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- 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.
- 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.