Nearly two-thirds of private rental homes in Doncaster fail to meet band C energy efficiency rating

Friends of the Earth called for more financial support for those who can't afford to upgrade their homes.

All properties in Britain receive an EPC rating, from A down to E, which judges how well they preserve energy.

New data from the ONS shows only 35 per cent of private rental properties in Doncaster were rated C or above in the year to March.

The average rating of all private rental properties in the area was 65, equivalent to band D.

Across England, 44 per cent of private rental properties made the top three grades.

The Government confirmed landlords must uprate all properties to at least an EPC rating of C by 2030, while currently they must have an EPC rating of E or higher.

Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth, said there was an "urgent need" for the Government to publish its Warm Homes Plan.

"This vital blueprint for upgrading the nation’s homes must ensure that no one, regardless of income or housing tenure, lives in a cold and damp home," he added.

"Cold homes cost the UK tens of billions of pounds each year in NHS costs and reduced productivity due to ill health – clearly they’re a huge own goal for public health, the economy and our climate."

He called on the Government to invest £6 billion per year for the next decade to "end the scourge of cold homes once and for all".

The figures also showed 35 per cent of privately-owned homes and 45 per cent of social rented properties in Doncaster were rated in band C or above.

Across all properties in Doncaster, the average rating was 67, which is equivalent to band D.

This was the same as the average rating across Yorkshire and The Humber.

Peter Smith, director of policy at fuel poverty charity National Energy Action, said many households have been badly affected by the ongoing energy crisis because their homes have poor energy efficiency.

"For households on the lowest incomes, having to spend more on simply staying warm is having a huge impact," he added.

"The Government’s Warm Homes Plan must commit significant funds to energy efficiency schemes to make homes warmer, starting with the worst first."

He said renters have endured the worst energy efficiency conditions for many years, and urged the Government to raise minimum standards quickly so "tenants will stop having to live in draughty, hard to heat homes".

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: "The energy shocks of recent years have shown the urgent need to upgrade British homes. Over 1 million households are set to be lifted out of fuel poverty through the biggest potential boost to home energy standards in history.

"Our Warm Homes Plan will transform homes across the country by making them cheaper and cleaner to run, rolling out upgrades from new insulation to solar and heat pumps.

"Low-income homeowners and private tenants are also being supported to make energy performance and clean heating upgrades."