Warm Homes Plan Archives - End Fuel Poverty Coalition

Report reveals scale of health crisis fuelled by poor housing

A new landmark report by health charity Medact reveals that three quarters of health workers regularly see patients whose poor housing is harming their health – with more than 1 in 10 witnessing this almost every day.

Drawing on an opinion poll of over 2,000 healthcare workers, Home Sick Home: Frontline views on the public health crisis of unhealthy homes explores the public health impacts of the UK’s housing crisis on patients, health workers, and the NHS. The study found that nearly half (45%) of health workers have had to send a patient home knowing their housing would make them ill again.

“We see the same issues time and again – families living in mould-ridden, insecure homes, children developing asthma and anxiety, elderly people afraid to turn on their heating,” said Sophia, a clinical psychologist quoted in the report. “We’re not treating patients. We’re sending them back into the very conditions that made them sick.”

Key findings:

70% regularly see mental health conditions caused or worsened by housing issues
65% see patients living in excessively cold homes; 61% hear of damp and mould; 63% see unaffordable rent driving ill-health
64% regularly treat children whose health problems are likely linked to insecure housing; 67% say damp and mould are causing children’s respiratory issues.

The report echoes previous findings of research by the Social Workers Union which revealed that over a fifth (21%) of social workers working with children, young people and families have seen their service remove a child or children from their family in the last three years where unsafe or inappropriate housing conditions was a key contributing factor.

The report says that the crisis is especially acute among vulnerable groups, with older adults, disabled people, and children experiencing housing-related illness. From mental health crises in new parents to chronic asthma in children, the testimonies included in the report reveal how unsafe housing is deepening health inequalities across the UK. The survey found that 66% of respondents see disabled people in unsuitable homes likely making them ill at least once a month.

“Given everything we know about the positives of good-quality housing, I never thought I’d see a rise in Victorian-age diseases,” said children’s doctor Krishnan in the report.

From cold, damp, overcrowded homes to skyrocketing rents and constant eviction threats, the report paints a picture of a housing system in collapse – and a public health crisis that is impacting both people’s health and the NHS.

It shows that health workers back political action to protect patient health and the NHS: 69% believe making renting more affordable would reduce the burden on the NHS, whilst 58% say increasing the supply of social housing would ease NHS pressures

More than two thirds (69%) agreed with the statements “I feel powerless to support my patients with their housing conditions” and “government spending to prevent illnesses created by cold homes is better for the NHS than having to spend money to nurse patients back to health”.

The report sets out ten recommendations, including rent controls, a national retrofitting programme, building more social housing, and a social energy guarantee to ensure no one has to choose between heating and eating.

Medact member and children’s doctor Dr Amaran Uthayakumar-Cumarasamy said:

“Colleagues feel a deep-seated sense of helplessness and feel redundant in their capacity to make meaningful health improvements in the lives of patients. Coupled with the existing pressures of working in a system that’s under-resourced, this leads to apathy. It’s tempting to think that the NHS alone can socially prescribe its way out of the housing crisis, but my experiences and those of colleagues suggest this simply will not scratch the surface let alone bring meaningful and lasting change. Yes, the NHS does need resourcing but if we’re serious about ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’, then that needs to be translated into policy.”

Laura Vicinanza, Senior Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Inclusion London said:

“It is no secret that disabled people are at the sharpest end of the housing crisis. Yet, this problem has been ignored for decades. Too many Disabled people are trapped in inaccessible homes, battling evictions, and facing skyrocketing rents – often forced to cut back on essentials just to afford their housing costs. Medact’s new report uncovers a very grim reality: poor and unaffordable housing doesn’t just worsen people’s existing health conditions—it creates new ones, with health professionals left to pick up the pieces of a broken housing system. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The Government has the power to solve this crisis. They can act now by making rents more affordable and kickstarting a revolution in accessible social homebuilding. We cannot afford to wait any longer.”

Dr Abi O’Connor, researcher at the New Economics Foundation, said:

“Private landlords have been allowed to increase rents to eye-watering levels and now we’re seeing the consequences – it’s making people and our economy sicker. If the government are interested in improving the economy for ordinary people, it is clear they must address the plague of unaffordable rents. In the short term they should introduce rent controls to give people stability, and in the long term they will need to build more social housing which is the only way to provide people with safe, affordable homes .”

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“Addressing the housing challenge is more than health workers can do themselves.

