Households who rely on oil to heat their homes have seen sudden price rises across the UK and Ireland, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Some of the families we support have seen their heating oil costs double, whilst others have had heating oil orders cancelled, experienced difficulties placing orders with their usual suppliers or have had to wait longer than usual for order.
Around 1.5 million homes in the UK rely on heating oil as an energy source, many of which are in rural areas. For more than 60% of homes in Northern Ireland, heating oil is their main source of fuel.
Here at Together for Short Lives, we hear first hand how rising heating oil costs put pressure on stretched household budgets and can cause additional stress to families already coping with difficult circumstances. Here are some tips which may help those affected:
- Talk to your local distributors and check online platforms. Heating oil costs vary between different companies, so it is best to compare as many quotes as possible from different suppliers to find the best cost. Look companies up online to check reviews and for complaints which many indicate poor service. The UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) directory lists suppliers in your area.
- Buy ahead of time if possible. Express or emergency deliveries can be much more expensive than routine deliveries.
- Buy heating oil in bulk if at all possible. Generally speaking, the more you order the cheaper it will be.
- Heating oil clubs can bring costs down considerably. Consider setting one up with neighbours, friends or family or asking if anyone in your local area has set one up that you can join. Alternatively, you could use local services, such as a local paper, Post Office, village hall or social media sites to find new members. If you do decide to set up a club, you’ll need a co-ordinator to contact oil companies and negotiate a price. Don’t be afraid to negotiate. Use quotes from other companies to gauge how much you could save and have the figures at hand when speaking to your heating oil supplier.
- Check your boiler – an efficient boiler will affect how much money you spend on heating. Generally, newer boilers are more energy efficient, so an upgrade might save you money in the long run. Regardless of the age of your boiler, it’s worth having it serviced annually, to check that it’s working as well as it should. Through the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing your boiler with a more fuel efficient alternative. Some energy suppliers also offer help with the costs of replacing a boiler, so it’s worth enquiring when you speak to them. If you are a low income household, you might also be eligible for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme.
- Speak to your local authority about the help available for heating oil costs through their Household Support Fund. As of the 1st of April 2026, this will be replaced by the new Crisis and Resilience Fund – all local authorities should have dedicated Crisis and Resilience Fund websites up and running by this date, with details of the support they can provide and how to apply for it.
We’re monitoring the current energy crisis closely for any updates or developments that may be relevant to families caring for seriously ill children in the UK. We hope that these tips are useful and will provide further updates as and when they are available.