14,143 ‘FUEL POOR’ FAMILIES TO SHARE WARM HOMES CASH
£1m grant to help low-income households
NEARLY £1 million of government cash will be available to help make private homes in Stokeon-trent warmer for cashstrapped residents.
Stoke-on-trent City Council has been allocated £912,600 from the Green Homes Grant scheme, which will pay for upgrades such as cavity wall insulation and smart heating controls.
The funding will be offered to owner occupiers and private renters who are likely to be in fuel poverty.
According to most recent figures, 14,143 households in Stoke-on-trent – 12.4 per cent of all households – are ‘fuel poor’, meaning the city has one of the highest rates of fuel poverty in the country.
Low income owner occupiers will be eligible for 100 per cent funding of up to £10,000, with no requirement to contribute towards the measures.
Private landlords providing housing to low income families will be eligible for two-thirds of the cost of the works, up to a maximum of £5,000.
Cabinet members at the council are expected to formally approve the acceptance of the funding at their meeting next Tuesday.
Carl Edwards, cabinet member for housing and the environment, said: “This grant is a fantastic opportunity to provide significant improvements to low income homeowners and households living in private sector, low energy efficient homes.
“It is a big boost for the city to receive this funding, and will further support our work in improving both the quality of housing in Stoke-on-trent, and supporting our residents out of fuel poverty.
“The funding also allows us to carry out further analysis of the city’s housing stock for future potential energy efficiency measures.”
Delivery of the scheme will be dependent on ‘customer uptake’, and the report to cabinet acknowledges that owner occupiers will be more likely than private renters to apply.
The report states: “To reduce the risk, focus will be on deprived areas with higher levels of owner occupiers with low EPC rated homes.
“The grant will be offered to all eligible households in the target area across all tenures. All interest outside of the target areas will be referred to the Safe and Warm Homes Grants available for low income home owners and private rented tenants living in low EPC rated homes.”
The report says that as well as tackling fuel poverty, the scheme will reduce the city’s carbon emissions through improved energy efficiency.