“Not only do we need to see investment in a £13.2bn Warm Homes Plan to help improve housing conditions, but we also need a full range of fully-functioning and well-resourced public services.”

Social workers report cold homes crisis for children

As millions of households struggled through last winter in cold damp homes, the impact on children has been revealed in newly released data.

Over a fifth (21%) of social workers working with children, young people and families have seen their service remove a child or children from their family in the last three years where unsafe or inappropriate housing conditions was a key contributing factor. [1]

Unsafe housing conditions can include maintenance issues, mould, damp, insect or vermin infestations or cramped conditions.

More broadly, 78% of all social workers strongly agree that housing conditions are a concern for people they support, with over a third (36%) strongly agreeing that over the last three years, the number of people they help live in unsafe or inappropriate housing conditions which has increased.

The research among social workers was conducted by the Social Workers Union and follows previous reports by ITV that the cost of living crisis has led to a third of UK social workers witnessing child removals in the past three years where poverty or financial poverty has been a key factor.

John McGowan, General Secretary of the Social Workers Union, commented:

“Removal of a child from their family is always a last resort, but sadly when conditions become dangerous action has to be taken.

“This data shows that the reality of life in modern day Britain is a struggle for many households. The country’s poor housing stock poses a danger to the wellbeing and development of children and poses a risk to the health of many adults with pre-existing health conditions.

“Social workers go above and beyond to help those at most risk in the country and are highlighting safeguarding concerns on a regular basis. However, addressing the housing challenge is more than social workers can do themselves.

“Not only do we need to see investment in a £13.2bn Warm Homes Plan to help improve housing conditions, but we also need a full range of fully-functioning and well-resourced public services.

“Ministers must own up to the fact that it is only the Government that can provide the funding to reverse the decline in public services and ensure the most vulnerable get the support they need.”

Among all social workers, housing conditions are a concern with large numbers strongly agreeing that ‘the number of people I work with who are living in unsafe or inappropriate housing conditions’ has increased over the last 3 years.

However, the results varied across the UK, with those in the North East of England, London and Wales most likely to report that housing was a major concern. [2]

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said:

“Millions of people from the youngest children to our oldest pensioners are living in cold damp homes, unable to heat their homes to a safe temperature or racking up massive debts – with some even turning to loan sharks.

“To add insult to injury, around a quarter of what is spent on heating our draughty properties is wasted, because the UK’s old housing stock is some of the worst insulated in Europe.

“Ministers are making the right noises when it comes to helping improve housing, but the Chancellor needs to put the money where their mouth is and commit the funding needed for a Wam Homes Plan which will help people improve the energy efficiency and insulation of their homes.

“And until these reforms are delivered, Ministers must not forget about the millions of people suffering in cold damp homes – they should provide enough support to ensure that everyone is able to stay warm every winter.”

Amaran Uthayakumar-Cumarasamy, an NHS Children’s Doctor based in South Yorkshire, commented:

“Some of the most acute harms of the UK’s unsafe, unaffordable and insecure housing are shouldered by our most disadvantaged children and young people.

“Whilst the findings of this report are shocking, they won’t come as a surprise to many of us working in the NHS. Increasingly, children’s health professionals across the UK are witnessing cases of respiratory illness, undernutrition and worsening mental health all linked to undignified housing circumstances.

“What’s more, rather than providing a foundation for their health, unfit, unsafe and expensive housing continues to severely impact their educational attainment, social health and life chances.

“Without radical change towards fairer policies that support affordability, energy efficiency, accessibility and security of tenure, housing will continue to entrench and reproduce childhood mass illness and stark disadvantage.”

Matthew Scott, senior policy officer at the Chartered Institute of Housing, added:

“Warm, safe homes are the cornerstone of our health, but this research demonstrates the life changing impact housing can have on children’s wellbeing.

“Local authorities’ Housing Revenue Accounts are stretched to their limit following decades of rent cuts and caps over the last ten years, and it is nearly three decades since the last significant central investment in upgrading homes, which came through the transformative Decent Homes Programme.

“The government should seize the opportunity to reverse the cycle of underinvesting in housing quality, so every child has a safe, secure home. In its forthcoming Spending Review, we urge the government to set out a new programme of investment in existing homes, including fully allocating the £13.2 billion promised for its Warm Homes Plan and taking steps to put the finances of housing providers on a more stable footing.”

