New research from Public Health Wales has highlighted the difficult reality many low-income households face when trying to keep their homes warm — a challenge that will resonate with families across North Wales.

The study monitored indoor temperatures in the homes of 15 people across Wales who were living on low incomes and managing long-term health conditions. It found that half of the households were unable to reach the recommended minimum temperature of 18°C in their living rooms, with some homes recording temperatures as low as 13.3°C.

Participants described feeling cold for much of the winter and spending most of their time wrapped up indoors. Some said certain rooms were so cold they felt like being outside.

One participant explained that their upstairs room, which had no heating, quickly became unbearable. Another said the rising cost of energy meant constant worry about whether they would be able to pay the bill.

Many said they had developed ways of trying to keep themselves warm rather than heating their homes. These included wearing coats, hats and scarves indoors, using hot water bottles, or even marching on the spot to generate heat.

For some households, the struggle went even further. Participants spoke about cutting back on essentials such as food, limiting hobbies at home, and avoiding having visitors in order to keep energy costs down.

The impact was not just physical but emotional too. Several said the constant cold and financial pressure had a serious effect on their mental health, leaving them feeling frustrated, worried and depressed during the winter months.

Dr Hayley Janssen, a researcher with Public Health Wales, said the findings show how difficult it can be for people on lower incomes to maintain safe and comfortable living temperatures, particularly when they are already dealing with health conditions.

Ben Saltmarsh from National Energy Action said the research adds to growing evidence of the “cold homes crisis,” where low incomes, high energy prices and poorly insulated housing combine to leave people struggling to meet basic needs.

For communities across North Wales, where many older homes can be harder to heat and energy costs remain high, the findings underline the real pressures households continue to face during colder months — and the wider impact that cold homes can have on health and everyday life.