Soaring energy costs hit renters hardest
Published: 14-Jul-2008
This article was brought to you by Rentman the premium property management system
Britons in rental accommodation are being hit hardest by higher energy bills, it has been claimed.
According to new research consumers who rent pay on average 13 per cent of their income on gas and electricity bills.
This compares with just five per cent for people with mortgages.
Sean Gardner, director of MoneyExpert.com, said the trend is borne of the fact that renters are less likely to have surveyed the market for the cheapest deal.
He explained: "Tenants typically pay out more for their energy and power than homeowners. Whether as a total per household or the average per capita, the simple fact is, more of your money goes on fuel.
"Theoretically suppliers do not differentiate between renters and homeowners so it must come down to the fact that tenants just don't think about changing supplier because that responsibility lies with their landlord."
Unnamed energy experts cited by the Times have predicted that energy bills could rise by another 40 per cent before the end of 2008.
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