Your Type of Home news from 2024
53 stories, newest first
- December 2024
Draft Fuel Poverty Strategy consultation opens in Northern Ireland
The Department for Communities has opened a public consultation on a draft Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland, alongside proposals for a new fuel poverty energy efficiency scheme.
Extreme fuel poverty falls to 14.0% in 2024
The Scottish House Condition Survey 2024 reports that 357,000 households, 14.0 per cent of all households in Scotland, were in extreme fuel poverty, a fall of 134,000 from 2023.
New phase of Warm Home Prescription launched with SGN and Fuel Bank Foundation
Energy Systems Catapult has launched a new phase of its Warm Home Prescription service with SGN and the Fuel Bank Foundation, offering energy credits of up to £245 to eligible households in Scotland and southern England.
Scottish fuel poverty rate falls to 28.7% in 2024
The Scottish House Condition Survey 2024 estimates 732,000 households, 28.7 per cent of Scotland's total, were in fuel poverty, down from 859,000 and 33.9 per cent in 2023 as heating fuel prices fell.
- November 2024
Government announces Warm Homes Plan steps with boosted heat pump funding and planning reform
The government has set out the first steps of its Warm Homes Plan, boosting Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding, removing the one metre heat pump planning rule in England and reforming the Clean Heat Market Mechanism.
Birmingham City Council publishes version 6.0 of its ECO4 and GBIS Statement of Intent
Birmingham City Council has published version 6.0 of its Statement of Intent for ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme flexible eligibility, covering declarations issued from 1 November 2024 until March 2026.
England planning rules updated to include heat pumps under permitted development
England's permitted development rules were changed in November 2024 to cover heat pumps, dropping the one metre rule and allowing units that provide cooling as well as heating.
Government commits initial £3.4 billion for Warm Homes Plan
The government committed an initial £3.4 billion for its Warm Homes Plan in November 2024, covering financial years 2025-26 to 2027-28, with up to 300,000 households expected to benefit from upgrades.
Scottish Government announced £41 million additional energy cost support
The Scottish Government put £41 million into winter 2024/2025 energy cost support, split between the Scottish Welfare Fund and Warmer Homes Scotland.
- October 2024
Autumn Budget commits £3.4bn to energy efficiency of low-income homes
The Autumn Budget has committed £3.4 billion over three years to improve the energy efficiency of low-income homes, with £1.8 billion directed to fuel poverty schemes.
Household Support Fund extension announced
The Chancellor announced funding on 30 October 2024 to extend the Household Support Fund for a further year, with £742 million going to local authorities in England from April 2025.
Version 3 Statement of Intent withdrawn
The City of Edinburgh Council has withdrawn the 2023 Statement of Intent for ECO4 flexible eligibility Version 3, the document that set out which households the council could declare eligible for ECO4 Flex.
New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill receives first reading
A private member's bill requiring solar panels on new homes in England from October 2026 has had its first reading in the Commons, with a second reading set for 17 January 2025.
Budget allocates £3.4 billion to the Warm Homes Plan
The government allocated £3.4 billion to the Warm Homes Plan in the Autumn Budget, including £1.8 billion for fuel poverty schemes, alongside tax incentives for electric vehicles.
Budget confirms £3.4 billion Warm Homes Plan downpayment but no new energy bill support
The first Budget of the new Government confirmed £3.4 billion for the Warm Homes Plan but offered no new support for households with energy bills this winter.
New crisis route introduced for households without heating or hot water
The Welsh Government has added a crisis route to the Warm Homes Nest scheme, giving one-off emergency repairs to households with no heating or hot water who meet the scheme's eligibility rules.
Government to consult on private rented sector EPC C standard by 2030
The government has said it will consult by the end of the year on requiring privately rented homes in England to reach EPC C by 2030, as analysis puts the winter bill gap between efficient and inefficient homes at £385.
