Fuel Poverty figures out of date
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The official figures provided on fuel poverty were deemed to be out of date and have underestimated the number of householders in the UK finding difficulty meeting the cost of rising energy bills.
In 2009, figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) revealed that 5.5 million households in the UK were suffering from fuel poverty, which was up by a million on the previous year.
The increase in the number of affected households was put down to a 14 per cent increase in gas bills and a 5 per cent rise in electricity in that year.
However the DECC’s report is now being judged as out of date and not in touch with reality, not showing the current extent of the UK’s fuel poverty crisis.
Following the gas and electricity rises expected in coming months, energy switching website uSwitch.com estimate that around 6.4 million households will be in fuel poverty. Any household that spends more than 10 per cent of its income on keeping their home warm are judged to be in fuel poverty according to the DECC. However, 2009 figures are the latest available and with energy bills constantly increasing over the past two years, there will be many more households deemed to be in fuel poverty.
As well as price rises, families can also expect an increase in their energy bills of up to £1000 a year to fund a switch to green energy and build new nuclear power stations.
With so many families struggling to keep control of their finances, it is little wonder that so many more people will slip into fuel poverty. Some people may even be considering selling their homes to downsize or move to a cheaper area. If you are thinking of selling your home and you would like to do so within a timescale to suit you, contact Quick Purchase. Quick Purchase are a property investment company specialising in purchasing homes quickly and simply, without the need for estate agents.
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