The government have said they intend to force landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, but although widely welcomed, the plans actually represent a watering down of previous aspirations. Up to 1 million tenants renting from a private landlord should be able look forward to warmer homes that cost less to heat, which is welcome news, especially low-income and vulnerable households, many of whom are paying over the odds to heat their homes.

However, the original target was to have all rented properties conforming to a minimum energy efficiency rating of 'D', by 2015. The new announcement puts that back to from April 2018, while landlords will only be required to get their leakiest properties to an energy efficiency rating of Band 'E'.

Fuel poor households living in the least efficient privately-rented homes may need to spend on average around £1,000 more to keep warm compared to the average home.

In a burst of pre-election spin, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey said: “These new laws will plug the gaps in draughty homes – helping households to keep warm and drive down bills. Many of the poorest tenants will benefit and, with government support, landlords can improve their properties at no upfront cost. It’s good news all round and yet another way we’re taking action to ensure that cold homes with bloated energy bills become a thing of the past.”

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Amber Rudd said: “These new regulations will drive bills down in some of the worst-insulated homes where up to 1 million tenants are paying too much to keep warm. It’s also good news for landlords, who can benefit from improved properties with the financial support of the Green Deal and other schemes, and a real boost to the industry.”

Financial support for landlords will be available through the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation, which together have improved over 1 million homes in less than two years. This means landlords don’t necessarily have to foot the bill for installing new boilers and insulation measures to improve the energy efficiency of their properties – and landlords will only have to make improvements that are cost effective.

From April 2016 tenants will have the right to request consent for improvements to make their homes more comfortable, and easier and cheaper to keep warm, and the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. Yet there will be no guarantee that landlords will renew tenancies for tenants who do try to insist on their rights.

The government is also drawing up plans for a £25 million fund to support the installation of first-time central heating systems in off-grid households, plus a further investment of over half a billion pounds over three years to get Britain’s homes warmer and leaking less energy.

The government has yet to announce its Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Tenants can find out if they are eligible for government support schemes by contacting Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234 (open Mon-Fri 0900-2000, Sat 1000-1400); or Home Energy Scotland on 0800 808 2282 (open Mon-Fri 0800-2000, Sat 0900-1700).

Jenny Saunders, CEO of fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) said: “The private rented sector contains a high proportion of fuel poor tenants and many properties are not currently fit to rent out. We hope the introduction of the new regulations can help landlords drive up standards in the sector, deliver more affordable fuel bills as well as reducing carbon emissions”.

Richard Lambert, CEO of the National Landlords Association said: "The Government has struck a delicate balance between making clear what is expected and ensuring that there is a realistic prospect of landlords being able to comply. Setting the standard at a sensible rather than aspirational level, allowing time to achieve it and granting exemptions if the necessary improvements cannot be funded through the Green Deal or other government subsidies means that these new regulations will not impose an unreasonable burden. Indeed, where a landlord is in a position to undertake improvements, there will be no good reason not to. The NLA actively encourages landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties because it's good business practice: a warm tenant is a happy tenant."