Generation Rent says that private renters are at risk from missing out on the benefits offered by the green homes grant announced in July this year.

The company explains that £700m of the £2bn offered by the government will be needed in order to provide energy efficiency improvements to all of the UK’s private renters.

However, it says, there is little incentive for landlords to apply for the grant. It says that in 2016 it found that only 8 per cent of private renters had their energy bills paid for by their landlord as part of their rental agreement.

Generation Rent adds that new minimum energy efficiency standards regulations have already resulted in F- and G-rated properties needing up to £3,500 spent on improvements.

As well as this, the same survey from 2016 found that only 17 per cent of private renters have asked for energy improvements.

Generation Rent has consequently written to energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng asking him to make it easier for renters to take the initiative in accessing government funds through the ability to identify required improvements and take on the responsibility of finding quotes for said improvements.

The letter also asks for ringfenced amount for the private rental sector and for a temporary lift of the MEES cap to £8,5000 to accommodate the maximum amount allowed by the green homes grant.

Generation Rent director Alicia Kennedy comments: “Landlords have been allowed to get away with letting out poorly insulated homes and as a result too many private renters cannot afford to heat their homes properly.

“The green homes grant is a huge opportunity to rectify this, but nothing will happen unless the government makes it easy for renters to benefit and tells them about it. If renters are shut out of the process we’ll miss this chance to improve the quality of rented homes and reduce renters’ bills.”