Fuel Poverty and Housing in the Highlands
Garve and District Community Council
Added at 13:37 on 27 March 2026
The last five pages of The Highland Council report, on Climate Change, Energy and Community Resilience focuses on something many households are already feeling every day the cost of heating our homes, many of which built decades ago and don't retain heat well. The report is hot off the press published yesterday 26th March 2026.
Across the Highlands, fuel poverty is not a small or isolated issue. It affects a significant proportion of households, with many experiencing real difficulty keeping their homes warm, particularly during the colder and wetter months that we are all too familiar with.
A Structural Problem, Not a Personal One
The report makes an important point: fuel poverty in the Highlands is not about individual choices or behaviour. Instead, it is driven by a combination of factors outside people’s control.
These include:
- Older housing stock, often harder to heat
- Poor insulation and energy efficiency
- Heavy reliance on off-gas heating systems
- Higher electricity costs compared to mains gas
- Rural living costs and lower incomes
In areas like ours, where homes are often older, more exposed to the weather, and not connected to the gas network, these challenges are even more pronounced.
Why This Matters for Community Resilience
Fuel poverty is not just about costit has a direct impact on health, wellbeing and resilience.
Many households are forced to limit heating to manage costs, which can lead to:
- Cold, damp homes
- Increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular illness
- Greater pressure on health and care services
- When combined with power outages or severe weather events, this creates a situation where some households are far less able to cope during disruption.
A resilient community is one where people are warm, safe and able to respond when challenges arise. Addressing fuel poverty is therefore a key part of strengthening resilience locally.
The Scale of the Challenge
The report highlights that the majority of homes we will be living in by 2050 already exist today. That means the focus must be on improving the homes we already have, rather than relying on new builds.
However, upgrading homes in the Highlands is not straightforward. Many properties require:
- Significant insulation improvements
- Upgrades to heating systems
- Specialist work due to construction type
- Higher costs due to rural location and logistics
- While there has already been investment across the region, the overall scale of the work needed is still far greater than what has been delivered so far.
Why Retrofit Matters
Improving homes is often referred to as “retrofit" and it is about more than just energy efficiency.
Done properly, it can:
- Lower energy bills
- Make homes warmer and more comfortable
- Improve health and indoor air quality
- Reduce pressure on the electricity network
- Support the transition to low-carbon heating
The report strongly supports a “fabric-first” approach, meaning insulation and reducing heat loss should come before installing new heating systems. Without this, newer technologies can be less effective and more expensive to run.
A Local Opportunity
While the challenges are significant, there are also opportunities particularly when support and knowledge are available locally.
In Garve and District, Tarvie, Contin and Jamestown we are fortunate to have Anna Scott working as a Community Energy Officer, providing a valuable local resource for residents. This kind of support can help people better understand their options, access available schemes, and make informed decisions about improving their homes.
Local knowledge and trusted advice are key to ensuring that national programmes and funding actually benefit our community.
We also have our Community Support Grant which can be applied for once every six months;- twice a year for upto £300 per application
Working Together as a Community
The report makes it clear that tackling fuel poverty and improving housing cannot be done through small, isolated actions. It requires a coordinated, long-term approach.
For communities, this means:
- Sharing information and raising awareness
- Supporting those who may be struggling
- Making use of local expertise and resources
- Engaging with programmes and opportunities as they arise
Looking Ahead
Fuel poverty, housing quality and energy resilience are all closely linked. Improving one helps strengthen the others.
As a community, understanding these challenges is the first step. The next is making sure we are aware of the support available and working together to ensure no one is left behind.
Improving our homes is not just about saving money it’s about building a community that is healthier, more resilient, and better prepared for the challenges ahead.
Community Energy Officer Anna Scott will be hosting a drop in session at Contin Village Hall on Monday 30th March from 10.30am-1.30pm pop along with any questions you have.
Email Anna Scott or ring Anna on 07887 804215
More information on the Community Support Grant
Read The Highland Council Climate Change, Energy and Community Resilience report
We are always really keen to hear your thoughts and concerns, you can reach us by email contact@gdcc.scot or phone 01997 414791 leave a message and we will call you back.