What is the Warm Homes Fund?

Overview

The Warm Homes Fund (WHF) is a £150 million support fund established by the National Grid and the Community Interest Company, across England, Wales, and Scotland. The main aim of the scheme is to support households that are struggling with fuel poverty and who don’t use mains gas as their primary source of heating. Local authorities also receive support in their roles in aiding the community as a result of the WHF.

Background

Before any word of the incoming energy crisis surfaced, approximately four million households are in fuel poverty. Many people will be left unable to heat their homes to a warm and healthy temperature, particularly in the cold winter months when it is needed most. On top of being on low incomes, many householders also have the burden of relying on heating systems that are expensive to run and/or inefficient and unsuitable for their needs. Furthermore, due to their circumstances or the type of home they are living in, they might not currently be able to benefit from existing mandated schemes.

In 2014 the government put in place a statutory target to make sure fuel-poor homes across the country achieve a minimum energy efficiency rating of Band C by 31^st December 2030. Targets in Scotland and Wales were set out by the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly respectively. NEA’s Annual Fuel Poverty Monitor reported that these targets might not be reached without extra investment and ambition.

Funding

To maximise the impact of the £150 million WHF, all homes are expected to be insulated to the recommended industry standards and bidders and their partners are encouraged to look for extra funding to ensure these standards are met. The fund is designed to lower bills, increase comfort in non-gas fuel-poor households, and provide better health outcomes for some of the most severe cases of fuel poverty.

The funding will be applied differently depending on an applicant’s current location and situation. The three brackets the fund is split across are:

Urban Brackets – this includes new central heating systems which will give homes better heating and hot water. It could also add other heating solutions.

Rural Brackets – Those situated in rural areas will find themselves being offered alternate heating solutions to gas. Amongst these options will be air-source heat pumps, oil and LPG.

Unique Brackets – The go-to solution for unique situations is to create programmes involving organisations and charities to help residents with advice and/or health-connected programs related to fuel conditions.

What are the eligibility criteria for the Warm Homes Fund?

If you live in a privately owned or rented home there are two ways of qualifying for vouchers:

• You are a homeowner or renting tenant and receive key qualifying benefits
• You are a social tenant or live in a privately owned or rented home and are spending a high amount of disposable income on household fuel

Warm Homes Fund key facts

• This fund had more than £110 million initially designated to it.
• It has since built an additional £106m. It is expected that it will grow to another £200m by the end of the scheme.
• Over 21k installations had been made out of the 40,000 people this fund has helped during this fuel crisis.
• All installations are to be finished by March 2024.       

To find out if you qualify for the Warm Homes Fund contact us today.