Worryingly few households planning insulation improvements to their homes, despite concern about high energy prices, Which? reveals

Despite widespread concern about high energy prices and keeping warm in winter, new research by Which? has found few households are looking to improve the insulation of their homes and public engagement remains low.

Last week, the UK government launched new funding for up to 300,000 eligible households to get insulation installed. However, Which? has found that very few homeowners are even taking the first step of looking for information about how to insulate their homes, despite evidence that many may live in poorly insulated homes.

Which?’s survey of 2,673 homeowners revealed that almost half (46%) of UK homeowners have not explored home insulation in the past five years and are not considering this for the future. The most common reason given by this group is that they believe their homes are already adequately insulated or warm enough (46%).

However, despite expressing satisfaction with their situation, nearly nine in 10 (86%) of this group expressed concerns about high energy bills and seven in 10 (69%) told Which? they worry about keeping their homes warm during winter.

Of the homeowners who have taken the step of looking for more information, seven in 10 (69%) who searched online wanted advice that was more tailored to their property and their circumstances and nearly half (46%) said that it was difficult to know where to start.

Only one in five (21%) homeowners who looked for information online found and used the government information tool – though those who did use the tool found it useful (81%).

Around six in 10 (63%) respondents who did look for information ultimately chose not to proceed with any work. In addition to homeowners wanting more specific advice, Which? identified several key barriers to insulation projects including affordability concerns, cost-effectiveness, and the lack of government funding or grant schemes.

More than half (53%) of UK homeowners who looked into insulation in the last five years said that the upfront cost of the work or concern about the payback times was the main reason why they did not proceed. One in 10 (11%) of those who looked but did not conduct insulation work said they searched for but did not find an available trader to carry out the work. As a result, only one in seven (14%) UK homeowners have undertaken insulation improvements in the last five years.

Which? is now calling on the UK government to build on its recent announcement of the Great British Insulation Scheme and do more to make homeowners aware of the information and advice that is available. This should include working with others to run public engagement campaigns that use targeted messaging based on property type and the circumstances of households and paying attention to the times when homeowners are most likely to consider insulating their homes.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) that are required when selling or leasing a property should also be reformed to make them more reliable and useful for consumers. At present, the system for calculating EPCs can lead to inaccurate ratings. Assessments also vary in quality – with some providers offering one for as little as £35 on the basis of a 30-minute assessment.

The UK government should also improve access to information by creating an online hub of reliable independent information providers, as well as ‘One-Stop Shops’, that can support households through larger insulation projects. Scotland and Wales have their own information services including online information, telephone advice lines, and, in Scotland, a network of drop-in centres.

The UK governments should also support the recruitment and training of installers and review the way that installers are certified to make it easier for householders to identify qualified and reliable tradespeople, and remain protected from rogue traders.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:

“Which? research has found that worryingly few homeowners are making insulation improvements – despite the benefits it offers including reducing a household’s carbon footprint and energy bills and keeping homes warmer in winter.

“It is important that the government drives public awareness of the information and advice that is available and works with industry and others to address the barriers preventing consumers from improving the insulation of their homes.

“Improving the insulation of a home can be a complex and expensive process, including identifying the needs of the property, finding financing solutions, and identifying a qualified and reliable installer. The advice available to all households has to improve so that people can feel confident making these vital changes to their homes.”

ENDS

 

Notes to editors:

  • In April 2023, a nationally representative survey of 2,673 UK homeowners with bill-paying responsibility was carried out by Yonder Consulting on behalf of Which?. The survey included 976 homeowners who had looked into insulation in the last five years (37% of UK homeowners) and 364 who had work done in the last five years (14% of UK homeowners).
  • The UK government has set a target for all homes to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2035 where practical, affordable, and cost-effective, and the Scottish and Welsh governments have set similar targets, but there is no legal requirement for homeowners to meet this target.
  • Which?s full report will be available here from 00:01 Tuesday 19th September.
  • One Stop Shops (OSS) provide support for homeowners who are considering a larger retrofit project, including a home assessment, identifying and project managing installers, and ensuring the household gets the best performance from their new system.
  • 4 in 10 UK homeowners (39%) who reported that their home’s EPC band was D to G (i.e. below the UK government’s target for energy efficiency) said they would not consider insulating their homes for the future.

About Which?

Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, here to make life simpler, fairer, and safer for everyone. Our research gets to the heart of consumer issues, our advice is impartial, and our rigorous product tests lead to expert recommendations. We’re the independent consumer voice that influences politicians and lawmakers, investigates, holds businesses to account, and makes change happen. As an organisation we’re not for profit and all for making consumers more powerful.

The information in this press release is for editorial use by journalists and media outlets only. Any business seeking to reproduce information in this release should contact the Which? Endorsement Scheme team at endorsementscheme@which.co.uk.

 

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