Catrin Preston

Introduction Housing space standards have long been contested, with some believing market demand should dictate the size of homes, others that space standards are essential to maintain public health and well-being (Carr, 2016). In England, the 1918 Tudor Walters Act established external and internal space norms, enforced through insurance policies and government funding for housebuilders (Park, 2017).

What is happening to energy bills? Households and businesses across the UK are facing a steep hike in energy prices as a result of the massive rise in the price of gas – and to a lesser extent oil – during 2022. This has been largely due to the actions of Russia – the world’s second biggest crude oil exporter and largest producer of natural gas – and its threat to halt energy supplies to the West following its invasion of Ukraine.