CIEH comments on Government's fuel poverty statistics

“The fuel poverty statistics do not exactly make for good reading. While the fuel poverty gap has been reduced, the number of households in fuel poverty broadly remains the same and this is disappointing to say the least. It is also well known that there are a disproportionate number of households in fuel poverty within the private rented sector, where there are as yet no enforceable requirements on landlords to get their properties up to scratch.

“Urgent action is needed to move more households out of fuel poverty as housing has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of people, especially the vulnerable. To achieve this we want to see a faster trajectory through the energy ratings by lowering the 2030 target, especially as households in E and F are more likely to suffer from excess cold. Furthermore, regulations coming in the next few years which will make it illegal to rent-out properties that have an E rating will not offer much incentive to tenants, since they are predicated on no up-front costs to landlords or on Green Deal arrangements and other sources of funding, which are scarce.”