Are your tenants receiving assistance for their energy bills?
Cold weather can be a nightmare for vulnerable tenants – be it the elderly, those with health problems, the disabled and those on lower incomes who are worried about fuel bills. If you have tenants who fall into these groups it is worth making sure they are prepared.
It is worth recommending that tenants check they are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to. In particular, there are two payments that are available to help residents with their energy bills: the Winter Fuel Payment and Warm Homes Discount.
Winter Fuel Payment: anyone born before July 5 1953 should receive between £100 and £300 tax-free towards their heating bills. Most payments are made automatically between November and December.
However if it has not been received by 15 January 2018, they must make a claim through www.gov.uk or 0345 915 1515.
Warm Homes Discount: available to residents who are in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, who are supplied by a participating energy supplier. The payment of £140 is applied directly to the electricity bill.
Low income households who are in receipt of qualifying benefits may be able to apply for the Warm Homes Discount by contacting their own supplier.
Warm Homes Discount is available to households that use a pre-payment meter and those in park homes.
Energy tariff switching
Tenants who have not switched their energy tariff for a few years may be overpaying and should consider registering for the Lincolnshire Energy Switch scheme. It is open to all residents, whether they own or rent their home including those on pre-payment meters and could result in significant savings. Figures from Ofgem suggest that up to two thirds of energy customers are on standard variable tariffs, with many never having switched their energy supplier.
To register for the scheme, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/switch. Up to 5 households can register using one email address so friends and family can help relatives who may not have internet access. Alternatively they can call 0800 048 8439 between 8am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays). Residents from outside the Borough can also join the switch.
