Energy efficiency

Warm Home Check Service

This service provides free advice for anyone struggling to keep warm at home. If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for a free home visit which includes:

• an assessment of your home with advice on keeping warm
• small home improvements
• larger home improvements (depending on funding)
• emergency temporary heating

The service is funded by East Sussex County Council and delivered by Citizens Advice East Sussex.

Further information can be found at Warm Home Check Service

Apply for a Warm Home Check now

Warm Homes Local Grant (WHLG)

The Council has secured £4m from the Government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero  to help people on low income save money on their energy bills by offering grants to make their homes more energy efficient. You could be eligible if your home is:

• privately owned (either by you or your landlord) and
• has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of D, E, F or G - if you do not know your home's EPC, you can find it out when you apply.

Your household income should also be £36,000 a year or less. If you earn more than that, you might still be eligible if you live in a certain postcode area or if someone in your household is getting certain benefits.

Grant measures can include free solar panels to generate your own electricity, and loft and cavity wall insulation.

To apply or find out more please contact the Warm Home Check Service

The WHLG scheme is managed by the Council and only uses experienced contractors that have been thoroughly vetted. All work is overseen by an independent assessor, and is covered by both an insurance backed guarantee and strict contract requirements. The main contractor for upgrading homes in the Wealden area is Osborne Energy, and the main contractor for upgrading homes in the Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes and Rother areas is Retrofit Works.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) were introduced by the government in 2011. Related to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), the legislation prevents landlords from renting out F and G rated properties.

From April 2019 landlords have been required to demonstrate it would cost more than £3,500 to improve their property to a minimum 'E' rating before letting to a new tenant. From April 2020 this will apply to all existing tenancies.

The regulations were introduced to improve the quality of private rented buildings in England and Wales and to increase the energy efficiency of the worst performing houses and buildings. In addition, these regulations aim to improve the comfort and conditions in private rented homes and reduce fuel poverty.

What is an EPC?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is needed whenever a property is built, sold or rented. Before a property is marketed to sell or rent, an EPC for potential buyers and tenants must be provided. An EPC contains:

• Information about a property's energy use and typical energy costs
• Recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money

An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to a G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years. Landlords can be fined if they don't get an EPC when they need one.

What actions should landlords take?

Landlords must ensure all their properties have a valid EPC.

Properties with older EPCs might have already undergone work to meet the standards but the current EPC may no longer reflect the energy efficiency of the property. Landlords should check their EPCs and consider renewing them if they have undertaken the appropriate works already.

Landlords should start planning for 2020 by reviewing the recommendations in their EPC that will suggest ways to improve their properties rating.

Improvements can include:

• Boiler renewal
• Installation of radiator thermostats
• Upgrade and install loft insulation
• Install cavity wall insulation
• Install energy efficient light bulbs

Helpful advice and guidance on how to improve the energy efficiency of properties can be found on Gov.uk.

Gov.uk guidance on domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard - Landlord guidance.

Are some properties exempt from the scheme?

There are several situations where a property will become exempt from the regulations however landlords must register this exemption and provide supporting evidence.

Exemptions are defined as:

• High cost exemptions
• 7-year payback exemptions
• All improvements made exemptions
• Wall insulation exemptions
• Consent exemptions
• Devaluation exemptions
• New landlord exemptions

Find out more about exemptions on gov.uk.

Help paying your energy bills

If you struggle to pay your energy bills please consider using the Warm Home Check Service. You can find details of this on our fuel poverty page. 

Fuel poverty

If you have any concerns that you are in fuel poverty please contact us, your energy supplier or one of the dedicated services on our fuel poverty page.