An estimated 1.3 million UK households missed or defaulted on an essential bill in a single month as cost-of-living pressures build up, a survey suggests. Which? found 60% of those who could not afford a household bill such as energy, water or council tax, defaulted on more than one payment in the month to June 9.
It urged utility firms and supermarkets to work harder to support customers as pressures build on household finances. Among those who missed one or more bills, two in five (42%) did not pay their energy bill, four in 10 (40%) missed their council tax payment, nearly four in 10 could not afford their water bill (38%) and a third (32%) struggled to pay for their broadband or television package.
Which?’s consumer insight tracker also estimates that 560,000 households missed or defaulted on a housing payment over the month, with one in 20 renters (5.2%) and 1.4 per cent of mortgage holders missing a housing payment. Overall, two million households missed or defaulted on at least one mortgage, rent, loan, credit card or bill.
