Sustainable renting is about reducing the energy, water and resources you use at home while working within the limits of living in a rented property. Renters may not be able to install insulation, replace a heating system or fit solar panels themselves, but everyday choices can still make a meaningful difference.
The most effective approach is to separate the things you can control — such as how you use heating, appliances, electricity and water — from permanent improvements that should be discussed with your landlord.
Before fitting, replacing or altering anything attached to the property, check your tenancy agreement and obtain permission where required.
Sustainable Renting: What Renters Can Control
You do not need to renovate a property to live more sustainably.
Many useful changes involve everyday habits rather than permanent alterations.
Renters can often focus on:
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using heating controls effectively;
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reducing unnecessary electricity use;
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using appliances efficiently;
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avoiding wasted water;
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reducing food and household waste;
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recycling correctly;
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choosing efficient lighting where bulbs can be replaced safely; and
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monitoring energy use.
Energy Saving Trust specifically recommends several low-cost actions for renters that generally do not require major property changes, including switching appliances off rather than leaving them on standby, using washing machines efficiently and avoiding unnecessary tumble-dryer use.
Sustainable Renting and Heating
Heating is one of the biggest areas of household energy use, so small changes can have a noticeable impact.
Understand Your Heating Controls
Start by learning how the heating system in your rental works.
If the property has a programmer, thermostat or thermostatic radiator valves, use them to heat the home when and where you need it rather than leaving heating running unnecessarily.
Energy Saving Trust advises using the lowest comfortable thermostat setting and notes that understanding existing boiler and heating controls can help reduce energy use.
Do not alter, replace or attempt to repair a boiler or fixed heating system yourself.
If controls do not work correctly, report the issue to your landlord or managing agent.
Reduce Simple Draughts
Portable draught excluders at the bottom of doors and suitable curtains can help reduce heat loss without permanently changing the property.
However, permanent draught-proofing of windows, doors or the building fabric should normally be discussed with the landlord first.
Energy Saving Trust specifically identifies professional draught-proofing, insulation and upgraded heating controls as examples of larger improvements tenants should discuss with their landlord.
Do Not Block Radiators
Avoid placing large furniture directly in front of radiators where it prevents heat from circulating effectively.
Keeping the area around a radiator reasonably clear can help warmth move into the room instead of being absorbed by furniture.
Sustainable Renting and Electricity
Electricity use is another area where renters have considerable control.
Switch Off Unused Devices
Appliances left on standby continue to use electricity.
Switch equipment off when you are not using it where it is safe and practical to do so.
Energy Saving Trust currently estimates that switching appliances off at the plug instead of leaving them on standby can save the average household around £45 a year in Great Britain.
Use LED Lighting
Where you are responsible for replacing ordinary light bulbs, energy-efficient LED bulbs can reduce electricity use.
Energy Saving Trust estimates that replacing inefficient bulbs with LEDs can provide meaningful annual savings while also reducing electricity consumption.
For fixed light fittings or electrical alterations, do not attempt modifications without the appropriate permission and professional expertise.
Make the Most of Natural Light
During the day, open curtains or blinds where practical and arrange furniture so natural light can reach the areas where you work or relax.
This can reduce the need for artificial lighting while making smaller rooms feel brighter.
Consider a Smart Meter
A smart meter can help you understand how much gas or electricity you are using and reduce reliance on estimated meter readings.
Ofgem says that if you rent your home and you pay the gas or electricity bill yourself, you can choose to have a smart meter installed.
However, Ofgem recommends telling your landlord first because the tenancy agreement may contain terms about the energy supply or type of meter fitted. If the landlord pays the energy bills, the decision normally belongs to them.
The key benefit is visibility: understanding when you use the most energy can make it easier to identify unnecessary consumption.
Sustainable Renting and Water
Reducing water waste can also reduce the energy needed to heat water.
Turn Off Running Taps
Do not leave taps running unnecessarily while brushing your teeth, shaving or completing similar tasks.
Energy Saving Trust notes that a running tap can use around nine litres of water each minute.
Take Shorter Showers
Reducing the amount of hot water you use saves both water and the energy required to heat it.
Even small changes to shower length can make a difference over a year.
Run Full Loads
Try to run washing machines and dishwashers when they contain a full load rather than repeatedly running partly empty cycles.
Where available, use suitable eco settings.
This reduces both water and energy use.
Report Leaks
A dripping tap, leaking toilet or other plumbing problem can waste a substantial amount of water.
If a fixture is leaking, report it promptly to your landlord or managing agent rather than undertaking permanent plumbing repairs yourself unless your agreement clearly permits you to do so.
Sustainable Renting and Appliances
How appliances are used can matter almost as much as which appliances you have.
Use Washing Machines Efficiently
For normally soiled clothes, lower-temperature cycles can often provide adequate cleaning while using less energy.
Energy Saving Trust recommends washing at 30°C where suitable and reducing unnecessary washing-machine cycles.
Always follow garment and appliance instructions.
Reduce Tumble-Dryer Use
Tumble dryers can use significant amounts of electricity.
Where practical, use an outdoor washing line or suitable drying rack.
If drying clothes indoors, make sure the room has adequate ventilation so that reducing energy use does not create condensation or damp problems.
Avoid Overfilling the Kettle
Only boil approximately the amount of water you need.
It is a very small action, but repeated several times every day the unnecessary energy use adds up.
Energy Saving Trust includes avoiding overfilling kettles among its recommended quick energy-saving measures.
Look at Efficiency When Buying Your Own Appliances
If you are purchasing an appliance that you will own and take with you when you move, compare energy-efficiency information as well as the purchase price.
