13 December 2024

Support available to stay warm and save on energy bills this winter

Help and advice is available for residents living in cold homes and facing rising energy bills this winter.

Keeping warm over the winter months can help prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression, especially if you have medical conditions or are older.

It’s important for your health to heat the rooms you spend most time in, such as the living room or bedroom, to at least 18°C if you can.

Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP)

The Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) is a free service that helps eligible people keep warm in their homes and reduce their energy bills.

LEAP works in partnership with the council and offers home visits from a local energy advisor and a telephone advice service.

The service is open to Brighton & Hove residents who receive one or more of a range of benefits or have a total annual household income of less than £31,000.

You can check if you are eligible and see the eligibility criteria on the LEAP website.

LEAP advisors can:

Give practical advice on heating systems and saving energy
Provide tariff and smart meter advice
Fit free energy-saving kit in your home, such as LED lightbulbs, radiator reflector panels and draught-proofing
Check if you are eligible for insulation or a new boiler
Arrange a free, confidential money advice telephone call to help with benefits, debt and other money problems

Please complete the referral form on the LEAP website to apply for a home visit or telephone advice or call free on 0800 060 7567.

Brighton & Hove Fuel Payment

Extra support is available this winter if you are of pensionable age and struggling to pay your energy bills because you no longer receive a Winter Fuel Payment from the government.

We can help with:

providing one-off direct financial support if you are struggling to heat your home or pay your energy bills
checking your eligibility for Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payments and help to make an application
energy advice on keeping warm in an affordable way this winter

If you need extra support this winter, visit our request help and support page or call our Community Hub helpline on 01273 293117 (option 2).

The Community Hub helpline is open from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Help and advice

Councillor Gill Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing & New Homes, said: “We are aware that winter is an extremely difficult time for many residents, especially those living in poorly insulated homes who are struggling with energy bills and feeling the impact of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

“Dropping temperatures, cold homes and the stress of energy costs can have a lasting effect on everyone’s physical and mental health, not just the vulnerable.

“The Local Energy Advice Partnership has already helped lots of people in Brighton & Hove and across the country to reduce their energy bills without it costing them a penny. We would encourage anyone who is eligible to apply for a call or visit from an expert home energy advisor.

“This is also why we’ve set up the extra support for older people this winter through our Brighton & Hove Fuel Payment. If you’re concerned about your energy bills, please do get in touch with the team.”