Homes in countryside living in fuel poverty

Figures from an Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics show that over 10 per cent of UK homes are suffering from fuel poverty, many of which are in rural areas such as Hampshire.

In 2014 the number of homes classed as ‘fuel poor’ increased by 1.4 per cent to 2.38 million, with the highest levels of fuel poverty seen in rural parts of the UK where houses are typically older, poorly-insulated and therefore harder to heat.

Malcolm Farrow, from OFTEC, which represents the oil heating industry, said: ‘This new report is deeply concerning and in 2016 it is shocking that fuel poverty is still affecting so many people.

‘It is also disappointing to see that such little progress has been made addressing the issue.

‘We are calling on the government to introduce a boiler replacement scheme to help more households, especially those in rural areas such as Hampshire.’