One in ten tenants have been illegally stopped by their landlords or agents from switching energy suppliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research from uSwitch has shown that 3% of private tenants have been told they cannot switch because of restrictions on their rental contract, while 7% were expressly told by their landlord that they were not allowed to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, while a rental contract is allowed to stipulate that a tenant should ask a landlord before switching an energy supplier, permission cannot be refused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to uSwitch, just 38% of private tenants have switched to a cheaper supplier, whilst one third are unaware of their right to switch, and one third see no point in switching as they would not be living there long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This, says uSwitch, is despite potential annual savings of up to \u00a3420.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some tenants are concerned about approaching their landlord about switching, with 22% saying that landlords \u2018don\u2019t want to be bothered by tenants\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This attitude seems to stretch to energy efficiency too \u2013 26% wouldn\u2019t talk to their landlord about energy efficiency because they don\u2019t think their landlord would be interested, and one in ten private tenants wouldn\u2019t feel comfortable raising it with their landlord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than four in ten private tenants say that the home they are currently living in has little or no energy efficiency measures installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch, said: \u201cWith more and more people renting, it\u2019s vital that people don\u2019t feel that being a tenant means relinquishing the right to control their household bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe fact is that if your name is on the bill you have the right to shop around for a better energy deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf your rental contract says otherwise, then talk to your landlord or letting agent \u2013 it is in both parties\u2019 interests for rented homes to be on a cost-effective tariff and as energy-efficient as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow is also a good time for private landlords to look at energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEnergy suppliers have a pot of money to spend on making their customers\u2019 homes energy efficient and only have until the end of this year to spend it in order to hit government targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a result, there are now a huge number of offers for insulation, ranging from the free to the heavily subsidised. Taking advantage of these now would benefit both landlords and tenants, as a minimum outlay will see lower energy bills and a more attractive, rentable home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n