Worried about rising energy costs?

Members of the Tenants Resource Group (a panel that scrutinises how the council spends its housing budget) conducted a survey earlier this year following concerns about rising fuel poverty. They have discovered that some tenants are paying twice as much for their heating as the UK average.

The questionnaire was sent to 380 tenants and leaseholders and a whopping 41% replied; showing that energy prices are certainly a hot topic! The research aimed to discover how the type of property, its location, the heating supply and provider, all affect the price paid by each customer.

The results of the survey showed a huge difference in charges – with tenants across the city paying anywhere between £300 to over £3,000 a year on energy bills. The average annual cost was £1,098. Feedback also showed that those tenants on the landlord controlled communal heating charge pay more than households who can choose their own energy supplier.

Although most respondents were satisfied with the council’s communal heating system overall, many raised concerns about the cost, their lack of control over the heating, and inefficient heating in older properties.

The Tenants Resource Group have now presented their findings to the council along with recommendations of how more support is needed to tackle fuel poverty. Their list of suggestions includes recommending that the council:

• Improve existing heating systems and make homes more energy efficient
• Step up the repairs of faulty heating elements
• Provide tenants with more individual control over heating and support more tenants to come off the communal heating system
• Provide support to help tenants switch energy supplier and get a better deal

Steve Smith, Head of Stronger Communities, Neighbourhoods, & Housing, says the feedback from the survey is extremely valuable:

“As a council we are committed to tackling fuel poverty. Our focus is on providing homes that are safe, warm and energy efficient. We want to support more tenants to find cheaper energy tariffs to make energy bills more affordable particularly for those who are on low incomes and struggling to make ends meet.”

If you’re worried about increasing energy costs you can access free advice and support about how to lower your bills online at The Southampton Environment Centre or call 0800 804 8601.

Get involved

If you are interested in joining the Tenants Resource Group and having a say in how the housing budget is spent please get in touch or call 023 8083 3185.