ENDS

[1] 2,295 members of the Social Workers Union responded to a survey conducted online between 3 and 21 October 2024. Respondents were screened to ensure active employment in social work. ITV News broadcast a report with unique access behind the scenes with a social work team on 4 December 2024.

[2] Regional / National differences for this question:

North East 41%
London 41%
Wales 41%
South East 39%
Yorkshire & Humber 39%
North West 39%
East Midlands 38%
Northern Ireland 37%
West Midlands 32%
South West 28%
Scotland 24%
East of England 26%

Featured image posed by model. Signed model release on file with Shutterstock, Inc (asset ID 510078436).

Coalition sets out plan to tackle fuel poverty in strategy review

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has submitted its response to the government’s review of its fuel poverty strategy, calling for urgent and sweeping action to help the millions of people struggling to afford to heat their homes.

The Coalition warns that unless ministers take immediate steps, people will continue to suffer needlessly in cold and damp homes. At the heart of the new strategy long-term investment in improving home energy efficiency is needed, particularly for those most in need.

One of the group’s most pressing demands is for ministers to stick to their original manifesto pledge of £13.2 billion to fund a nationwide Warm Homes Plan. This plan would help insulate homes, install low-carbon heating systems, and make energy-saving upgrades more widely available.

Campaigners argue that current schemes are not working fast enough with only 59,000 people lifted out of technical fuel poverty last year.

The Coalition also urges ministers to adopt a fairer way of defining fuel poverty and move away from a measure that focuses largely on property energy efficiency and towards a new definition based on whether a household spends more than 10% of its income on energy.

As well as restoring support for disabled people, older households, and families with young children, campaigners have called for a permanent social energy tariff to be introduced. This would offer discounted energy unit rates for low-income households to help make bills more manageable.

The Coalition also criticises the current energy market for being unfair to those on prepayment meters or in all-electric homes, calling for fairer pricing, stronger consumer protections, and more transparency.

Finally, the response stresses the importance of accessible, community-led energy advice, calls on energy firms to improve customer service and support systems for vulnerable people and urges the government to empower local authorities and health services with funding to support fuel-poor households effectively.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“Fuel poverty is not just a financial issue, but a national health crisis that needs a bold, urgent response from all corners of government.

“Ministers must act now to invest fully in the £13.2 billion Warm Homes Plan to boost energy efficiency, reform the energy market and provide proper support to those who need it most.

“This includes expanding immediate financial help, including changes to the Warm Home Discount, more generous Cold Weather Payments paid in advance of severe weather, and the restoration of Winter Fuel Payments to a wider group of older and disabled people.

“With the right leadership and commitment, we can end fuel poverty once and for all.”

ENDS

The key recommendations set out in the End Fuel Poverty Coalition’s response to the fuel poverty strategy review include:

Redefining official fuel poverty measures and recognising fuel poverty as a health issue: introduce a 10% measure while maintaining the 2030 target.
Increasing government funding: commit to long-term investment in home energy efficiency and financial assistance programmes targeted at fuel poor households, including the Manifesto commitment of £13.2 billion for the Warm Homes Plan.
Accelerating energy efficiency upgrades: scale up retrofitting programmes and ensure stronger links between fuel poverty and heat network policies.
Enhancing targeted support: improve identification and assistance for the most vulnerable households, addressing the impact of benefit cuts.
Reforming energy pricing and markets: implement fairer pricing structures, market reforms to bring down prices and stronger consumer protections.
Empowering local authorities: provide councils with the resources needed to lead fuel poverty initiatives.
Expanding energy advice services: ensure tailored guidance on low-carbon heating and energy efficiency is widely available.

The full response is available to read online: https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/news/reports-and-correspondence/ [pdf]

Image credit: eyematter / Shutterstock.com

English fuel poverty figures highlight failure to tackle energy bills crisis

The Government has published the latest English fuel poverty figures for 2024 [pdf].

It shows that in 2024, there were an estimated 11.0% of households (2.73 million) in fuel poverty in England under the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric.

This is a slight reduction from 11.4% (2.80 million households) in 2023, although among households where the oldest resident is aged over 75, there has been a slight increase in the numbers in fuel poverty (10.1% in 2024 up from 9.7%).

The average fuel poverty gap for England in 2024 (the reduction in energy costs needed for a household to not be in fuel poverty) was estimated at £407, down by 4% in real terms since 2023.

