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Your Council working with you to create a healthier environment
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Homeowners can apply for grants to make homes warmer and cut fuel bills
If you are worried about gas and electricity bills going through the roof, help may be at hand.
Home owners and private tenants can take advantage of a scheme which provides free, or subsidised, loft and cavity wall insulation in Hull.
It could save you more than £pound;200 a year on fuel bills! The scheme also offers those who do not have central heating and who meet the criteria to have it fitted for free.
To qualify you must have children under 16, be over 60 and receive certain benefits (listed below), or be disabled.
The scheme is being delivered by Hull Warm Zone, a charity set up by Hull City Council, in partnership with the Hull Teaching PCT (the local NHS) and other organisations, to deliver millions of pounds in Government grants to make Hull homes warmer and cut bills.
The money, which is available over the next three years, will also help the environment by cutting carbon emissions that can cause global warming.
How to claim
Free loft and cavity wall insulation is available to home owners and private tenants who are in receipt of the following benefits:
- council tax benefit
- housing benefit
- income support
- income-based jobseekers allowance
- attendance allowance
- disability living allowance
- pension credit
- war disablement pension which includes either a mobility supplement or constant attendance allowance
- child tax credit/working tax credit with an annual income of £pound;14,600 or less
Home owners and private tenants can get the work done at a reduced rate.
All you will pay is £pound;75 for either type of insulation, or £pound;150 for both, compared to a current average price of around £pound;500 for lofts and £pound;475 for walls (for a two-bed property).
The discount price includes survey, materials and installation (terms and conditions apply).
You can also receive free central heating installation if you are over 60 and in receipt of any of the above benefits.
Half price central heating
But if you don't qualify for free central heating you could take advantage of a project being run in tandem with the Hull Warm Zone scheme, through which home owners and private landlords can have full central heating systems installed for half price.
Run by Hull City Council, the Discounted Heating Project works on the condition that the home owner or private landlord must use their own money to bring the rest of the property up to the Government's Decent Homes standard.
That includes making it safe and ensuring it has reasonably modern facilities, including modern kitchen and bathroom facilities.
For example, the current price to a customer for installing a full central heating system in a two-bedroom property would be £pound;1,300, including VAT, design and survey, compared to the average actual price of £pound;2,634.
Council tenants
Both schemes are for home owners and private landlords/tenants.
However, if you are a council tenant with specific health needs, Hull Warm Zone may be able to help you apply for grants to pay for repairs or heating upgrades.
In the meantime, Hull City Council contractors are working to bring all council homes in the city up to the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2011, which means every property will have decent levels of both heating and insulation.
Know the facts
- cavity wall insulation can save you up to £pound;150 per year on fuel bills
- loft insulation can save you between £pound;35 and £pound;65 per year on fuel bills
- two energy saving lightbulbs can save you up to £pound;20 each year and have a life span of up to 12 years. (They vary in cost from between £pound;5 and £pound;10 each)
- a room thermostat and timer/programmer can save up to £pound;70 per year on fuel bills (and cost between £pound;130 and £pound;200 per year to install)
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