FAMILIES TELL OF COST OF LIVING HARDSHIP IN AREA WITH MOST ENERGY INEFFICIENT HOMES It’s funny how they can make so much profit instead of helping us
FAMILIES living in the part of Greater Manchester with the least energy-efficient homes have told of their fears as gas and electricity costs soar.
New data has shown more than 700,000 households in Greater Manchester could be paying hundreds more than they need to due to living in energy inefficient homes.
At the end of March last year, 707,785 homes across the region were found to be potentially in energy efficiency bands D to G. Bands go from A to G, with G being the worst.
Figures from the Office of National Statistics, analysed by the M.E.N’s data unit, indicate Bury has the highest proportion of homes potentially in Bands D to G in Greater Manchester, with up to 68 per cent of properties in the bottom bands.
The figures are based on Office for National Statistics analysis that showed 57pc of local homes with an EPC were potentially in Band D or below.
Households in Sedgley Park in Bury had the highest bills in 2020/21, before the recent price rises, averaging £1,098 – with 84 per cent of homes found to be Band D or below.
In the Whitefield West Park Lane area of Bury, bills averaged at £1,079, with 82pc of homes in Band D or below.
In neighbouring Unsworth, 82pc of homes were in Band D or below, though bills were lower at £986. To put those figures in context, the average estimated energy cost for a Band C property in England was £537 a year in 2020/21. In just a few months, households could see their energy prices rise by 82pc, taking average annual bills to £3,582 as the nation remains gripped by the cost of living crisis.
The terrifying new stats mean energy prices would have almost tripled in just one year. Last October, the price cap was £1,277.
Residents told the M.E.N. of the struggles they are facing.
Pensioners June and David Senitor say they are managing to get by, they’ve found themselves cutting back on certain food luxuries in order to stay afloat.
“We’re not happy,” said David, 83, from Prestwich. “It’s funny how they can make so much profit instead of giving it to pensioners and helping them. Every time you look at something, it’s gone up.”
Mum Michelle Barratt, who lives in Prestwich, has seen a huge rise in energy costs.
Michelle, 40, has seen her bills increase from £250 a month to £387 – meaning she will no longer be able to put money aside for savings. It’s a prospect that makes the family feel ‘scared stiff.’
“It’s a worry,” she says as she stands beside children Grace, four, and George, two. “We’re on a fixed tariff but it’s going to go up.
“We do put some money aside for savings but we’re not going to have that now. It’ll just get eaten up with energy costs.
“I’ve not worked since having kids. I’ve done bits but I’ve not gone back to work. Now I’m thinking I’m going to have to start getting work again – but if I go back to work, I’m going to have to pay for childcare costs.
“I’m definitely changing how I shop. I used to get branded products but now I just get supermarket own brands. I’m not eating as much meat; we used to buy steaks sometimes, we won’t buy that now because it’s gone up loads.
“Before, I didn’t even think about it. If I wanted something I would put it in the trolley. Now I’m looking at if I can get it cheaper elsewhere.”
Leanne Whitworth, from Whitefield,
has Coeliac disease. The condition means her immune system attacks her tissues when she eats gluten.
Due to the rising cost of living, the 46-year-old says gluten-free products have become more expensive. Increased costs mean she has been forced to skip meals.
“Sometimes I have to not eat,” she said. “I have to get certain food. I have a smart meter and that’s gone up by £15 a week.”
Her friend Dean, 57, said: “We’re skint. I’ve got no money. I’m poor. We’ve got no choice.
“It’s the ‘what’s going to happen?’
I’ve not hit it yet– my utility bills are okay. But then I think we’re all in the same boat. They’ve got to do something – they’re not going to cut everyone off.
“If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. You can only pay for what you can afford and your priority is
food and good heating and lighting. There’s no point worrying about it.”
Single mum-of-five Rachel Parks, a teaching assistant, said: “It’s hard in the holidays,” the added. “You don’t get anything if you work – no meal vouchers, nothing. I’m just shopping constantly and working more to shop more.
“Your kids want to go out because everyone else is. When they go to the park they want to go on the fair or have an ice cream. You just have to do more hours – I’ve always been able to work part-time but now I’m doing full-time. I’ve got less time at home with the kids.”
A Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesperson said: “We are investing over £6.6bn to decarbonise homes and buildings and bringing in higher minimum performance standards to ensure all homes meet EPC band C by 2035.”