Your Type of Home news from 2023
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- December 2023
Government announces £6bn allocation for energy efficiency and home upgrades
The government has allocated £6bn for energy efficiency and home upgrades, a sum the National Energy Action charity welcomed for low-income households but called small against the scale of fuel poverty.
UK government announces details of £6bn home decarbonisation funding for 2025 to 2028
The UK government has set out how £6bn for decarbonising homes between 2025 and 2028 will be spent, including extra money for low-income households and social housing.
British Gas Energy Trust launches White Goods Fund for England and Wales
The British Gas Energy Trust has opened a White Goods Fund giving refrigerators, freezers, electric cookers and washing machines to clients in or facing fuel poverty in England and Wales.
ECIU publishes analysis of impact of scrapping MEES on renters in marginal seats
ECIU analysis says scrapping planned Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards could leave around 2.8m privately rented homes without improvements, with renters in marginal seats facing £40m a year in extra bills.
Petitions with over 800,000 signatures handed to the Prime Minister on energy bills and cold homes
Petitions carrying more than 800,000 signatures have been handed to the Prime Minister, as new figures show 8.3 million UK adults living in cold damp homes this winter.
Warm Home Discount scheme confirmed to run until at least March 2026
The government has confirmed the Warm Home Discount will run until at least March 2026, a further three winters, and more suppliers must now take part in the £150 scheme.
White Goods Scheme launched as a pilot in England and Wales
The British Gas Energy Trust has reported that its White Goods Scheme, piloted in England and Wales from December 2023, has supported an estimated 19,435 people across Britain.
- November 2023
Which? publishes Priority Places for Insulation Index mapping UK insulation need
Which? has published an interactive index ranking UK local areas by home insulation need, fuel poverty and the availability of insulation installers, with 13.3 million households estimated to need loft insulation.
Bristol City Council publishes V.3.1 Statement of Intent for ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme Flex
Bristol City Council has published version 3.1 of its flexible eligibility Statement of Intent for ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, setting out four routes and seven proxies for identifying eligible households.
UK Government announces consultation on changing Permitted Development Rights in England
The UK Government will consult on changing Permitted Development Rights in England, including removing the one metre boundary rule for air source heat pumps, under plans announced at the Autumn Statement.
Which? launches priority places for insulation index and calls for insulation support for vulnerable households
Which? has published an index scoring all 650 UK constituencies for insulation need and called on the government to ensure support reaches fuel poor and vulnerable households.
Measure grading updated: battery storage and solar PV moved to A, charity exemption added
Delivery guidance for the Home Upgrade Grant was updated on 6 November 2023, moving battery storage and solar PV to grade A and exempting charities from the private rented sector four-property cap.
Survey finds 29% of UK population experiences mould at home
Research for the Warm This Winter campaign found 29% of UK adults, about 15.4 million people, experience mould at home frequently or occasionally, with 10% affected frequently.
- October 2023
Off-gas-grid fossil fuel heating ban delayed to 2035
The government has delayed its ban on installing oil, LPG and new coal heating in off-gas-grid homes from 2026 to 2035, while raising Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grants to £7,500.
CREDS publishes preprint on energy impacts of cost-of-living crisis on British households
A CREDS preprint reports that British households used 8.4% less electricity and 10.8% less gas in winter 2022-23 than the winter before, yet still faced bills around £34 a month higher.
Pensioners to get up to £600 Winter Fuel Payment this year
The British Gas Energy Trust has set out Winter Fuel Payment amounts of £250 to £600 for older people across the UK, including an extra Pensioner Cost of Living Payment of £150 to £300.
Warm Home Discount scheme opens for applications
The Warm Home Discount opened for applications on 16 October 2023 for households in Great Britain that must apply to their supplier or prove eligibility, as National Energy Action warned of repeat missed payments.
New phase of Warmer Homes Scotland launched
The Scottish Government launched a new phase of Warmer Homes Scotland on 2 October 2023, shifting the national fuel poverty scheme towards clean heating where it is financially and technically feasible.
Successor Warmer Homes Scotland programme launched under the same name
The successor to Warmer Homes Scotland launched on 2 October 2023 under the same name, with a maximum contract value of up to £728 million over up to seven years and higher grant limits per household.
Second £300 cost of living payment made to means-tested benefit recipients
The second instalment of the government's £900 cost of living payment, worth £300, was paid to households on means-tested benefits during October and November 2023.
- September 2023
Phase-out of off-gas-grid fossil fuel boilers and new coal heating delayed to 2035
Rishi Sunak's September 2023 net zero speech delayed the phase-out of new oil and LPG boilers and coal heating for off-grid homes from 2026 to 2035, while raising Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants to £7,500.
