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- October 2025
Let's Talk Energy Fund opens for 2025-26
Charis has opened the Let's Talk Energy Fund for 2025-26, offering up to two free energy-efficient appliances and advice to households struggling with energy bills.
Awaab's Law comes into effect for social landlords
Awaab's Law came into force in October 2025, requiring social landlords to investigate and resolve damp and mould in homes within set time periods.
Warm Homes Plan full details expected from DESNZ
The full Warm Homes Plan is not expected from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero until October 2025, with £13.2 billion committed across this parliament.
- September 2025
Energy Systems Catapult publishes ISS insights on vulnerable consumers and energy flexibility
Energy Systems Catapult reports that 69 per cent of the UK population has at least one characteristic that raises the likelihood of exclusion from smart energy flexibility, based on a survey of 4,894 people.
Consultation on a Reformed Decent Homes Standard closed
The consultation on a Reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes closed on 10 September 2025, with CIBSE submitting a response that backs the direction but questions key metrics.
Energy Saving Trust publishes consultation response on social rented sector energy efficiency standards
The Energy Saving Trust has published its response to the UK Government consultation on minimum energy efficiency standards for socially rented homes in England, backing EPC C by 2030 but seeking changes to exemptions and cost caps.
Grand Committee considers Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Lords Grand Committee has agreed regulations expanding the Warm Home Discount, removing the high cost to heat threshold so that around 2.7 million more households qualify for the £150 rebate this winter.
- August 2025
Consultation on extending the ECO4 end date opens
The government has opened a consultation on extending the ECO4 energy efficiency scheme beyond its 31 March 2026 end date, proposing an extension of between six and nine months.
Consultation on private rented sector energy efficiency standards closes
The Scottish Government consultation on draft minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes closed on 29 August 2025, with responses from Home Energy Scotland, the National Insulation Association and the Energy Saving Trust.
PRS Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards consultation closes
The Scottish Government's consultation on a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard for privately rented homes closed on 29 August 2025, with regulations planned for October 2026.
Government issues reminder to Warm Home Discount eligible households
The government has told households eligible for the Warm Home Discount to check the right person is named on their electricity account by Sunday 24 August to receive £150 automatically.
Resolution Foundation publishes research on how the Warm Homes Plan should target spending
The Resolution Foundation says the £13.2 billion Warm Homes Plan should target grants by household income and spend on insulation and solar rather than heat pumps.
Welsh Government budgets £35 million for Nest scheme this financial year
The Welsh Government has budgeted £35 million this financial year for the Warm Homes Nest scheme, published alongside figures showing 340,000 Welsh households in fuel poverty in October 2024.
British Gas Energy Trust reopens Individuals and Families Fund
The British Gas Energy Trust has reopened its Individuals and Families Fund, offering up to £1,700 towards energy debt for households on prepayment or credit accounts with suppliers that run no scheme of their own.
HEETSA and PRS MEES consultations closed
Two Scottish Government consultations, one on a proposed Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment and one on a private rented sector minimum energy efficiency standard, closed at the end of August 2025.
- July 2025
Government opens consultation on updating the Decent Homes Standard
The government consulted from 2 July to 10 September 2025 on updating the Decent Homes Standard and extending it to private rented homes in England.
Council publishes Statement of Intent for ECO4 and GBIS
West Lindsey District Council has published its July 2025 Statement of Intent setting out the full eligibility criteria for ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme Flex routes.
Eligibility criteria for Warmer Homes Scotland widened
The Scottish Government has widened the eligibility criteria for Warmer Homes Scotland, so more households can qualify for energy-saving improvements and previous unsuccessful applicants may now be successful.
- June 2025
Warm Homes: Local Grant funding opens via Oxfordshire County Council
Oxfordshire County Council is now accepting applications for the Warm Homes: Local Grant, offering fully funded energy efficiency upgrades to low income households at risk of fuel poverty.
Energy Systems Catapult publishes report on accelerating energy improvements in the private rental sector
Energy Systems Catapult has published a report calling for outcome-based minimum energy efficiency standards, local one-stop retrofit shops, tailored financing and a digital building passport for privately rented homes.
Chancellor confirms £13.2 billion for warm homes plan
The Chancellor confirmed £13.2 billion for the Warm Homes Plan at the June 2025 spending review, covering home energy efficiency spending from 2025-26 to 2029-30.
PRS Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards consultation opens
The Scottish Government has consulted on regulations that would require privately rented homes in Scotland to reach EPC Heat Retention Rating band C from 2028 for new tenancies and by 2033 for all lets.
ECIU analysis warns cutting Warm Homes Plan funding could cost households over £1.4 billion a year
ECIU analysis warns that limiting the Warm Homes Plan to 300,000 upgrades could leave 4.7 million households without average bill savings of around £300 a year.
Spending Review 2025 commits to the Warm Homes Plan
The 2025 Spending Review commits a further £13.2 billion to the Warm Homes Plan between 2025-26 and 2029-30, funding insulation, heating and solar upgrades intended to cut household bills.
- May 2025
Permitted development rights for heat pumps relaxed in England
Changes to permitted development rights in England from 29 May 2025 removed the one metre boundary rule, raised the size limit to 1.5m3 and allowed two heat pumps on detached houses.
Consultation closed on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes
The government consultation on raising minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in England and Wales closed on 2 May 2025, with 1,920 responses received.
Committee recommends long-term retrofit funding to at least 2035
The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee has called on the Government to set out long-term funding for home retrofit running to at least 2035, warning that short-term schemes have failed to give households and installers confidence.
New electrical safety check laws come into force for social rented homes in England
Five-yearly electrical safety inspections became mandatory in England's social rented homes on 1 May, with social landlords facing fines of up to £40,000 for non-compliance.
- April 2025
Which? launches heat pump cost savings calculator
Which? has released an online calculator showing how pairing a heat pump with a specialist electricity tariff can cut annual running costs by hundreds of pounds compared with a gas boiler.
New homes sector publishes initial Net Zero Transition Plan
The Future Homes Hub and the Carbon Trust have published an initial Net Zero Transition Plan for new homes, backed by committed homebuilders and two new implementation boards.