The majority of UK homeowners (57%) have experienced obstacles that have prevented them from carrying out energy efficiencies

• More than one third of homeowners (36%) have been held back by cost, with

18% saying that the savings may not justify the up-front cost • Lack of incentives and grants is a barrier for 1 in 5 homeowners (19%) • Trust is a factor – 11% cite a lack of trusted tradespeople and 6% cite previous insulation scandals as barriers

• Age matters – compared with homeowners overall, younger homeowners (1834) are twice as likely to have a heat pump (11% vs 4%) and over a third more likely to have installed solar panels (13% vs 9%).

The majority of homeowners (57%) have reported the following barriers from carrying out energy efficiency improvements, according to the latest research by HomeOwners Alliance. More than one third (36%) of homeowners have not undertaken work because of the cost of improvements, one in five (19%) say the lack of grants/ incentives is a barrier and a similar proportion are not convinced the up-front cost will pay for itself in energy savings (18%).

Some homeowners say a lack of trusted tradespeople (11%), a lack of skilled trades (8%) and previous insulation scandals (6%) have also stopped them from carrying out energy efficiencies.

While most homeowners (81%) have undertaken some energy efficiency measures in the home they are usually the simpler and less expensive ones. The main ones being energy efficient lighting (53%) and loft/ roof insulation (51%). Less common are installing heating controls (27%), draught-proofing (26%), installing solar panels (9%) or switching to a heat pump (4%).

Younger homeowners (age 18-34) are more likely to undertake more substantial improvements such as installing solar panels or heat pumps. The proportion of homeowners age 18-34 versus homeowners overall to have installed solar panels is (13% vs 9%) and heat pumps is (11% vs 4%).

Paula Higgins, Chief Executive, Homeowners Alliance, says:

“Our research shows that homeowners think energy efficiency measures are too expensive and that there is not enough help. Not only can most households not afford to invest in energy efficiency but they’re also worried they won’t make a return on their investment.

And they are right. More environmentally friendly air source heat pumps cost in the region of a staggering £14k to install. Last year, the Prime Minister increased the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to £7.5k so homeowners could replace their gas boiler with a heat pump for around £6.5k. But it’s still a huge financial outlay when you compare that to the cost of a new gas boiler from just £2k.

If government is serious about meeting it’s 2050 net-zero target by banning the sale of new gas boilers by 2035, more long- term incentives such as tax breaks and government grants will be required as many are already struggling with higher mortgage costs and wider cost of living crisis.”

HomeOwners Alliance is there to help those struggling with their energy costs as well as considering energy efficiency improvements.

• A summary of all energy grant schemes(1), from those that help pay your energy bills to grants for energy efficiency improvements to your home.

• Our Energy Bills Help guide(2) explains what help you can get now if you’re struggling to pay your bills.

• Our Top 10 tips for saving energy(3) highlights affordable ways to cut your energy usage.

• And our guide to How to make your home more energy efficient(4), sets out the options of the energy efficient measures you can invest in to reduce how much energy your home needs to stay warm.

Full Research Findings and Charts

Chart 1: Energy efficiency measures undertaken by homeowners - Most homeowners (81%) have undertaken some energy efficiency measures in the home with the main ones being energy efficient lighting (53%) and loft/ roof insulation (51%).

Chart 2: Barriers to undertaking energy efficiency improvements - The majority of homeowners (57%) have experienced obstacles which have prevented them from undertaking energy efficiency improvements, because of cost (36%), lack of grants/incentives (19%) and they are not convinced the up-front cost will pay for itself in energy savings (18%). A lack of trusted tradespeople (11%), skilled trades (8%) and previous insulation scandals (6%) were also cited as barriers.

Chart 3: Energy efficiency measures undertaken by homeowners (By age group) - Homeowners 55+ more likely to have made energy efficiency improvements to their home. Younger homeowners are more likely to have made modern improvements.

• Homeowners age 55 or older are most likely to have taken measures to improve the energy efficiency of their home (87% vs 81% of homeowners overall).

• The 55+ age group is more likely than younger homeowners to have undertaken a range of measures including: energy efficient lighting (64% vs 53%), insulating loft/ roof (65% vs 51%), changing windows to double glazing (61% vs 45%), upgrading their gas boiler (50% vs 41%), insulating walls or floors (35% vs 30%), installing heating controls (31% vs 27%).

• Younger homeowners, age 18-34 are less likely to have made energy efficient improvements overall (74% vs 81% overall). They are less likely to have made these improvements; energy efficient lighting (38% vs 53%), insulating their loft or roof (30%), changing to double glazed windows (23%) or upgrading their gas boiler (26%).

• However, younger homeowners (age 18-34) are more likely to have undertaken modern changes such as installing heating controls (28% vs 27%), solar panels (13% vs 9%) and heat pumps (11% vs 4%).

Notes to Editors

(1) (https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/for-owners/energy-grants)

(2) (https://hoa.org.uk/2022/02/energy-bills-help)

(3) (https://hoa.org.uk/2022/02/energy-bills-help)

(4) (https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-improving/how-to-make-your-home-more-energy-efficient)

Methodology - 2024 Homeowner Survey

1. This is the 8th Homeowner Survey, a state of the nation report on the issues affecting homeowners and those aspiring to own.

2. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from Opinium. The survey was carried out online and figures are weighted and representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). Total sample size was 2000 adults of which 1326 were Homeowners and 531 Renters. Fieldwork 19-22nd January, 2024.

3. Calculation method: There are 24.8 million households in England & Wales, 62.5% of these, 15.5 million, are owner occupied 2021 Census (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/bulletins/housingenglandandwales/census2021#tenure). In Scotland, as at 31st March 2020, there are 2.6 million dwellings, 58% or 1.5 million are owner occupied Scottish Household Survey (https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-2020-2021-key-trends-summary/pages/6) and in Northern Ireland there are 814.2K homes and 70% are owner occupied, 570K, Northern Ireland Housing statistics 2020-21 (https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/system/files/publications/communities/ni-housing-stats-20-21-full-copy.pdf).

Therefore, the number of total UK homeowners is 15.5m + 1.5m + 570K = 17.6m. 57% of UK homeowners (17.6m) = 10million.

4. Energy efficiency measures compared. Figures are estimates based on data from Energy Savings Trust (https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/about-us/our-data).

If you publish this release, please link to the HOA website at (https://hoa.org.uk).

For media enquiries about HomeOwners Alliance, please contact Paula Higgins at paula@hoa.org.uk or on 07947 240 293

About the HomeOwners Alliance

The HomeOwners Alliance champions the interests of Britain’s homeowners and aspiring homeowners. We are a property advice website providing helpful advice and services for all the key moments of buying, selling and owning your home.

We are one of Britain’s most popular and fastest growing property advice websites, staying true to our mission to help homeowners facing some of the biggest and most complex decisions of their lives. Last year, more than 4 million homeowners and aspiring homeowners visited our website, hoa.org.uk.

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