Out now CIH cost of living briefing three: The impact of rising energy prices

Today we launched the third in a series of briefing documents as we address the question: “what is the impact of the cost of living crisis on social housing tenants – and how should the sector respond?”

This briefing examines the impact of the latest energy price 'cap' announcements and government support package, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the crisis on domestic abuse victims/survivors. The briefing summarises the latest research and available data, with case studies showing how social housing providers support their customers.

Within the briefing, and ahead of the government’s financial statement later this week, we reiterate our call for urgent government action, as laid out in our recent letter to the Prime Minister, urging the government to:

• Bring forward the planned uprating of benefits from next April to this October
• Limit deductions from Universal Credit for prior overpayments/sanctions
• Remove the benefit cap and two-child limit
• Restore local housing allowance rates to at least the 30th percentile and return to annual uprating
• Prevent energy companies from forcibly switching customers to prepayment meters
• Commit to bring forward additional funding for energy efficiency measures in homes.

You can read all CIH cost of living briefings here. To contribute to upcoming briefings please email policyandpractice@cih.org