Leeds City Council launches £15.5m scheme to help residents cut energy bills

Hundreds of Leeds homeowners, renters, and landlords of properties without gas central heating can now get energy saving green measures installed free of charge or at a significant discount, thanks to a new Leeds City Council scheme.

The council’s Home Energy Help team is working in partnership with energy services provider Everwarm Ltd to help as many households as possible benefit from £15.5m of government funding secured for Leeds homes from the Home Upgrade Grant, before it expires in March 2025.

Upgrades available include different types of insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, and electric radiators. Tackling heat loss by installing energy-saving measures and low carbon heating can improve existing buildings by making them easier and cheaper to keep at a comfortable temperature.

Homeowners that qualify for the new scheme will be able to get upgrades fitted completely free of charge. Eligible landlords will be able to install the same improvements with a two-thirds discount.

Everwarm will work with applicants to agree to a combination of upgrades that will be installed to improve the energy efficiency (EPC) rating of their property. Applications for the scheme will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis.

British homes are some of the least energy-efficient in Europe. Fewer than half of Leeds’ privately rented or privately owned homes achieved a ‘C’ grade (or better) for their energy-efficiency rating in 2021.

One-in-six (17.6 per cent) Leeds households were classed as living in fuel poverty in 2020, officially defined as living in a relatively inefficient home and having an income below the poverty line once energy bills are paid for.

Improving the energy efficiency and quality of Leeds’ homes has been identified as a key aim of the council’s Best City Ambition because of its benefits for health, poverty alleviation, and role in cutting the city’s carbon footprint.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space / Councillor Jessica Lennox, executive member for housing, said: “Tackling heat waste from our homes is a win-win-win. It helps household finances, improves our health, and is good for the planet too.

“As a council, we’re determined to make it easier for Leeds homeowners and landlords to access the Home Energy Help they need to save money and cut carbon. I am therefore delighted to be able to launch this latest scheme which could see off-gas households benefit from up to £15.5m of improvements.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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