Oxford City Council is urging residents on a low income and living in a hard-to-heat home to apply for a sustainable warmth grant today – with the application deadline closing at the end of this month.
The Sustainable Warmth grant is available for homeowners, and tenants and landlords of privately rented properties, to install free energy-saving measures in their homes.
The funding aims to support households most likely to be impacted by rising fuel bills, and both mains and non-mains gas-heated properties can apply for the funding.
So far, the Council has received several applications for mains gas-heated properties. However, it is urging more non-mains gas-heated properties to apply.
The free funding will cover the installation of measures such as:
- Insulation (internal) – A third of heat lost from uninsulated homes comes from the walls. A mid-terrace house could save up to £315 from insulation measures.
- Low carbon heating upgrades (such as heat pumps) – Heat pumps are around 3-4 times more efficient than boilers. It is estimated that replacing an old (G-rated) gas boiler with an air source heat pump could save up to £375 annually on heating bills.
- Solar panels – A home with a 4.2 kilowatt solar panel system could save the average household up to £514 a year on energy bills. Solar energy can also be sold back to the grid, depending on the supplier.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band E, F or G. (D-rated homes are also considered).
- Be on a low income. (For a privately rented property, the income assessed is the tenant’s rather than the landlord’s.) For example:
- If your annual household income is under £31,000 or under £20,000 after rent or mortgage costs.
- Your household is on means-tested benefits.
The overall amount available depends on the EPC rating of the home and its current fuel source. For privately-rented properties, landlords will need to contribute a minimum of one-third towards the cost of the upgrades.
All work carried out as part of the grant funding must be completed by 31 March 2023. Anyone interested in the grant should apply by Saturday, 31 December 2022.
Find out more
To find out more, call City Energy on 02921 680951 or go to www.oxford.gov.uk/sustainablewarmth
“With the recent cold weather, many people will be even more aware about the importance of keeping warm in your home. If you are on a low income and living in a hard-to-heat home, I urge you to apply for the Sustainable Warmth funding before the deadline closes on 31 December.”
—Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council
