With energy prices set to rise again in October, social housing tenants are still struggling to afford basic necessities and to heat their homes, new findings have revealed.

Housing association Orbit’s latest cost-of-living research shows that many tenants are still finding it a challenge to meet every day costs, including over a third of customers who said they had gone without heating to save money.

Energy regulator Ofgem is set to raise the government’s cap on bills by 2% from October, threatening to add extra strain on people already struggling.

While some improvements to customers’ circumstances are evident since Orbit’s cost of living research in 2023, the new research found that:

• Almost half of customers worry about meeting everyday costs all or most of the time
• One in 10 customers do not have enough money to cover monthly outgoings
• 25% of customers reported using a food bank – a 150% increase from 2023
• Half of Orbit customers live in relative poverty, earning less than £373 per week compared to the UK median of £621
• While income levels have improved slightly since 2023, only 17% of Orbit customers are at or above the UK median income.

Jude Cross, Orbit’s Director of Neighbourhoods and Communities, said: “Our latest research provides an unfiltered view into the lives of our customers and the very real challenges many continue to face.

“While we’ve seen some signs of improvement since we carried out our cost-of-living research in 2023, the data clearly shows that financial hardship remains a daily reality for many. This research is crucial in shaping how we respond through our 2030 Strategy and programmes like Better Days to ensure that every customer has the support they need to lead fulfilled lives.

“The pressures of the cost of living aren’t going away and are only set to intensify with the upcoming rise in energy prices, which is why we’re committed to working with our customers and communities to find sustainable, long-term solutions. Through our Better Days programme and the work of our community hubs, we’re supporting those in immediate need while also tackling root causes like food poverty. As a sector, we must continue shifting from crisis response to more proactive, community-led interventions that build resilience over time.”

Via its Better Days programme Orbit offers all its tenants free support on a range of issues, including managing finances, health and wellbeing, employability and skills.

In 2024/25, the programme delivered over 6,000 customer support interventions, including supporting over 1,000 people with their mental health, helping tenants to manage over £1 million debt and generating £41,000 estimated savings from its Energy Advice Service.