Under-occupancy and fuel poverty in Scotland

 

Dr Fraser Stewart, Independent Consultant

Introduction

This discussion paper considers the under-occupancy of homes as a poorly understood concept that may hold great potential for helping inform our understanding of how fuel poverty is experienced and can be tackled in Scotland. Under the Scottish definition of fuel poverty under-occupancy occurs when a dwelling exceeds the bedroom standard of its occupants by two or more rooms. However official estimates of fuel poverty assume that all under-occupied rooms are heated to the same standards as the main bedroom.

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Fuel poverty set to break the 50% barrier in parts of Scotland

 

April’s energy price rises will see more than 40% of households in large parts of Scotland move into fuel poverty. 

Revised figures announced by the Scottish Government show that a further 211,000 households are likely to be living in fuel poverty in the coming months, an increase of 43% on 2019 figures.

Modelling done by fuel poverty campaigners Energy Action Scotland show 57% of people living in the Western Isles will soon be spending more than 10% of their income on energy - after housing costs have been deducted – the official definition of being fuel poor.

A further 11 local authority areas will see more than two in every five homes moving into official fuel poverty. 

Read full release and updated Fuel Poverty Map