More Suffolk households can access free home improvements to make them warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, thanks to Warm Homes Suffolk.
Residents and landlords of eligible properties can apply for energy efficient measures such as insulation, solar panels or heat pumps.
Average funding of £18,000 is available for homeowners, and £12,000 for landlords and their tenants.
Warm Homes Suffolk is administered by Suffolk County Council, and delivered by East Suffolk Council, on behalf of all councils in Suffolk. It has been funding home energy efficiency improvements for two years, with funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
To be eligible, both of these conditions must be met:
- Homes must have an EPC rating of D, or below
- Homes are not heated by mains gas
And then either of the following conditions:
- Households have a combined pre-tax income of under £36,000 (this was previously £31,000)
- Homes are in a certain postcode (a pre-qualified postcode checker has been launched), which includes parts of:
- Beccles, Bungay, Bury St. Edmunds, Felixstowe, Great Cornard, Haverhill, Ipswich, Kessingland, Lowestoft, Mildenhall, Newmarket, Rushmere St Andrew, Saxmundham, Sudbury
Once these conditions have been approved, an assessment of your home will identify which measures are best suited to your property. These will then be installed by trusted contactors, for free.
Sam from Brantham was supported by Warm Homes Suffolk in January 2024, with loft insulation and solar panels fitted to her home:
“My Energy Performance Certificate jumped from an E to a C which is amazing. I have also recently got an electric car, so being able to use my solar energy to charge my car makes the journeys into town free and my bills are now lower! The installers were super tidy and clean, and made the experience very comfortable.
I heard about Warm Homes Suffolk through Facebook and would 100% recommend applying.”
Shirley from Ipswich was supported by Warm Homes Suffolk in February 2024 to have cavity wall insulation, electric storage heaters and solar panels fitted to her home, improving the Energy Performance Certificate rating from a D to an A:
“I really noticed the difference with the wall insulation and was immediately warmer. I’m very happy with the new modern storage heaters, I had tiny heaters before.
“Now I have solar panels, I’m looking forward to my electricity bill being lower. I’m very thankful for the installation.”
Landlords and tenants are also eligible to apply, with qualifying rental properties getting up to two-thirds of costs, as an average grant of up to £12,000. Landlords must have fewer than five rental properties and their tenants must meet the eligibility criteria.
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Environment, said:
“Warm Homes Suffolk has helped make improvements to 589 properties, and has meant a lot to the people and families in those homes.
“Although we’re starting to see energy prices fall, electricity and gas bills are still a cause of concern for many. But with this scheme, it can mean lower bills coupled with a healthier and warmer home to enjoy.
“While we’re starting to see warmer, lighter days, I’d urge people to plan ahead for the colder months, and let Warm Homes Suffolk make these improvements to your home.”
Through the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan, the county’s authorities have a collective ambition to be net zero by 2030, towards which Warm Homes Suffolk is contributing.
If you think you are eligible, or to find out more about how Warm Homes Suffolk could help you, visit www.warmhomessuffolk.org or call the team on 03456 037 686.
