3 things not to do as a tenant in an energy crisis, and 1 you should do!

There is lots of advice out there at the moment regarding energy bills and how to reduce your energy usage. Much of this advice is very good, but I have also seen some very poor advice floating around, most of which is specifically directed at tenants in rental properties. With that in mind, here are some top tips on handling the energy crisis if you are a tenant, and some advice on things not to do.

1.      Don’t insist on your landlord fitting smart heating tools

Some smart home tools are great; from lights that turn on when you want, to speakers that listen to your every command. But I have seen lots of advice online telling tenants to insist that their landlords fit smart thermostats and smart home energy monitors and similar. Some of these can be useful for seeing what you are spending, but they are unlikely to directly reduce your energy bills, and demanding your landlord installs them at their cost may not be the best option. In some properties, fitting these types of tools can be unviable or expensive.

2.      Do consider controlling your radiators

Even without smart home technology, you can control your energy usage. Consider changing the settings on your radiators regularly throughout the day. How often do we leave the heating to simply run its course as an on-or-off system?

Instead, consider turning the heating up or down at different times of day manually. If you have a well-insulated property, it is often more effective to turn the heating up high for a short time then turn it off than to have it on at a low level constantly. You can also consider turning the control directly on the radiator for higher or lower heating in a specific room at a specific time.

3.      Don’t forget about ventilation in the energy crisis

The winter is a prime time for mould issues to develop in properties. Most often, mould is created by condensation of some form, so the issue is to prevent or reduce the condensation before the mould develops. Condensation can be caused by issues in the property itself, but more often than not it is caused by the way the property is used or lived in.

You need to consider sources of moisture in the house: this could include air drying washing indoors or not using the exactor in the bathroom correctly. By reducing the amount of moisture in the air inside the house, you reduce the risk of condensation. But there will always be some moisture in the air, so then we need to consider where this becomes condensation.

Condensation forms where warm air touches something cold, like an external wall or a window. One way to reduce condensation is to reduce the temperature difference between inside and outside, i.e., not having the heating on overly high unless needed. But this isn’t always suitable, so you also need to consider ventilation.

Ventilation reduces condensation as it gives the moisture a chance to escape. Opening all your windows for 10 minutes or so once a day can make a massive difference. But you can also consider ventilation around specific problem areas. For example, if you have lots of soft furnishing’s pushed against external walls, pulling them away from the wall even a little can make a big difference. Also make sure when you use the extractor in the bathroom you leave it on for the whole time you are having a bath or shower and for around 20–30 mins afterwards as this will give it a chance to fully remove the moisture.

For more on condensation issues, check out this blog.

4.      Don’t suffer in silence during the energy crisis

If you are struggling with your energy bills, talk to your landlord. Let them know the situation and what you are trying to do to improve it. They may be able to offer advice or investigate ways to help you. But also, please appreciate they may be in a similar position.

Don’t refuse to pay your rent or energy bills without communicating with your landlord, as this will not benefit you in the long run. Instead, try to be upfront and honest about the situation so that landlords are aware and can try to guide you.

We would also suggest speaking to your energy provider to let them know the situation. They may have processes in place to assist you during this time. You can also talk to various energy charities that can support you, including the British Gas Energy Trust.