If a large proportion of your income goes on heating your home, or if you regularly cannot afford to heat it adequately, you may be in fuel poverty. This
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If a large proportion of your income goes on heating your home, or if you regularly cannot afford to heat it adequately, you may be in fuel poverty. This guide sets out the practical help available to tenants who are struggling to afford energy, including grants, schemes, and ways to reduce your bills.
Key facts
- The 2024 to 2025 English Housing Survey found about 2% of homes in England had excess cold as a category 1 (most serious) hazard, rising to 3% of privately rented homes. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
- The same survey found about 9% of homes in England, around 2.3 million, had a category 1 (most serious) hazard under the HHSRS. In the private rented sector the figure was 10%. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
What is fuel poverty?
The official definition of fuel poverty in England is when a household's energy costs are above the median level and paying those costs would leave the household with an income below the poverty line. In practice, fuel poverty affects people who cannot afford to keep their homes warm, often because the property is poorly insulated, because energy prices are high, or because income is low.
Fuel poverty is particularly common among:
- Tenants in older, poorly insulated properties
- Tenants on low incomes or benefits
- Elderly people living alone
- Families with young children
- People with health conditions that require a warmer home
Help directly from your energy supplier
Priority Services Register
All energy suppliers are required to offer a Priority Services Register (PSR) for customers who are vulnerable, for example, because of age, disability, or long-term health conditions. Being on the PSR can entitle you to:
- Advance notice of planned power cuts
- Priority reconnection in an emergency
- Meter reading help
- Bills in accessible formats (large print, braille, audio)
- Password protection to verify callers
Contact your supplier and ask to be added to the PSR.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off annual payment (currently £150) applied to eligible customers' energy bills. Eligibility is linked to receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or in some cases to broader eligibility criteria. The discount is applied automatically for many eligible customers, but you may need to apply. Contact your energy supplier to find out.
Emergency credit and prepayment meters
If you have a prepayment meter and run out of credit, most suppliers offer emergency credit to prevent disconnection. Some also offer a "friendly hours" or "discretionary warmth" credit over weekends or in cold weather. Call your supplier if you are struggling.
Government and council help
Household Support Fund
Local councils receive funding from the government to help residents in crisis, including with energy costs. The Household Support Fund (or equivalent scheme) can provide one-off grants or vouchers. Contact your local council directly to ask what is available. Eligibility criteria vary by council.
ECO Scheme (Energy Company Obligation)
The ECO scheme funds insulation and heating upgrades in properties with low EPC ratings, particularly for low-income households. Tenants in private rented properties can apply, the work is funded through the scheme, and the landlord's permission is required for physical work to the property.
To check eligibility, contact your energy supplier, search for ECO scheme advice on the government's website, or ask a local advice service.
Cold Weather Payment
Cold Weather Payments are made automatically to eligible households when the temperature in an area drops to or below 0°C for seven consecutive days. If you receive certain benefits, including Pension Credit, Income Support, or Universal Credit with particular conditions, you may receive a £25 payment for each qualifying week of cold weather.
Charity and third-sector support
Several charities help people in fuel poverty:
- National Energy Action (NEA): provides advice and campaigns for fuel poor households. Their helpline can direct you to local support.
- Citizens Advice: can advise on energy debt, help with benefit claims, and signpost to local schemes
- Turn2us: a charity that helps people access welfare benefits, grants, and other financial support, their grant search can identify funds available in your area
- Age UK and Age Cymru: provide help for older tenants with energy costs, including benefit checks and advice
If your home is cold because of disrepair
If your home is persistently cold because of disrepair, a broken boiler, no central heating, poor insulation caused by structural failure, this is not simply a fuel poverty issue. It is a housing disrepair issue.
Your landlord has a legal duty to maintain the heating system and keep the property fit to live in. Spending more on energy to compensate for broken heating or a poorly insulated property because of disrepair is a special damage you may be able to recover in a claim.
When should I contact Support for Tenants?
If your high energy costs are connected to heating disrepair your landlord has not fixed, call us on 0800 030 4669.
No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.
Sources
Related articles
- Warm Home Discount and fuel poverty rights
- My home is too cold, excess cold
- How long can a landlord leave you without heating?
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
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