£1M to be spent on heating Liverpool's poorest homes

9 May 2019, 09:32 | Updated: 9 May 2019, 09:35

Central heating is to be fitted in 500 of the coldest homes in Liverpool.

Around 30,000 households in the city live in fuel poverty, meaning residents are unable to keep their homes heated at a reasonable cost, and almost 10,000 of these are without gas central heating.

Liverpool City Council has been awarded a grant of £1.27 million from the Warm Homes Fund for first time gas central heating, which is being match funded by Warmer Energy Services, who will be responsible for installation of the systems into homes that are eligible.

The council’s Healthy Homes team, which works to improve energy efficiency and insulation of homes for the most vulnerable, will identify and target properties in the poorest areas over the next two years.

In addition, Healthy Homes has qualified energy awareness officers on hand to:

· Give advice on understanding bills and using less energy

· Look at how residents can switch to a cheaper energy provider

· Check to see residents are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to

· Energy efficiency measures including boiler replacement, loft and cavity wall insulation, LED lightbulbs and draught proofing

The service is free to those who meet the eligibility criteria – which include being a home owner with inadequate heating or insulation, a long-term illness or disability or a low household income, less than £8k in savings and in fuel poverty.

The Health Homes team can be contacted by calling 0800 012 1754 or emailing healthyhomesprogramme@liverpool.gov.uk

Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Lynnie Hinnigan, said: “We know there are huge numbers of people in this city who are on a low income and struggle to pay their fuel bills, and as a result can become poorly, and in worst case scenarios can lose their lives.

“We know that in 2016/17, winter deaths were 16 percent higher than expected overall, and almost 27% higher for people aged over 85, which is simply not acceptable in this day and age.

“This funding will enable us to help hundreds of households heat their homes properly and efficiently, making a massive difference to their health and reducing their energy costs.”