The Warm Home Discount has been extended – here’s what you need to know
The Warm Homes Discount, offering rebates on winter energy bills for older or low-income tenants has been extended to 2031.
Amidst rising costs – and with winter fast approaching – there’s no better time to remind tenants to check their eligibility.
The Government scheme offers a £150 rebate on electricity costs for households in England and Wales, reducing financial pressures for your tenants and helping to sustain tenancies.
Following the removal of the high-cost-to-heat qualifying criteria last winter, millions more households now qualify for the discount, provided they fall within the scope of the core qualification group.
Is my tenant eligible for a rebate?
To be eligible households must:
- Be a customer of a participating energy supplier.
- Receive a qualifying means-tested benefit (Pension Credit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Housing Benefit or Universal Credit).
- Have the benefit recipient (or their partner or legal representative) named on the electricity bill (as of 24th August this year).
Payments are now direct and automatic through data matching of government benefit records and energy supplier accounts.
However, tenants who have bills included in their rent payment, or those who do not directly pay the electricity supplier, will not receive the discount automatically.
In these cases - or if there are any other issues with payments - you should point your tenants towards the Warm Home Discount helpline. This opens on 19th October and an be reached on 0800 030 9322. Tenants should make contact before 26th February 2027 for any issues to be dealt with.
You should also remind any new and existing tenants to ensure that their electricity account is under their (or their partner/legal representative’s) name to ensure that the automatic payment is successful.
As the qualification date has passed, this may only be applicable from next year.
Explore funding to meet new standards
Tenants who qualify for the WHD often also meet the criteria for the Warm Homes: Local Grant. Communicate, something you should also flag with your tenants.
Where applicable, the grant could help you upgrade your property to meet the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) of EPC C by 1st October 2030.
For information about eligibility and to apply for the grant please click here.
