Greater Manchester: Some 17,000 homes lack central heating - census

Sub-zero temperatures have been seen across Greater Manchester in January

Councillors in Greater Manchester have said they are "appalled" people in more than 17,000 homes in the region are living without central heating as temperatures plummet below freezing.

The latest UK census shows the region has one of the highest numbers of homes with no heating in the country.

Tameside Council leader Ged Cooney said it was a "damaged statistic" and more needed to be done to improve standards.

"We're appalled, especially when you think of how cold it's been", he added.

Yellow weather warnings for ice and snow are in place across the UK.

Some 17,440 households are estimated to be living without central heating, according to the 2021 Census run by the Office for National Statistics.

Figures show thousands of Greater Manchester households have no home heating system

Manchester has the fourth highest number of homes bracing the winter months without central heating in England and Wales, with 4,884 and almost 2.3 per cent of households.

But Salford's 1,952 households is also above the national average at 1.7 per cent of homes.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has promised to drive up private sector housing standards by introducing a vountary accreditation scheme known as the 'Good Landlords Charter'.

'Sad indictment'

Mr Cooney, who is also Greater Manchester Combined Authority's lead on housing, said many would "expect living standards to be going up and everyone to have decent housing".

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there was also a "prosperity issue" as some who did have central heating were "too frightened to turn it on because the bills are so expensive".

"And it's not just about heating either, it's about insulation, accurate thermostats, modernised heating systems, we need to tackle all of it."

Councillor Joanna Midgley, deputy leader of Manchester Council, said it was a "sad indictment of the current political and economic climate that in 2024 there are thousands of people in Manchester living in fuel poverty".