Warm Homes Programme Working To End Fuel Poverty In Leeds City Region

17 October 2018

Over 200 households across Leeds City Region are looking forward to a warmer autumn thanks to a programme to fit new gas-fired central heating systems in fuel poor homes.

A further 500 properties are set to benefit from the Leeds City Region Warm Homes programme which was approved by the Combined Authority in December 2017 and will run through to the end of March 2019 - with a particular focus on ensuring those in rented accommodation can also benefit.
The programme is helping households become warmer and more energy efficient, lowering heating and hot water bills at an average of £400 a year. Recipients are mainly low income households with cold-related illnesses, heart or respiratory conditions who were previously unable to heat their homes to the temperature needed to stay warm and healthy.

Part of the funding has been set aside for low-income tenants in privately rented properties, where fuel poverty levels are twice as high as those of owner-occupied homes. Landlords may apply for funding to fit a new heating system at a significantly reduced rate. This ensures homes of all tenures are fitted with systems that are more affordable and can ultimately improve residents' standard of life.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: "Leeds City Region has an above national average rate of fuel poverty with more than 156,000 homes (11.5%) classed as fuel poor.

"We know that some residents in our region are relying on heating systems that are expensive to run or inadequate for their needs. It's great to see the quality of life of many residents being improved through the Warm Homes programme since the Combined Authority approved phase one of the funding last year. It's right that we ensure those living in rented accommodation can now also benefit."

The Combined Authority's Leeds City Region Warm Homes is a £2.9m programme part-funded by National Grid's £150m Warm Homes Fund (£1.6m), together with local authorities, ECO funding sourced through ENGIE, Northern Gas Networks, Housing Leeds and private landlords.
The Warm Homes programme is available across all housing tenures. So far the majority of new central heating systems have been fitted in owner-occupier and Leeds City Council housing stock.

The programme is part of the wider Better Homes Yorkshire scheme, which is a partnership between ENGIE and the ten local authorities in the Leeds City Region.
In its first three years, Better Homes Yorkshire has saved over 110,000 tonnes of carbon over the lifetime of the improvement work carried out - equivalent to taking approximately 57,000 cars off the road.

To apply for the Warm Homes offer, contact Better Homes Yorkshire - the only council-backed home energy efficiency and heating provider in the Leeds City Region, call 0800 597 1500 or visit www.betterhomesyorkshire.co.uk

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership is supporting the government-led Green GB campaign this week and showcasing how we are driving cleaner economic growth across Leeds City Region whilst tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions.