Hackney Council has set out a letter campaign to more than 3,000 households it believes are likely to be eligible for the Warm Homes Local Grant, which funds free energy-efficiency improvements for privately owned homes1. The letters are being sent by the Greater London Authority (GLA), with the first batches going to around 500 properties at a time over the coming months1.
The scheme is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and delivered in partnership with the Mayor of London, Hackney Council and service delivery partners1. Hackney said its own role is to contact residents it thinks are likely to qualify and to help them with the application and through the installation process1. The council said it is one of a small number of London boroughs using a data-led approach to target the scheme: the GLA shortlisted properties using publicly available information about buildings likely to benefit from energy-efficiency improvements, while the council helped identify households likely to meet local low-income criteria1.
Example upgrades named by the council include insulation, solar panels, ventilation and damp-prevention measures, and low-carbon heating systems1. Residents are likely to be eligible if they are on low income, live in a privately owned home, including renting from a private landlord, have an Energy Performance Certificate of D, E, F or G, and hold £25,000 or less in savings1. The council said residents who do not receive a letter but think they may be eligible can still apply, and that applicants should check the full eligibility criteria before applying1.
"This is government funding for residents on low income to get free home improvements like insulation, smart controls, solar panels and heat pumps."
The council's Cabinet Member for Climate, Clean Air, Energy and Transport, Cllr Jacob Cable, said the council's job is to make sure people who need the support can access it, and that residents who have received a letter are encouraged to check the criteria and apply1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Households to be contacted | Over 3,000 |
| Letters per batch | Around 500 properties at a time |
| EPC bands likely eligible | D, E, F or G |
| Savings limit | £25,000 or less |
| Tenure | Privately owned homes, including private rented |
Why it matters for households
The grant covers the cost of measures rather than offering a discount or a loan, so for a household that qualifies the work described by the council, such as insulation or low-carbon heating, does not carry an upfront bill1. That matters most for homes in the lower EPC bands, where the fabric of the building tends to drive higher running costs. The council frames the programme as part of its work to ensure people in Hackney live in warm, healthy and energy-efficient homes that are cheaper to heat1. For a household, measures of this kind reduce the energy needed to keep a home at a comfortable temperature, which lowers exposure to price changes over time. The letter campaign is targeted rather than open to all: the GLA used public data on buildings and the council used local low-income criteria to decide who is contacted, so a letter is an indication of likely eligibility rather than a guarantee, and the council directs applicants to the full criteria before applying1.
What happens next
Letters will be sent to around 500 properties at a time in the coming months1. Residents who receive one, and those who do not but believe they may qualify, can apply, subject to meeting the full eligibility criteria1. The council has not reported a closing date for applications.