Energy & Climate
The Local Power Plan
Biggest public investment in community energy ‘will cut bills and create revenue for community centres, social clubs & places of worship’.
10 February 2026
Independent Age, the charity supporting older people on a low income, has called on the UK government to ensure that plans to raise the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the private rented sector (PRS) benefit tenants in later life.
Today (04 March) it released ‘Out of the cold: Making Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards work for older private renters’, a report based on research with older renters and professionals from the energy advice sector. It sets out recommendations on how to get MEES right and calls for a ‘tenant-centred approach’.
The UK government’s Warm Home Plan commits to new MEES for the PRS in England and Wales, rising from a minimum of an energy performance certificate of E or above to a C or above. This plan will mean a large proportion of PRS homes will need improving to meet the new standards.
The charity identified the potential for MEES to benefit older renters’ lives but also the risk that they could face disruptive works that could leave them worse off, potentially facing higher bills, rent hikes or even eviction.
Independent Age found that 63% of older tenants would be worried about a rent increase and 35% would be worried about eviction if their landlord wanted to undertake work to improve the condition and energy efficiency of their home.
Only one in four (25%) of tenants know the EPC rating of their home.
Almost half (47%) of older tenants wouldn’t feel confident reporting an issue about the condition of their home to their local authority.
‘We welcome the UK Government’s commitment to improving energy efficiency in the private rented sector. Older private renters often live in the oldest, coldest homes, and coupled with this, are a group more likely to be in poverty. Staying warm is especially important as we age but heating a home which isn’t energy efficient can feel like throwing money down the drain.
‘The older private renters we spoke to for this report told us their walls are stone cold, that they’re terrified of getting into energy debt, are skipping meals, and that they feel powerless to try to improve their situation.
‘While we are pleased to see the Government’s focus on supporting low-income households, working with older tenants and landlords is vital to the success of this policy. Improvement works must consider the impact on people, as well as the properties.’
JOANNA ELSON CBE
Chief executive at Independent Age
‘Out of the cold’ is based on findings from surveys and focus groups with older private renters and from interviews with professionals working in organisations involved with home energy efficiency improvements.
The recommendations set out how concerns highlighted during the research can be mitigated against.
Housing in poor condition can need improvements made before energy efficiency can be tackled. Independent Age recommends that the UK government should make sure that the Decent Homes Standard and MEES are aligned on objectives and timing and that grants are provided to tackle poor housing conditions where they are a barrier to energy improvements. They suggest a specific grant could be developed for this.
While 74% of older tenants would be willing to live with some disruption to live in a more energy-efficient home, some older renters can be nervous of the disruption that improvements could cause, risking them refusing the work and homes being left without upgrades.
Independent Age recommends that assessments should consider the most appropriate efficiency solutions for older people, and that landlords and tradespeople should work with tenants to ensure they agree the workplan and that allowances are made for older renters to stay in their home. If this is not possible, grants should be available for temporary relocation.
There is currently no UK government guidance about MEES targeted at tenants. This gap should be addressed to empower tenants and ensure the success of new MEES implementation.
Independent Age recommends that in addition to the Warm Homes Agency there must be a focus on providing local advice, and that MEES guidance is set out for both landlords and tenants. All guidance must be accessible and information dissemination should consider places where older people frequent, such as GP surgeries.
Older renters are concerned about upheaval because of improvements, the potential for rent hikes or eviction afterwards, and fear their energy bills will not be reduced. They need stronger protections. Independent Age recommends that tenants should be protected from excessive rent increases and evictions with this being a condition of grants and loans for energy efficiency improvements.
Older renters must have the right to refuse works and local authorities and the PRS Ombudsman must be given the resources to enforce standards. The PRS Database must be fully accessible to all, and an energy social tariff should be created to ensure that reaching net zero also reduces fuel poverty. The UK government must make sure that tenants in homes exempted from MEES aren’t left in fuel poverty.
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