Your response to our recent survey on fuel poverty
As a responsible landlord, our priority is to ensure all residents live comfortably in your homes. We want to better understand about customers who might be experiencing fuel poverty and look at ways we can help.
The survey included questions about heating worries, fuel payment methods, cost to heat a home and whether residents had recently been in contact with your energy provider.
Response
We received 940 responses and learnt that:
- Residents experiencing higher levels of fuel poverty tend to live in a property that has a lower average EPC (energy performance certificate)
- Of all respondents to the survey, around 20% of those who responded are likely to currently be in fuel poverty
- Around a third of all respondents worried all the time or often about keeping up with their fuel payments
- 47% of respondents hadn’t considered switching their energy provider in the past two years.
Support
The results from this survey provide important information to really help us understand who is experiencing fuel poverty. Colleagues are reviewing actions that we may be able to take forwards through our work, to help ensure none of our residents struggle to heat their homes. This is one of the commitments we have included in our sustainability strategy, which you can read in full on our website.
We continue to help residents who need extra assistance now with things like topping up gas and electricity, rent, food and other essential items.
Our next step is to hold focus groups on 3 August, with sessions taking place in the morning, afternoon and evening. If you’d like to take part in an interview or focus group to discuss your experience with this issue and expectations of settle, please send us an email to engagement@settlegroup.org.uk
If you’ve struggled with heating costs or any other issue, please get in touch and we can either help you directly or guide you towards the right support.