Cost of living crisis: Blackpool will face one of the biggest energy price rises, says new study

Households living in rental properties in Blackpool face the biggest financial headache from soaring fuel price rises, according to a new data study into the energy efficiency of landlord owned properties.

Overall, the top 10 worst locations to rent for high fuel bills are in the North

Property data and insight platform, Homesearch analysed rental properties across the UK, to uncover which areas have the best and worst Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings and will be the hardest hit financially.

Tenants in Blackpool are set to face one of the highest fuel bills in the coming months, with 74% of rental properties having a poor D-G EPC rating.

Only tenants in Blackburn and Llandudno are set to fare worse with 78% and 74.4% of rental properties respectively, falling below the critical A-C EPC rating.

Conversely, London boroughs dominated the Top 10 most eco-friendly rental areas to live. Those tenants living in the London borough of Tower Hamlets will experience the lowest energy bills nationally.

The picture nationally is equally as glum for tenants trying to juggle their personal finances during the energy price hikes facing the nation. Homesearch data found that 62% of rental properties in the UK are not energy efficient and have an EPC rating of D-G meaning they will be hardest hit by rocketing fuel bills.

Sam Hunter, COO of Homesearch, said: “Our data indicates a clear North-South divide in the environmental viability of rental accommodation and many households are going to struggle to pay energy bills through no fault of their own.

“Although it is a postcode lottery, we envisage that the EPC rating of a property is going to be a key decision factor for tenants when choosing a rental property, especially as energy consumption and prices spiral later this year.”

These are the least east energy efficient (EPC rated D-G) in UK:

Blackburn – 78%

Llandudno – 74.7%

Blackpool – 74%

Llandrindod – 73.9%

Bradford – 73.3%

Huddersfield – 72.3%

Lancaster – 72%

Halifax – 71.9%

Carlisle – 71.7%

Shrewsbury – 71.6%