Grants available for heating your home

Energy bills have rocketed over the past 12 months, and in September 2022 the Government announced plans to limit the cost per unit of gas and electricity, so an average household would pay £2500 per year.

This isn’t a cap but an average bill – use more energy and you’ll pay more, use less and you’ll pay less.

Insulation is the number one way to keep heat inside your home and bring your heating bill down.

Using less gas and electricity will not only save you money but is also essential to help protect the planet.

There are a number of grants and schemes available that offer certain households money towards making homes more energy efficient and help to pay heating bills.

Here’s the One Home round-up of the grants available at the time of writing (October 2022).

Insulation

Insulation is the number one way to keep heat inside your home and bring your heating bill down.

Loft insulation is the single most impactful thing you can do – a home without loft insulation loses a quarter of its heat through the roof.

Cavity wall insulation is a bigger job and more expensive, but it makes a huge difference. You’ll generally recoup your original outlay within three to five years thanks to the savings in your bills.

What’s available?

Local authorities are also able to help those on benefits or in low income households

Low income households and people on benefits may be eligible for grants or work towards improving their home’s insulation under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

This scheme obliges energy companies to help the most vulnerable and people on the lowest incomes to live in well-insulated homes. Go to the Simple Energy Advice website to check if you are eligible.

Local authorities are also able to help those on benefits or in low income households to improve their insulation. Different local authorities offer support in different ways, so check with your council to see if you qualify.

If you’re renting then you have the right to ask your landlord to improve your home’s insulation, if your property has a low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. The Energy Saving Trust have more information.

Financial support towards heating bills

There are a number of Government grants that offer financial help towards heating bills for those who are eligible.

A £400 payment towards to cost of paying energy bills this winter will start for every UK household in October 2022. A discount (£66 for the first two months, then £67 for the next four months) is automatically applied to your energy bill and there is no need to apply for this. It’s called the Energy Bills Support Scheme Discount and more information is available on the Government website.

Those aged over 65 may be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, while those on certain benefits may get the Warm Home Discount and also Cold Weather Payments when it is particularly cold. Find out more at the Simple Energy Advice website.

Not eligible for a grant?

If you’re not eligible for extra help from any existing schemes, there are plenty of no-cost and low-cost steps that everyone can take to save energy, bring down heating bills and cut your carbon footprint.

Download our in-depth One Home energy saving guide for a full rundown on all the actions you can take.

Want to get started straight away? Here are five quick fixes you can do today:

1. Turn down your thermostat by one degree and save an estimated £100 per year
2. Add extra layers and blankets before reaching for the central heating. Read more from Money Saving Expert’s advice on ‘heating the human’.
3. Keep all curtains and blinds shut once it gets dark to keep the heat inside.
4. Turn off radiators in any rooms that are not used.
5. Programme your heating so that radiators are only on when you’re in the house – don’t pay to heat an empty home.

Disclaimer

The information in this article was correct at the time of writing and is provided for guidance only. Please see the full disclaimer in our terms and conditions.

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