Mayor’s support to do up your home while the weather’s warm to save cash this Winter

As energy prices soar, homeowners across West Yorkshire could save hundreds of pounds off their bills by receiving support to upgrade their homes with energy saving improvements.

Through the Home Energy West Yorkshire service, households can borrow up to £25,000 towards improvements such as heat pumps, solar panels, double glazed windows and wall insulation to help keep their homes warmer in the Winter and cooler in the Summer.

Launched by Mayor Tracy Brabin and delivered in partnership with Lendology, a regulated social enterprise lender, the low-interest loan aims to help more households access support across West Yorkshire, which has some of the oldest and coldest homes in the country.

This vital support comes as Ofgem announced last week that households will see their energy bills rise by an average of £221 from July – bringing the typical annual bill to £1,862. The price cap increase has been caused by higher wholesale gas prices following the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“The latest price cap announcement is deeply worrying and will add even more pressure to families across West Yorkshire who are already finding the basics of life unaffordable.

“While the weather is warm, now is the best time to invest in your home to make it as warm and affordable as possible this Winter, so you can turn on the heating later in the year and put more money in your pocket all year round.

“With our free Home Energy West Yorkshire advice service and innovative low-cost loan, we’re creating a greener, more affordable West Yorkshire for everyone.

Richard and Lauren from Leeds previously benefitted from a loan, which they used to replace windows and install a new door on their home built in the 1930s. The upgrades made their home warmer, more comfortable and secure. They added that the new windows also enhanced the property’s appearance and increased its value.

Speaking about their experience, Richard and Lauren said:

“The loan application was straightforward. The team was always available to answer our questions. Everything was sorted in time for us to have our new windows fitted before winter.”

Through Home Energy West Yorkshire, people can receive advice and a detailed assessment of their home’s needs, and the potential savings they could make, all at no cost, before deciding whether taking out a loan is the right option for them and their family to alleviate financial pressures in the current cost of living crisis.

Households can borrow between £5,000 and £25,000 at a fixed interest rate of 3.26%, with repayments spread over up to 10 years. Since the launch of the low-interest loan, more than £860,000 has been borrowed to make home improvements.

Emma Lower, Chief Executive Officer at Lendology, said: 

“As energy costs continue to put pressure on household budgets, it's vital that people can access support to make their homes warmer, more energy efficient and cheaper to run.

We're proud to partner with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to help more residents invest in improvements that can deliver lasting benefits for both households and the environment.”

For more information, visit the Home Energy West Yorkshire website or call 0808 196 8270 to speak with an energy saving expert.