Free Home Upgrades to Cut Energy Bills and Stay Warm This Winter

Eligible residents could receive up to £30,000 of fully funded energy saving measures, such as loft insulation, wall insulation, solar panels, smart heating controls, and heat pumps.

Having secured just over £3 million of funding from the Government’s Warm Homes Local Grant, Buckinghamshire Council has partnered with the National Energy Foundation’s Better Housing, Better Health service to manage delivery of the scheme. This will include assessing applications and managing the pre and post-installation process.

The scheme is now open to Buckinghamshire residents who meet the following criteria:

• Your home has an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of D, E, F or G AND one or more of the following also applies -
  • You live in a household with a combined gross annual income of less than £36,000
  • A member of the household is in receipt of certain means-tested benefits such as Housing Benefit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, Pension Credit (savings and guarantee), or Universal Credit
  • You live in a pre-qualified postcode area, as determined by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Residents in private rented accommodation must seek approval from the landlord before applying and landlords may need to contribute towards the improvements if they already have a home that has qualified for fully funded support under the scheme.

Carl Jackson, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Waste said: “Securing this grant funding is great news as it enables Buckinghamshire Council to support some of the most vulnerable people across our county. With funding being limited and winter just around the corner, I encourage people to apply for support straight away.”

Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities added: “Rising energy costs coupled with the ever-increasing cost-of-living is creating real pressures on households in Buckinghamshire and there will be residents who will struggle to heat their homes this winter. We are always looking for ways to support those who need it and I would encourage anyone who is worried about cost of living pressures to take a look at the support available."

Residents who meet the eligibility criteria and would like to apply should either call the National Energy Foundation’s free helpline on 0800 107 0044, submit a referral form on the Better Housing, Better Health website or email [email protected].

Residents are being urged to be aware of scammers and to ensure they communicate with the Better Housing, Better Health service via the official channels listed above.

The Warm Homes Local Grant builds on the success of the Home Upgrade Grant 2, through which Buckinghamshire Council secured £1.04 million to retrofit 48 homes, improving energy efficiency and reducing fuel poverty.

To find out more about all the support available for those affected by cost of living pressures visit help with heating and household bills.