NEA tells MPs over a million vulnerable households missed energy crisis support
National Energy Action told MPs that more than a million vulnerable households missed energy crisis support last winter, with £444 million of earmarked funding left unspent by the energy department.
Phase out date for new off-grid oil and LPG boilers put back to 2035
The Prime Minister announced in September 2023 that the phase out date for installing new oil and LPG boilers and new coal heating in off-grid homes would move from 2026 to 2035.
Rental MEES regulations scrapped
Rishi Sunak has scrapped planned regulations that would have required landlords in England and Wales to bring privately rented homes up to EPC C by 2028, part of a wider rollback of climate policies.
Stock take of Britain's energy system published
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition's September 2023 stock take records record unit costs, rising standing charges, £1bn of prepayment meter debt and 4,706 excess winter deaths in 2022/23.
- August 2023
Which? warns 13 million households not heating homes when cold due to bill fears
Which? has estimated that 13 million UK households did not heat their homes when it was cold last winter, and has repeated its call for a targeted social tariff before the October price cap is set.
E3G publishes report on supporting warmer homes for rural communities
E3G research published on 9 August 2023 sets out the higher fuel poverty gap faced by rural off-gas-grid households in England and recommends a rural uplift to two government heating schemes.
Consumer Council research estimates 51% of Northern Ireland households in fuel poverty
Consumer Council research estimates 51 per cent of Northern Ireland households were in fuel poverty in early 2023, up from 34 per cent in 2022, with 48 per cent unable to afford to heat their homes.
Nesta submits written evidence to Parliament on decarbonising home heating
Nesta has told Parliament that ministers should confirm a 2035 fossil fuel boiler phase-out, lift the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cap and cap the electricity to gas price ratio at 2.5.
- July 2023
E3G publishes Autumn Budget briefing urging fiscal support for private rented sector energy efficiency
E3G has published an Autumn Budget briefing calling on the Treasury to let landlords offset energy efficiency improvements against rental income and to support green lending for the private rented sector.
Solution for meter-to-IHD signal distance issues to be deployed
The energy industry has developed a technical fix for smart meter signals that fail to reach in-home displays in flats and other properties where the meter sits far from the home, with deployment from July 2023.
- June 2023
Committee on Fuel Poverty publishes annual report and NEA responds
National Energy Action has responded to the Committee on Fuel Poverty's annual report, warning that the least efficient homes face heating bills of around £4,000 to £5,000 a year and that England's efficiency targets are decades behind schedule.
Parliamentary answer reports Alternative Fuel Payment delivery figures
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has told Parliament that the Alternative Fuel Payment delivered £200 to around 2 million off-gas-grid households, with over 85% paid automatically in February.
Warm Homes Programme policy statement published
The Welsh Government has published a policy statement for its next Warm Homes Programme, alongside a lessons learned report and its response to last year's consultation, with the current Nest contract extended to avoid a gap in provision.
Department for Infrastructure announces changes to permitted development rights for domestic heat pumps
Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure has amended permitted development rights so domestic air source heat pumps no longer need planning permission, subject to conditions, from 4 July 2023.
Revised Part L energy efficiency rules apply in full in England
Revised Part L energy efficiency rules for new homes in England have applied in full since June 2023, and industry figures show the share of newbuilds fitted with solar panels rose from 13% to 42% by late 2024.
Warmer Homes Scotland contract due to expire
Scottish Government screening assessment confirms the Warmer Homes Scotland contract expires on 30 June 2023, with a successor national scheme due to start three days later on 3 July 2023.
- May 2023
Coalition first warns of return of PPMs scandal
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho warning that the prepayment meter scandal could return, and asking for forced installations to be banned outright.
- April 2023
Evidence period for Alternative Fuel Payment applications extended by 3 months to June 2022
Grant Shapps extended the Alternative Fuel Payment evidence window back to June 2022, so households that bought heating oil, LPG, biomass or solid fuel in bulk before winter can still claim £200.
Survey finds 9 in 10 rural off-gas-grid homes say green heating plans treat them unfairly
A survey of 1,500 oil-heated homes finds 90 per cent believe the government's green heating proposals treat off-gas-grid households unfairly, as trade bodies press for a choice of low carbon options.
Ofgem consults on Great British Insulation scheme LA and Supplier Flex administration
Ofgem has opened a three-week consultation on how it would run Local Authority and Supplier Flex under the Great British Insulation Scheme, and on possible changes to ECO4 Flex administration.
Which? warns low-income households face £209 shortfall and calls for social tariff
Which? research published on 4 April 2023 estimates the poorest tenth of UK households will spend an average of £209 more on energy this financial year and calls for a targeted social tariff.
