Spotlight on Renters – How Smart Controls can Help

2025 marks a new era for energy policy, and the UK Government has placed the spotlight firmly on improving conditions for social and private sector renters. A number of moving parts within housing policy will give tenants the right to demand more from their landlords, and energy efficiency is likely to be top of the agenda.

This blog will outline some of the important changes happening within the social and private rented sector, and how smart heating controls can provide significant benefits to tenant housing quality without costing the earth. 

Upcoming legislation changes

One of the biggest changes in legislation aiming to improve the quality of private rented homes is Awaab’s law[1]. Designed initially for social housing providers, the law requires landlords to investigate and fix hazards within social housing and reduce the dangerous impacts that poor quality housing has on the health and wellbeing of social tenants. 

The law primarily focuses on hazards such as damp and mould, alongside introducing provisions to prevent tenants from residing in excessively cold or hot environments. Drayton is eager to see this law introduced after a consultation held last year to determine the timeframes that social landlords would need to address reported problems by. The Government has also committed to extending Awaab’s law to also apply to the private rented sector, which is included as a provision in the Renters’ Rights bill. 

Awaab’s law is extremely important. The Buildings Research Establishment (BRE)[2] briefed in 2021 that poor quality housing, including those living in cold, damp, or inefficient housing, is costing the NHS around £1.4 billion per year. We hope the Government outlines a timeframe for implementing the law, and Drayton will continue to work with policymakers to convey the benefits of smart heating controls in rented homes. 

As we have previously mentioned, one of the Labour Government’s flagship policies is of course the Renters’ Rights Bill[3]. Central to news coverage surrounding the bill are plans to abolish section 21 or ‘no fault’ evictions[4]. It will also provide stronger protections against unreasonable rent increases or deposit requirements. However, some of the lesser-known provisions includes a measure to apply the Decent Homes Standard[5] to the private rented sector. This, alongside Awaab’s law, will give renters access to safer, better value homes.

Finally, applying to the private rented sector, 2020 marked the introduction of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)[6]. This piece of legislation prevents landlords from renting out properties with an EPC rating below E. Landlords have an obligation to ensure that all private rented properties comply with these energy efficiency standards, unless they have a valid exemption in place.

Since MEES was introduced, it has continued to evolve, with plans in place to require private rented homes to achieve an EPC rating of C by 2030, pending a consultation. 

What role do smart controls play?

As a result of the tightening regulations surrounding the private rented sector, landlords will be looking for ways to improve the quality of their homes. In particular, looking for ways to:

• Reduce damp and mould
• Improve the energy and fabric efficiency of their homes
• Provide improved methods for tenants to regulate the temperature of their homes
• Future proof their homes to avoid barriers that are preventing them from renting out homes that do not comply with regulations.

Landlords will also be looking towards solutions that minimise their upfront costs while providing maximum benefits for their tenants. Smart heating controls are a simple yet cost-effective method of improving the quality of rental properties, and Drayton’s products use open protocols, designed to work seamlessly with many existing boiler and heat pump brands. 

Smart controls provide tenants with greater control over their energy consumption. The systems can help users to save energy, regulate temperature on a room-by-room basis, and subsequently reduce energy bills for residents. Homes with smart heating installed can also be monitored and controlled remotely, helping landlords to better engage with their tenants to troubleshoot potential issues and improve their quality of living.

Wiser’s integrated smart home system can also automatically adjust its settings based on a home’s indoor climate. Our temperature and humidity sensors communicate with the tenants smart heating system, regulating the indoor climate to match a configured threshold. This can reduce damp and mould within the property, and create a healthier, safer indoor environment for tenants.

Smart heating controls will play a key role in helping landlords to create more energy efficient, healthier, and higher quality housing. Drayton’s systems can also help to save tenants up to 30% per year on their energy bills. 

Visit the Wiser website to find out more about Smart Heating Controls, and why they’re the perfect solution for providing renters with a better living experience.

[1] Awaab’s Law: Consultation on timescales for repairs in the social rented sector - GOV.UK

[2] BRE_Report_the_cost_of_poor_housing_2021.pdf

[3] Renters' Rights Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament

[4] Guide to the Renters’ Rights Bill - GOV.UK

[5] National Housing Federation - Decent Homes Standard

[6] Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard - landlord guidance - GOV.UK