A cheaper appliance may cost more over its lifetime if it uses considerably more electricity.
If appliances are supplied by your landlord, do not replace or dispose of them without permission.
Sustainable Renting and Household Waste
Sustainable living is not only about energy.
Reducing unnecessary waste can also lower the environmental impact of your household.
Understand Local Recycling
Recycling rules vary between councils.
Check what your local authority accepts and how materials should be separated.
Using the correct bin matters because placing unsuitable items into recycling can contaminate collections.
Reduce Food Waste
Plan meals around food you already have and check cupboards, fridges and freezers before shopping.
Store food correctly and freeze suitable leftovers rather than automatically throwing them away.
Reuse Before Replacing
When furnishing a rented property, consider whether you actually need to buy something new.
Furniture, mirrors, shelving, lamps and household accessories can often be found second-hand.
This can reduce both waste and the cost of setting up a rental home.
Donate Usable Items
When moving or clearing space, donate or sell furniture, clothes and household goods that remain in good condition rather than automatically disposing of them.
What Is an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides information about a property’s energy performance.
The certificate gives the property an energy-efficiency rating and includes recommendations that may improve its performance.
When comparing rental properties, the EPC can therefore provide useful information about how energy-efficient the home is likely to be.
However, an EPC is based on standardised assumptions and should be considered alongside the property’s actual heating system, condition and expected running costs.
EPC Rules for Private Rentals in 2026
For applicable privately rented domestic properties in England and Wales, the current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards generally require a property to reach at least EPC band E, unless a valid exemption applies.
The government has also confirmed its intention to introduce a significantly higher energy standard for privately rented homes.
Under the government’s 2026 policy response, qualifying private rented homes in England and Wales are expected to meet a standard equivalent to EPC C by 1 October 2030, using the new EPC framework, unless an applicable exemption or transitional provision applies.
The current EPC E requirement therefore remains important in 2026 while landlords prepare for the future standard.
Energy-efficiency and rental rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so renters and landlords there should check the guidance applying specifically to their nation.
Sustainable Renting: Improvements to Discuss With Your Landlord
Some of the most effective improvements cannot reasonably be undertaken by a renter.
Examples include:
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loft, wall or floor insulation;
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replacing windows;
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professional draught-proofing;
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upgrading a boiler;
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installing a heat pump;
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replacing a fixed heating system;
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installing solar panels;
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major electrical improvements; and
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permanently changing heating controls.
These affect the property itself and should be discussed with the landlord.
Energy Saving Trust recommends that private tenants living in cold or inefficient homes speak to their landlord about improvements to insulation and heating systems rather than attempting major works themselves.
The property’s EPC can be a useful starting point because it may identify recommended energy-efficiency improvements.
Report Problems Rather Than Working Around Them
Sustainable living should never mean tolerating a defective home.
If the heating system is broken, windows are damaged, hot water is unreliable or another part of the property requires repair, report the problem.
Do not try to compensate for defective fixed heating by relying indefinitely on inefficient portable appliances where the underlying repair is the landlord’s responsibility.
Likewise, do not undertake electrical, plumbing or structural work simply because you believe it will reduce energy use.
Sustainability and property safety need to work together.
Renter-Friendly Sustainable Upgrades
There are still plenty of ways to improve a rental without major alterations.
Depending on the property and your tenancy agreement, renter-friendly ideas might include:
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LED bulbs;
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portable draught excluders;
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thermal curtains;
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reusable storage containers;
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energy-monitoring tools;
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suitable removable window coverings;
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recycling containers; and
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efficient appliances that belong to you.
Before attaching anything permanently or modifying a landlord-owned fixture, get permission.
For more ideas, read RentWizz’s Tenant-Friendly Home Upgrades That Transform Rentals.
Sustainable Renting Can Also Save Money
Many environmentally friendly habits have a second benefit: they can reduce household costs.
Using less heating, electricity and hot water can lower utility bills, while buying fewer unnecessary household items can reduce spending.
For example, Energy Saving Trust’s current quick energy-saving guidance estimates that a combination of common household actions could save hundreds of pounds per year, although actual savings depend on the property, energy tariff and household behaviour.
For a broader look at controlling your rental budget, continue with RentWizz’s Smart Ways to Save Money on Rent and Living Costs.
Look at Energy Efficiency Before Choosing Your Next Rental
If you are searching for another property, consider energy efficiency before signing the tenancy.
Look at:
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the EPC;
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type of heating;
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windows;
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visible draughts;
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insulation information where available;
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heating controls;
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appliances included;
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smart-meter availability; and
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expected utility arrangements.
A slightly cheaper monthly rent is not always better value if the property is considerably more expensive to heat.
Ask questions during the viewing so you understand how the home operates before committing.
Final Thoughts on Sustainable Renting
Sustainable renting is not about expecting tenants to renovate somebody else’s property.
It is about making sensible everyday choices while encouraging appropriate improvements to the building itself.
Renters can reduce unnecessary heating, electricity and water use, choose efficient appliances, recycle properly and minimise household waste.
Landlords, meanwhile, are better placed to address permanent improvements such as insulation, heating systems, windows and major energy-efficiency upgrades.
The most effective sustainable rental home is therefore created when both sides understand what they can control.
Start with the simple changes available to you, use the property’s EPC to understand its energy performance and discuss larger improvements with your landlord rather than making permanent alterations without consent.
Small changes may seem modest individually, but across an entire tenancy they can reduce both household costs and environmental impact.
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