Get your landlord to save you money

We’re heading for a perfect storm this winter. Energy bills are on the rise and experts are predicting record-breaking snows in November. 

So there are lots of articles recommending Brits upgrade their boilers, fit cavity wall insulation and line their lofts, in order to combat rising bills and falling temperatures.

But what if you rent your home? There are 8.3 million Brits who rent rather than own, according to the Office for National Statistics. If you’re one, should you just accept that your bills are going to rise? Should you pay for energy-saving upgrades to a home you don’t own?

Few tenants will be happy about higher bills but fewer still will be willing to make an investment into a home that’s not theirs. So what can you do to persuade your landlord to help you save money?

[How to beat the energy bill rises]

Best upgrades to save money

There are a number of things your landlord could do to improve their property and save you money.

Some cost a few hundred pounds at the most, such as loft and wall insulation, while others can cost more, like fitting double glazing or upgrading the boiler. There’s a good breakdown of how much you can save here.

You might also want to ask for draught proofing or solid wall insulation. Not many landlords will decide to equip tenants’ homes with renewable energy generators such as ground-source heat pumps or solar panels, but you know your landlord best.

So, how can you persuade them?

1. It will make the home more rentable

All landlords are legally obliged to show would-be tenants an Energy Performance Certificate, usually called an EPC, when they are considering renting the property.

That means that fitting the home with energy-saving devices and upgrades will make it more appealing to future tenants. It may also encourage you to remain in the property for longer, saving the landlord the expense of advertising, finding and vetting new candidates.

However, this argument alone may not convince your landlord. Rising rents prove that demand for rental accommodation far outstrips supply, thanks to insufficient numbers of new homes being built and would-be first-time buyers being unable to afford deposits.

Essentially, it’s a landlord’s market and not many tenants can be too choosy. But there are other arguments that might sway them.

2. They might get some money for it

The big energy providers and some local authorities will often contribute to the cost of energy-saving measures, even for landlords.

Some measures can even be entirely subsidised, meaning they can be fitted for free. Encourage your landlord to call your local authority to find out if there’s any help available or, better yet, give them a ring yourself and then present them with your findings.

3. They’ll definitely be able to cut their tax bill

There’s a tax scheme called the Landlords’ Energy Saving Allowance (LESA), whereby property owners can claim up to £1,500 against tax every year for money spent buying and installing energy saving products.

These include cavity, loft and solid wall insulation, draught-proofing, hot water system insulation and floor insulation. Best of all, they can claim the £1,500 on each property they own, so they could upgrade their whole portfolio.

You can get more information here.

In Scotland, landlords could potentially also fund upgrades using the Small Business Loans Scheme, which provides a 0% loan of up to £100,000 to allow them to install measures that cut energy consumption.

A handy letter

If you can’t face explaining all this down the phone then the good news is that the Energy Saving Trust has a handy letter template that you can amend with your specific information.

You can download it via their website here

Finally…

If your landlord remains unwilling to invest in their investment property, there’s not a lot you can do aside from moving.

However, the good news is that there are still plenty of ways to reduce heating and energy bills just by changing your daily habits.

For example, the Energy Saving Trust reckons a family could save between £50 and £90 a year just by changing their habits and switching unused appliances and lights off more regularly.

In fact, even if your landlord has rebuilt your home as a temple to eco-friendly design, it’s still a good idea to change your energy habits and save some more cash.

Check out these 50 ways to use less energy for some inspiration.

Do you rent? How likely is your landlord to upgrade your home? Share your experiences, thoughts and tips in the comments below.