ENVIRONMENTAL health officers are urging landlords and tenants to check that rented accommodation is warm enough.

Paul Staines, leisure and environment director of Hambleton District Council said there was a direct link between cold houses and winter deaths.

Tenants should contact their landlords if they don’t have sufficient heating. If the situation doesn’t improve, they could then contact the council.

And he warned landlords that under a new law, they cannot rent out homes rated E or F on their official Energy Performance Certificate.