Last chance to apply for Sustainable Warmth Grant

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 home.

The funding aims to support households who are most likely to be impacted by rising fuel bills, and both mains gas heated and non-mains gas heated properties can apply for the funding.

So far, the Council has received a number of applications for mains gas heated properties, however 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 a year 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.

In order 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 is dependent on the EPC rating of the home and the current fuel source of the home. 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 who is interested in the funding needs to apply by Saturday 31 December 2022.

To find out more, call City Energy on 02921 680951.

"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