Hard to treat homes

What is Fuel Poverty?

Fuel poverty is the inability to heat the home to an acceptable standard at a reasonable cost. Households are defined as fuel poor if, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, families need to spend more than 10% of their income on all household fuels.

Many households are in fuel poverty. A higher percentage in private rented and local authority accommodation are in fuel poverty compared to those in housing association accommodation and owner occupiers. Also, a higher percentage of elderly households are in fuel poverty compared to other household types. For the latest information on fuel poverty visit the BIS website.

What is a 'Hard to Treat' (HTT) home?

The Hard to Treat subgroup of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes' (EEPfH) Fuel Poverty working group define 'hard to treat' properties as homes that, for a variety of reasons, cannot accommodate 'staple' energy efficiency measures offered under schemes such as Warm Front in England.

HTT homes are often inhabited by fuel poor families. They may include: homes with solid walls; homes with no loft space; homes without a connection to a low cost fuel such as oil or gas; and homes where, for technical or practical reasons, staple energy efficiency measures cannot be fitted. Because of high heating bills associated with HTT homes, families who would otherwise cope relatively well in a more energy efficient home could find themselves in fuel poverty.

Clearly the issues of fuel poverty and hard to treat dwellings are closely linked.

What are the consequences of HTT homes?

Inadequate heating can be harmful for both occupants and the fabric of the dwelling. Properties affected tend to be older, solid walled dwellings which are more prone to moisture related problems such as condensation and rising damp. The main problems are:

• Damp conditions, made worse by inadequate heating, resulting in mould growth on cold surfaces and an increased risk of dry rot and attack from wood boring insects - leading to high long term maintenance costs.
• Furnishings and possessions can suffer damage from mould or insect attack - requiring more frequent replacement and increasing financial pressures for those in fuel poverty.
• Cold, damp living conditions can have an adverse effect on occupants' health. The 1996 English House Condition Survey data showed a clear link between poor SAP ratings and a range of conditions including chest problems, joint problems, eczema and mental problems (such as anxiety and depression).

Dealing with hard to treat homes

When deciding the most appropriate measures to apply it is important to maintain a broad perspective and look at the whole range of benefits of undertaking the work, rather than focussing on the usual cost-benefit analysis for each measure or package of measures. Clearly, any improvements to insulation levels or the introduction of more efficient heating systems will yield environmental benefits in terms of lower carbon emissions. For fuel poor households the over-riding factor must be to maximise the reduction in fuel bills. But there are a number of benefits which should not be overlooked.

This information will help you to prioritise the range of refurbishment options available and develop an effective plan.