A campaign backed by Generation Rent — a group known for its relentless criticism of landlords — is pressuring the Government to introduce new rent controls under the guise of protecting tenants from rising energy bills. The group is championing an amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill that would stop landlords from raising rents following taxpayer-funded energy efficiency upgrades.
The amendment, tabled by Green Party peer Baroness Jenny Jones, returns to the House of Lords today (Tuesday, July 1st). It aims to ensure that landlords who accept public grants to improve insulation and heating efficiency cannot pass the cost on to tenants — even indirectly — through increased rents.
While the proposal may appeal to some renters, critics argue it ignores key realities in the rental market — including the risks landlords take on, such as property damage, unpaid rent, and the already tight profit margins many operate under, particularly in older housing stock requiring significant investment.
The campaign relies heavily on polling commissioned by Generation Rent, which paints a bleak picture of life in the private rented sector. According to the group, 42% of renters struggle with energy bills, and nearly half of those say they’ve had to cut back on essentials such as food. The data also claims that 3.6 million renters live with damp or mould, with over a quarter allegedly in cold homes due to poor insulation — figures that far exceed official government statistics on fuel poverty.
Sean, a tenant quoted by Generation Rent, describes living in a damp basement flat that worsened his health, while another tenant, “Claire” from East Sussex, claims her landlord frequently attempts to increase rent despite her financial struggles. These anecdotes are used to underscore the group’s view that landlords consistently exploit the system and their tenants.
What the campaign leaves out, however, is any recognition of bad tenants — including those who cause serious property damage or fail to pay rent — and the financial pressures landlords face. Nor does it acknowledge that energy efficiency improvements often lead to higher property values, potentially increasing landlords’ tax liabilities and maintenance costs.
The Government’s Warm Homes Plan mandates that all rented homes meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating C by 2030. More than half of all private rentals fall short of this benchmark, yet only a third of landlords currently plan to make improvements, according to the latest Private Landlords Survey.
The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero’s grant scheme already includes a clause stating that landlords “understand rent should not be increased as a result of upgrades,” though it is not legally binding. The new amendment would allow tenants to challenge any post-upgrade rent increase at the First-tier Tribunal, treating the improvement as if it were tenant-funded.
Baroness Jones said: “The only people who don’t get a guaranteed better life are the poor tenants who have to put up with the dust, noise and inconvenience of the energy improvements being done, but without knowing if their rent will be going up as their energy bills go down.”
Landlord associations have warned the amendment could deter future investment in the rental market, especially in lower-income areas where grants may not cover the full cost of upgrades and long-term returns are already modest.
Parissa Zand, policy lead at Generation Rent, reiterated the group’s position: “The danger is that public money could be used to enrich landlords rather than benefit tenants.” Yet the proposed “solution” may further alienate landlords from engaging with energy upgrades at all.
With the Renters’ Rights Bill making its way through the Lords, the debate raises serious questions: Can a balance be struck between tenant protection and fair returns for property owners? Or will policies increasingly shaped by activist groups discourage landlords from participating in the very upgrades meant to benefit tenants in the first place?
As usual, Generation Rent’s one-sided narrative leaves little room for landlords trying to provide decent homes — or the complexities of a rental market where both sides carry risk.