Constituency fuel poverty estimates published on basis of £3,000 average annual household energy bill
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has published modelled fuel poverty estimates for every English Parliamentary constituency, based on the average household energy bill reaching £3,000 a year from 1 April 2023.
Funding support for energy saving measures expanded
Funding support for energy saving measures, until now usually limited to low income or benefit-claiming households, is being expanded to more people from April 2023, according to the Centre for Alternative Technology.
Next iteration of Warm Homes Programme to start
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the next iteration of its Warm Homes Programme will begin in April 2023, continuing advice and efficiency support for lower income households in Wales.
Scenario modelling projects 920,000 fuel poor households from April 2023
Scottish Government modelling published on 30 May 2023 projects 920,000 fuel poor households in Scotland, 37 per cent of all households, from April 2023 once the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme ends.
- March 2023
Phase 2 of Home Upgrade Grant begins
The second phase of the Home Upgrade Grant began in April 2023, with up to £700m allocated across English local authorities to fund energy efficiency upgrades and clean heating until March 2025.
Warmer Homes Scotland began using revised eligibility criteria
Warmer Homes Scotland moved to revised eligibility criteria in April 2023, after the first phase of applications closed on 31 March 2023 with referrals paused until October.
WMCA secures £34m to retrofit around 3,000 West Midlands homes
The West Midlands Combined Authority has secured £34 million of government funding, matched by £35 million from housing providers, to retrofit around 3,000 homes rated D or below.
Coalition writes to Housing Minister seeking no new gas grid connections under Future Homes Standard
More than 40 organisations have written to the UK Housing Minister asking for confirmation that the Future Homes Standard will not permit new gas grid connections in newly built homes.
Fuel poverty forecast to rise to 7.5 million UK households
National Energy Action forecasts 7.5 million UK households will be in fuel poverty, up from 6.7 million, after the Energy Bill Support Scheme ended and the Energy Price Guarantee was extended.
First Minister backed £10 million uplift to the Fuel Insecurity Fund
The First Minister marked his first month in office with a £10 million uplift to the Fuel Insecurity Fund, a commitment the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel later cited when it criticised plans to close the fund.
New Warmer Homes Scotland scheme launches
A new version of Warmer Homes Scotland, built on a whole house retrofit approach, replaced the previous scheme in early 2023, targeting lower-income and vulnerable households in fuel poverty.
- February 2023
Government releases Fuel Poverty Statistics for England showing 3.26 million households in fuel poverty
Official figures show 3.26 million English households in fuel poverty, with National Energy Action estimating the 2030 efficiency target is now 300 years away on current progress.
Online portal opens for £600 EBSS alternative funding applications in Northern Ireland
The UK government has opened an online portal and telephone helpline so more than 28,000 Northern Ireland households without a direct electricity supplier can apply for £600 energy bill support.
NRLA backs Money Saving Boiler Challenge as 2.5m renters may be missing out on energy savings
The National Residential Landlords Association has partnered with Nesta's Money Saving Boiler Challenge, as research suggests more than 2.5 million private rented households may be missing out on savings of around £112 a year.
£200 Alternative Fuel Payments to off-gas-grid households begin
Households across Great Britain that do not use mains gas for heating began receiving £200 Alternative Fuel Payments automatically as credits on their electricity bills from 6 February 2023.
Improved energy standards for new homes introduced
The most recent improvement to energy standards for new homes was introduced in February 2023, the Scottish Government has confirmed in a progress report on its fuel poverty strategy.
- January 2023
E3G publishes briefing urging tighter energy efficiency rules for UK landlords
E3G has published a briefing arguing that raising minimum energy efficiency standards for rented homes in the UK would save tenants £570 a year and the economy £1.75bn a year.
Government publishes new details on cost of living payments
The UK Government has published new details of cost of living payments running from spring 2023 to spring 2024, as National Energy Action warns the support will not stop millions being pushed into fuel poverty.
Charities call for social energy tariff as research shows a quarter of over-60s in cold homes
Age UK polling shows a quarter of over-60s live in homes colder than they would like, as 100 charities and non-profits write to the Chancellor calling for a social energy tariff.
Government announces cut in fuel poverty support for next winter
The Government has announced reduced financial support for households in fuel poverty in 2023/24, with energy bills set to rise from 1 April 2023 as the Energy Bills Support Scheme ends.
Hypothermia cases in England surge during energy bills crisis
Hypothermia cases in England rose 82 per cent in December 2022 against the same month a year earlier, figures reported during the energy bills crisis show.
Leicester Energy Action project begins supporting vulnerable households
National Energy Action's Leicester Energy Action project has been supporting vulnerable people across the city since January 2023, funded by NHS Integrated Care and run with Leicester City Council's public health team.