Fuel poverty is an urgent issue affecting millions of households across the UK, with recent estimates showing 5.6 million UK homes struggling to meet energy costs. In Northern Ireland alone, 24% of households are classified as fuel poor, compared to 20% in Scotland, 14% in Wales, and 13% in England​. Rising energy prices, combined with poor energy efficiency, have left many unable to afford adequate heating, creating a pressing challenge for tenants and property managers alike.

As a housing association or landlord, understanding and preventing housing disrepair isn’t just good practice—it’s essential. Housing disrepair can lead to expensive structural disrepair, legal implications, and dissatisfied tenants. In a landscape where tenant rights are increasingly protected by legislation, and damaging factors such as damp, mould and disrepair are becoming more common, landlords must be as proactive as possible when it comes to maintaining their properties.