Home ‘leaks heat’ but no help available
Maidenhead: Costs hit park home residents
A man living in a mobile home in Maidenhead has called for more engagement and support regarding energy bills over the winter period.
As part of the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), most households should be getting a £400 discount on their electricity bills.
It was set to be delivered in six monthly instalments from October until March next year.
However, many people, including Lewis Wilson, have yet to see any payments for this discount.
Lewis is especially vulnerable as he lives in a mobile home in Heywood Gardens, which he says ‘leaks heat.’
The cold weather is starting to bite – with temperatures dropping this week.
“Winter’s coming back, I’m concerned about the impact. I’m worried about how I’m going to manage,” Lewis said.
Because Lewis’ home is run by the housing association Housing Solutions, he has been contacting them to make enquiries about the energy bills. So far, he has made no headway.
Housing Solutions pays for the electricity usage at Heywood Gardens directly, and the cost of this is ‘recharged proportionately’ to each one of the residents.
It said it is awaiting a decision from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as to when associations like Housing Solutions might receive the £400 discount on its utility bills.
The association says it has not received any rebates or support
from its utility provider to date.
“Housing Solutions have to have contingencies for this,” said
Lewis.
“They can make discretionary payments to people. There’s no other way we’re going to get the money, it’s got to come through them.”
A spokesperson for Housing Solutions said: “As park home residents do not have a direct relationship with the utility supplier, they have unfortunately been unable to access this £400 discount.
“The Government has repeatedly stressed that they are finalising the arrangements for mobile home residents to be able to receive this discount.”
The spokesperson added that the most recent statement on the matter – made on November 2 by Graham Stuart, Minister for Climate – ‘makes clear’ that an alternative funding scheme is being finalised by the Government to supplement the original EBSS.
This should cover those who do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an energy supplier, such as park home residents.
“Like all housing associations and local authorities, we are awaiting further information from the Government so that we can inform and support our residents accordingly,” said the spokesperson.