Household Support Fund extended to end of March 2026 at same funding level
The Budget has extended the Household Support Fund to the end of March 2026 at the same cash level as under the previous government, with no inflation adjustment, while confirming £3.4 billion for the Warm Homes Plan.
Research finds 84% of disabled pensioners expect to lose Winter Fuel Payments
Opinium research reported by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition finds 84% of older people with a long-term health condition or disability say they will no longer receive Winter Fuel Payments.
- September 2024
ECO4, ECO Flex and GBIS closed pending Warm Homes Plan announcement
Act on Energy has reported that ECO4, ECO Flex and the Great British Insulation Scheme are closed, with all three waiting on the next UK Government announcement of the Warm Homes Plan.
Household Support Fund extension announced
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has announced an extra £500 million to extend the Household Support Fund in England to 31 March 2025, with £421 million going to local authorities.
Analysis estimates NHS cost of winter fuel payment cut
Analysis from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimates that pensioners pushed into cold damp homes by the winter fuel payment cut could cost the NHS more than £169m a year.
Energy Secretary announces warm homes plan for renters
The Energy Secretary has announced plans to ban landlords from renting out properties that fail stricter energy efficiency standards, covering private and social rented housing in England.
- August 2024
Ofgem announces new price cap as NEA projects 400,000 more households in fuel poverty
Ofgem has set a new price cap taking a typical annual energy bill to £1,717 from 1 October, as National Energy Action projects 6 million UK households in fuel poverty.
Analysis finds pensioners face highest energy bills on record this winter
End Fuel Poverty Coalition analysis for the Telegraph finds pensioners who previously received the maximum Winter Fuel Payment will face the highest real-terms energy bills on record in winter 2024/25.
- July 2024
Charities write to Chancellor urging reconsideration of Winter Fuel Payment removal
More than 50 organisations have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves asking the Government to reconsider restricting the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners on certain means-tested benefits.
E3G publishes briefing on a warmer, fairer private rented sector
E3G has published a briefing setting out how a higher energy efficiency standard of EPC C could be delivered in the private rented sector in England and Wales.
NEA figures show 5.6 million UK households in fuel poverty from 1 July
National Energy Action figures show 5.6 million UK households will be in fuel poverty from 1 July, as the energy price cap falls 7 per cent to a typical bill of £1,568 a year.
- June 2024
Hook Norton community share raise seeks £500,000 to complete sustainable homes with UK-first community microgrid
Hook Norton Community Land Trust is raising £500,000 through a community share offer to complete energy efficient homes in Oxfordshire, with a microgrid reported as a UK first at community level on a site of fewer than 30 homes.
Cadent Foundation marks five years and publishes 2024 Impact Report
The Cadent Foundation has marked five years with an Impact Report showing over £3.3 million awarded in 2023, support for more than 35,000 people, and plans to double its reach.
- May 2024
EPC insulation recommendation requirement removed
The requirement for homes to have no outstanding loft and cavity wall insulation recommendations on their Energy Performance Certificate before receiving a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant was removed on 8 May 2024.
First Warm Home Prescription trial with an energy supplier launched with ScottishPower
Energy Systems Catapult has launched the first Warm Home Prescription trial run with an energy supplier, with ScottishPower installing efficiency measures at no cost to households through the Energy Company Obligation.
Opinium survey finds 4.5 million adults made unwell by home heat
Opinium polling released by energy efficiency campaigners found 4.5 million UK adults, 8 per cent of the population, were made unwell by heat in their own homes in the last 12 months.
- April 2024
Household Support Fund extension began
The Household Support Fund extension to 30 September 2024 began on 1 April 2024, with £421 million allocated to local authorities in England for vulnerable households.
NEA fuel poverty estimate updated for the price cap from 1 April 2024
National Energy Action's estimate that 6 million UK households, 21.1 per cent, are in fuel poverty applies from 1 April 2024, when the new Ofgem price cap took effect.