But the data also shows that the number of households who are required to spend more than 10 per cent of their income (after housing costs) on domestic energy. In 2024, 36.3 per cent of households (8.99 million) exceeded this threshold, up from 35.5 per cent in 2023 (8.73 million).

Jonathan Bean from Fuel Poverty Action, commented:

“The latest Government fuel poverty statistics expose the complete failure of Government and Ofgem to tackle the energy affordability and fuel poverty crisis.

“A shocking 36.3% of households in England are unable to afford the inflated energy prices we are forced to pay due to a rigged energy market and obscene profits. Many of us are forced to survive the winter huddled under blankets and go without hot water.

“The Government tries to hide the extent of fuel poverty by excluding the millions of us on low incomes struggling with high energy prices based on an often flawed EPC rating. But even using its own distorted figures, the Government has failed to address fuel poverty, and is expecting it to actually rise next year.”

The figures show significant revisions not only based on previous projections, but also fundamentally change previously published 2023 data. For example, the previous figure the ONS had produced for fuel poverty under the LILEE measure in 2023 was 3.17m households – a difference of over 300,000 households to the revised figure published today [pdf].

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“The latest figures show the inadequacy of current fuel poverty monitoring.

“On the one hand it is welcome that official rates of fuel poverty are down – it means that investing in energy efficiency measures such as insulation and heat pumps works.

“But on the other hand, we see the measure which is most sensitive to the rising cost of living creeping up. This shows just how devastating the ongoing cost of living crisis is and what a mistake it was for the Chancellor to axe Winter Fuel Payments.

“It is now high time that the Chancellor finally commits in full to the £13.2bn Warm Homes Plan promised in the Labour Manifesto. This will ensure that millions of people can stay warm every winter.

“But given that energy bills continue to rise – and even the Office of Budget Responsibility has said that increases in gas prices are harming the economy – the Government must go further.

“The Chancellor must provide help to those struggling in fuel poverty now, not continue with cuts in vital support to older and disabled people.

“We need a government willing to invest in the solutions to the cost of living crisis – and the future of the country.”

Dr Matthew Scott, Senior Policy Officer at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said:

“Everyone should be able to live in a safe, warm home. However, the latest fuel poverty statistics published this morning show that progress essentially flatlined in the final years of the previous government.

“Through its Warm Homes Plan and updated fuel poverty strategy, the new government has an unmissable opportunity to reverse this trend. By building on its welcome investment into the Social Housing Fund and Local Grant programmes, the government can reduce energy bills and improve the health and wellbeing of millions of people before the end of the decade.

“CIH continues to call for the government to allocate the full £13.2 billion to its Warm Homes Plan in the forthcoming spending review, utilising the expertise and experience of social housing providers as key delivery partners.”

Jonathan Bean added:

“Government energy efficiency schemes are failing badly as they have only taken only 0.2% of households out of fuel poverty, even if changes to the Warm Home Discount Scheme are included. At this rate it will take until 2070 to hit the Government’s 2030 Fuel Poverty Target.

“One reason for the failure of retrofit schemes is that they have not focussed on the homes with the highest fuel poverty incidence, conversion flats (18.8%). Instead schemes are biased towards those in detached houses, who have the lowest fuel poverty incidence (7.3%). A totally new retrofit strategy is needed if the Government is serious about tackling fuel poverty.

“Electric only households have double the rate (20.7%) of fuel poverty than gas (10.0%) which highlights the urgency of bringing down inflated electricity prices that are currently quadruple the price of gas.”

Warm Homes Plan “downpayment”, but no additional energy help in Budget

The first Budget of the new Government gave little for fuel poverty campaigners to welcome.

While investment in energy was confirmed and a “down payment” on the Warm Homes Plan was highlighted, there was no further support for households with their energy bills.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“The only way to bring down bills permanently is through investment in insulation, home improvements, renewables and infrastructure which will free us from volatile gas prices forever.

“But after the Chancellor’s speech, uncertainty remains whether Ministers will be able to confirm the £13.2bn promised to help people improve their homes.

“And despite the Chancellor taking Winter Fuel Payments away from millions of older people with disabilities and health conditions, there was no support for vulnerable households with their energy bills now.

“The increase to the Household Support Fund announced today is essentially an extension of the current Fund through to the end of March 2026 at the same level as under the last Government and with no adjustment for inflation.

“And with more older people turning to the Fund, local authorities will find it stretched even further.

