MORE than seven million people are trapped in cold and damp homes five years into the energy bills crisis, new research found today.

Polling by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition (EFPC) revealed that 14 per cent of adults in Britain are enduring these conditions, a figure that jumps to up to a quarter for those with pre-existing health issues.

Twenty-four per cent of those with conditions such as motor neurone disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s were reported as being affected.

Those with lung conditions and mental health conditions were also disproportionately impacted, with 22 per cent and 25 per cent hit hard.

Some 26 per cent of all those polled reported mould in the last 12 months.

Andrew McCracken, director of external affairs at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “Cold, damp homes are much more likely to develop mould which can lead to life-threatening flare ups for people with lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cause lung conditions in previously healthy individuals.

“With rising fuel costs and a cost-of-living crisis, too many vulnerable people are being forced to live in unsafe conditions.”

EFPC figures show that energy bills remain 69 per cent higher than in winter 2020.

Private renters are particularly vulnerable to cold, damp housing, with one in five struggling with poor housing conditions.

Renters’ Reform Coalition director Tom Darling said: “It’s shocking that so many people are living in homes that put their life at risk — and totally unacceptable that many landlords are profiting from them.”

He called on the government to set out when they will apply Awaab’s law, which obligates social landlords to act fast on mould, to the private sector.

Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, highlighted that households are “still waiting” for a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan which will set out how people can improve the energy efficiency of their properties.

The plan was initially expected to be published in October.

A government spokesperson said: “We are investing an additional £1.5 billion into our Warm Homes Plan, taking it to nearly £15 billion — the biggest public investment to upgrade homes and tackle fuel poverty ever.

“We have also expanded the £150 Warm Home Discount to around six million households this winter.”