Updated WHQS 2023 standard published
The Welsh Government has published an updated Welsh Housing Quality Standard, WHQS 2023, adding guidance on carbon emissions across housing portfolios and on whole stock assessments and the Target Energy Pathway.
Warm Homes advice service full public launch
The Welsh Government has confirmed that a full public Warm Homes advice service will be launched on 1 April 2024, offering impartial advice on using energy more efficiently.
Warm Homes Nest scheme launched
The Welsh Government launched its new demand-led Warm Homes Nest scheme on 1 April 2024, replacing the previous Nest contract, which ran to the end of March 2024.
- March 2024
Children's rights impact assessment published for new Warm Homes Programme
The Welsh Government has published a children's rights impact assessment for its new Warm Homes Programme, which replaces Nest and extends eligibility to low income households as well as those on benefits.
Social Housing Net Zero Standard consultation closed
The Scottish Government's consultation on a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard closed on 8 March 2024, with responses now under independent analysis ahead of a report.
Welsh Government publishes integrated impact assessment for new Warm Homes Programme
The Welsh Government has published an integrated impact assessment for its new Warm Homes Programme, setting out a £260 million cost, carbon savings and a worst first approach to fuel poverty.
Existing Nest scheme to end in March 2024
The Welsh Government has confirmed its Warm Homes Nest scheme will close at the end of March 2024, with a replacement programme starting on 1 April to avoid any gap in provision.
Household Support Fund extended by six months with £500 million
The Household Support Fund, which was due to close on 31 March 2024, has been extended by six months so that a further £500 million reaches vulnerable households before 30 September 2024.
New repairing standard elements commence
New elements of Scotland's repairing standard covering safe kitchens, fixed heating, safe access to common parts, secure common doors, residual current devices and other fuels took effect for private rented homes on 1 March 2024.
- February 2024
Scottish House Condition Survey 2022 key findings published
The Scottish Government's 2022 Scottish House Condition Survey puts fuel poverty at 31% of households, around 791,000, up from 24.6% in 2019, with 18.5% in extreme fuel poverty.
NEA and partners publish Fuel Poverty Monitor identifying £18 billion energy efficiency funding gap
National Energy Action, with Energy Action Scotland and Gemserv, has published a Fuel Poverty Monitor identifying a funding gap of at least £18 billion to meet England's 2030 fuel poverty energy efficiency target.
Labour announces new warm homes plan
Labour has announced a new warm homes plan, prompting the fuel poverty charity National Energy Action to call for urgent, funded action on energy efficiency for the households least able to heat their homes.
120 organisations sign letter urging Household Support Fund extension
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition joined 120 organisations in a letter to the Chancellor asking for the Household Support Fund to be extended by at least a year, as new figures put the cost of the bills crisis at £2,300 per household.
- January 2024
£16m fund opens for West Midlands homeowners to pay for energy efficiency improvements
The West Midlands Combined Authority has opened a £16 million Home Upgrade Grant fund giving eligible off-gas-grid homeowners in four council areas grants of up to £18,000 for insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.
Leeds City Council launches Home Upgrade Grant scheme with Everwarm
Leeds City Council has opened a Home Upgrade Grant scheme with Everwarm, offering free energy upgrades to eligible off-gas homeowners and a two-thirds discount to landlords, backed by £15.5 million that expires in March 2025.
Coalition members call for social tariff in Spring Budget
End Fuel Poverty Coalition members called in January 2024 for a social tariff to be included in that year's Spring Budget, as part of a long-running campaign for energy tariff reform.
End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimates 4,950 excess winter deaths caused by cold homes in winter 2022/23
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has raised its estimate of excess winter deaths caused by cold homes in the UK in winter 2022/23 to 4,950, up from 4,706, after new official data.
Price cap increases on 1 January 2024
National Energy Action marked the 1 January 2024 price cap rise by saying 6.1 million UK households are now in fuel poverty, 1.6 million more than when the energy crisis began.