Build-to-rent developer Quintain Living has had its knuckles rapped for wrongly suggesting tenants could make big energy bill savings, get free WiFi and work from home areas.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) told the firm not to mislead consumers about the average saving they would make on energy costs and not to describe an element of a package as free if it was included in the package price.

Quintain Living’s website included a page in February titled ‘7 Ways you’ll save with us’ stating, ‘Save on average 56% on energy bills. According to Amber Energy these energy savings are based on comparing our EPC rating of B versus the average rental property rating of D in England & Wales of comparable apartment size.’

It also stated ‘Free superfast WiFi. Save £477 per year according to uSave – the average UK superfast broadband (30mbps or above) is £39.75/mth. Ours is included, set up ready to go and is 250mbps on all buildings except Alto, Montana & Dakota on 60mbps.’ It further stated, ‘Free work from home areas’.

Target

Quintain Living explained that its energy savings claim was originally correct when its tariff was no more expensive than the best value tariff for a one-year fix from an energy supplier with at least 1% of the UK market. However, from April 2023 to April 2024, it had been unable to meet that target.

The firm accepted that the use of the word free in relation to the WiFi claim was not in line with the CAP Code, because it was included in the package.

Quintain Living had free open plan work-from-home areas in all developments on a first-come, first-served basis as well as higher quality areas which could be hired for a fee. The ASA ruled that those areas without a fee were included in the package, so the claim was misleading.