social tenants after the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his socially-managed home.

Awaab’s Law will place strict, legally binding timelines on social landlords to fix serious health hazards such as damp and mould.
 

Read more: Government to deliver Awaab’s LawPublished: 10 February 2023

And now Citizens Advice is calling for this protection to be extended to private tenants who are also living in similar conditions.

It says private renters are “some of the worst affected by the cost-of-living crisis and they’re paying for poor insulation.”

The problem is especially bad in the least energy efficient homes: private tenants are 73% more likely to be living with damp if they live in a property with a Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D-G rather than A-C.

Tenants are 89% more likely to experience excessive cold in a D-G rated property than A-C. EPCs measure how efficient a property is, with EPC A being the best rating.

Citizens Advice says the average private sector tenant in England is paying £350 more a year on heating because of poorly insulated and damp homes, while those in the least efficient properties are paying an extra £950.

With energy bills set to rise again in April, those in the least efficient homes could pay a “terrifying” £1,190 more a year to keep warm, it added.

Some 40% of renters surveyed said say they have felt stressed as a result of damp, mould and excessive cold, with 36% saying it made them feel anxious.

As well as calling for Awaab’s Law to protect the private rental sector, Citizens Advice is also urging the government to “follow through on its promise to make sure all new private rental properties are upgraded to a minimum EPC C by 2025 and existing tenancies by 2028.”

Landlords are currently only required to bring their properties up to an E rating, and don’t have to make any improvements if it’s going to cost them more than £3,500.

Gillian Cooper, Head of Energy Policy at Citizens Advice, said: “Every week we hear stories of people living in cold, damp and mouldy properties they can’t afford to heat properly.

“It’s shameful that more than 20 years since legislation came into force to reduce fuel poverty and improve the energy performance of homes, people are still suffering.

“Improving energy efficiency in privately rented homes has never been more urgent. It's the step needed to keep people’s essential bills low, while also helping to protect their mental and physical health.”

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: "These conditions are unacceptable.

"That is why we are introducing a Decent Homes Standard for the Private Rented Sector for the first time ever which will make sure tenants have a safe and decent place to live.

“Awaab’s Law will force social landlords to fix their homes within strict new time limits and help to ensure that these homes are safe, decent and warm.

"We continue to consider all options to level up the quality of rented homes across the country.”