Home heating policy a ‘disincentive’ for rural households

85 per cent of rural households said home heating policies would influence how they voted in the election.

Research by the Future Ready Fuel campaign shows that households, many of which use oil heating, believe they should be able to decide which heating system they install when it needs to be replaced.

The survey of 1,000 rural home owners also found that most would prefer to switch to renewable liquid fuels rather than the government-suggested heat pump.

Households are more worried now than they were three years ago.

(Graphics: OFTEC)

Paul Rose, Chief Executive of OFTEC, and Ken Cronin, Chief Executive of UKIFDA, supporters of the Future Ready Fuel campaign, said: “At the start of the general election, this research revealed that political party policies on converting rural homes to low carbon heating will have a significant impact on how households vote.

“In these choices, rural, off-grid households must be confident that they can choose how they can best contribute to achieving net zero emissions.

“We are ready to work with the next government to make this a reality.”

They stressed that there is overwhelming public support for renewable liquid fuels.