How can universities support students facing fuel poverty?

Fuel poverty, which is when households need to spend a high proportion of their income to warm their home, is impacting students across the UK.

Data from the survey shows that:

• 59% of students in the private rented sector have felt uncomfortably cold in their current accommodation
• 54% of students living in the private rented sector report issues with damp and mould
• 49% of students are living in draughty or poorly insulated accommodation

While universities are working hard to ensure that students have access to appropriate accommodation throughout their studies, there is more that universities, landlords and the UK Government can do to address these concerning findings.

The cost of living crisis and wider shortages in rented housing across the UK means that students in some areas are finding it difficult to secure accommodation in the private rented sector. In some cases, students are having to accept lower quality accommodation, often with worse standards of energy insulation that contribute to the issues highlighted in this survey. These living conditions have a hugely detrimental impact on students’ physical and mental wellbeing, and addressing accommodation supply is an urgent issue.

Universities, landlords and the government all have a role in tackling student fuel poverty and accommodation supply.

• Universities are increasing their support for students through the cost of living crisis, boosting emergency financial assistance funds, and providing warm spaces where students can go during cold periods.
• Universities are working together with accommodation providers and councils to secure good accommodation options for their students and to ensure that students can be appropriately housed for the full duration of their studies.

We will soon be publishing further information for our members to support them in tackling challenges with availability of accommodation and meeting this issue head-on.

Students deserve safe, well-insulated accommodation throughout their studies, and sufficient support to heat their homes to a safe level. Putting cash in students’ pockets is vital to keeping students out of fuel poverty and heating their homes throughout their studies.

Students are already struggling in the cost of living crisis, and we will see this deteriorate further without government intervention.

We call on the government to:

• Take action to ensure that support for students is protected against inflation. Maintenance loans in England have increased by 2.8% with inflation at around 10%, and the poorest students are £1,500 worse off per year than they would have been with inflation-accurate increases.
• Reinstate maintenance grants for those most in need. 
• Increase financial support for postgraduate researchers. 
• Ensure that any government action to support people with rising costs, including energy, can be accessed by students across the UK.

Universities tackling fuel poverty, putting more money in students’ pockets, working more closely with landlords and the government, and supporting green initiatives will be a win-win for accommodation quality, student wellbeing, and the planet.