“What we needed to see in the short term was a restoration of winter fuel payments, an expansion of warm home discounts and reforms to improve and extend cold weather payments.

“Longer term, the Chancellor also needed to commit to a social tariff providing a unit rate discount on energy alongside existing support.”

Warm This Winter spokesperson Caroline Simpson said:

“The Government has done a lot to move us on from energy price shocks in the future with the clear commitment to clean energy.

“But while £3.4 billion is a welcome first instalment on the Warm Homes Plan, it is only the start of the journey.

“We desperately need to see a full £13.2bn turbo charge to the Warm Homes Plan and a 10 year strategy to keep people warm every winter through better housing and energy efficiency.

“For those suffering in cold damp homes now – especially those with disabilities, heath conditions and who have lost the Winter Fuel Payment – the majority of voters also want to see help now.

“In fact 75% of the public say there should be financial help for older and disabled people to pay their energy bills. The public also think the wider energy sector, who have made £457 billion in profits since the start of the energy crisis, should pick up the tab for a new social tariff.

“We urge the government to look at this as a way forward.”

Frazer Scott from Energy Action Scotland, posted on X:

“Nothing in the budget to help people across the UK access affordable energy. We need UK and devolved governments to work better together because the dial isn’t shifting based on their individual interventions.”

National Energy Action Chief Executive Adam Scorer commented:

“This Budget will not lessen the impact of unaffordable energy bills and record levels of energy debt this winter. With likely increases to energy bills later in January, things will remain bleak for some of the most vulnerable households across the UK.

“A longer-term Warm Homes Plan designed to help fuel poor households is more vital than ever. A downpayment is welcome, but we need the full detail and investment promised in the Labour manifesto.”

Ellie Mae O’Hagan, UK Energy Programme Leader for E3G said:

“The initial £3.4 billion announced over three years for retrofitting homes will provide industry with welcome investment certainty but is well short of the Labour Manifesto pledge to invest £13.2 billion over the Parliament.

“The door has been left open to boost this investment in the Spending Review due in the Spring. This must now be delivered so that people can get the warm homes they deserve.”

Paul Kissack, Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said:

“Today’s actions alone won’t be enough to fix the foundations for millions who struggle winter after winter in devastating hardship. The Chancellor is right that change must be felt. The people who needed to feel the most change are those living in and at risk of hardship.

“Limiting the devastating impact of deductions is a good step. There was also welcome investment in social homes, help for carers to work and care, and a rise in the minimum wage.

“It’s deeply worrying that we haven’t seen changes to social security that will seriously bring down hardship. In particular private renters will feel let down by the choice to keep Local Housing Allowance frozen means that it will become further out of step with local rent levels, which have soared in recent years.

“People receiving sickness benefits also face a fearful future at a time when almost two thirds of those experiencing destitution have a long term health condition. The government has failed to explain how they will save £3bn from the benefits bill and will offer no certainty and more anxiety rather than the respect they deserve.”

Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson, CBE said:

“Today’s Budget was a mixed bag for older people in financial hardship. There were some welcome announcements from the UK Government’s including the continuation of the Triple Lock, changes to the earnings limit for Carers Allowance, investment in Discretionary Housing Payment and an extension to the Household Support Fund. All of these have the potential to help older people in financial hardship.

“However, many older people living on low incomes will be incredibly concerned that the UK Government is going full steam ahead with plans to means test the Winter Fuel Payment. At the very least, this change shouldn’t be made until Pension Credit take-up is substantially increased. The latest figures show that up to 970,000 eligible older people could be missing out on Pension Credit, and now they will lose the Winter Fuel Payment despite living on a low income. This will have a devastating impact on older people in financial hardship across the country. The people we speak to at Independent Age are planning to make drastic cutbacks just to get by, from heating one room in their house to visiting public places just to stay warm.

“Many people experiencing poverty in later life will feel their voices have not been heard today, with few policies that will quickly get financial support to them. For example, the UK Government could have widened the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility to include those receiving Housing Benefit, and committed to the annual uprating of Local Housing Allowance.

“In the long-term, nobody should have to worry about their finances as they age. In the future we want to see national social tariffs for water and energy, this will help protect those on low incomes from spikes in costs like we have seen recently. It is also time for politicians to agree on what an adequate income in later life should be to avoid financial hardship.

“Our latest polling found that 87% of people aged 65 and over think the UK Government doesn’t understand the issues facing older people, and sadly it is hard to see enough in this Budget that will change this view.”