Bristol City Council Backs Plan to Help Tenants Slash Heating Bills Amid Fuel Poverty Crisis

Bristol City Council has unanimously backed plans to overhaul how it supports council tenants struggling with skyrocketing energy bills, as local data reveals a direct link between cold homes and soaring food bank use.

Under the cross-party initiative, the local authority will review how it delivers vital energy guidance to thousands of social housing tenants, ensuring residents know how to operate their heating systems safely, efficiently, and affordably.

The move comes as the city faces an acute energy squeeze. Figures from the Bristol Energy Cooperative indicate that more than 10.6% of Bristol households (over 21,000 homes) live in fuel poverty—surpassing the national average.

At the sharp end of the crisis, the Bristol Northwest Food Bank reports that 35% of residents accessing its emergency parcels cite unaffordable energy costs as the primary driver behind their visit.

Beyond ‘Bricks and Mortar’

The proposal, brought forward by Councillor Zoë Peat alongside the Centre for Sustainable Energy and local food banks, calls for the council to treat heating literacy as an essential public duty rather than an afterthought.

“As a landlord, Bristol City Council has a duty of care to its tenants that extends far beyond bricks and mortar,” said Cllr Peat. “With high energy prices, the council must ensure tenants know how to heat their homes economically and access available support.”

The initiative focuses on practical, accessible interventions, including:

• Ending digital exclusion: Providing non-digital guides so elderly or disconnected residents aren’t locked out of energy-saving advice.

• Overcoming language barriers: Translating key heating system instructions for non-English speakers.

• Ongoing tenancy support: Delivering seasonal heating advice throughout a tenancy, rather than just in initial welcome packs.

• Citywide access: Expanding energy resources beyond council tenants to private renters and homeowners facing hardship.

A formal report outlining concrete measures is now set to go before the council’s Homes and Housing Delivery Policy Committee.

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