Citizens Advice published research on 23 October 2025 examining why low-income homeowners in England and Wales are less likely to take up energy efficiency measures than wealthier households, and what support would help them engage with retrofit1.
The publication states that "the upfront cost of home upgrades remains a key barrier for homeowners with lower incomes, as well as a lack of awareness around the available financial support to address this"1. It adds that low-income homeowners "are also more likely to perceive the home upgrade process as risky than those on higher incomes, and this perceived risk can outweigh the potential benefits of improving energy efficiency"1. According to the research, "homeowners on lower incomes are less interested in making energy efficiency upgrades to their homes than those who are more affluent"1. The publication describes how, for households coping with tight budgets and limited resources, disrupting the status quo can feel too dangerous if things go wrong1.
Citizens Advice frames the research around current policy: "As the Government launches its Warm Homes Plan and considers the design of future support schemes following on from ECO4"1. The research sets out four areas it says the government must consider as key motivators for low-income homeowners1:
| Area | What Citizens Advice lists |
|---|---|
| Funding | Funding for upgrades that is easy to understand and apply for |
| Information | Information about the benefits of energy efficiency and the support available, including myth-busting around Government energy efficiency schemes |
| Quality and redress | Assurance that installations will be high quality and that there will be meaningful and accessible redress if things go wrong |
| Ongoing support | Support and advice throughout the process |
The research covers England and Wales only; no equivalent findings for Scotland or Northern Ireland are reported in the publication1. The research does not put a figure on the upfront costs involved, nor does it quantify how many households hold the views described1.
"New Citizens Advice research explores perceptions among low-income homeowners in England and Wales, and looks at the support people need to engage with retrofit."
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up insulation, glazing or a heat pump, the research points to two distinct obstacles rather than one. The first is money: the upfront cost of work, and not knowing what financial support exists to cover it1. The second is confidence: a belief that the process carries risk, which the research says can outweigh the expected benefit of lower bills and a warmer home1. That distinction matters for energy independence, because a household that never starts the work keeps its exposure to whatever it currently pays for heat and power, however inefficient the home is. The research also identifies quality assurance and accessible redress as conditions low-income homeowners want before proceeding, alongside advice running through the whole process rather than only at the point of application1. Citizens Advice is one of the energy consumer bodies that advise households on these matters.
What happens next
The research is positioned as an input to the design of the Warm Homes Plan and of support schemes that follow ECO41. No timetable for those decisions, and no response from the government to the research, has been reported1.