With people spending far more time at home and losing income due to COVID-19, cold homes and high energy bills will be more of an issue this winter than ever before, and many of those residents who have been shielding due to medical conditions, will be those at highest risk of the impacts of fuel poverty. Croydon Council are really keen to work with you all to help identify residents who would benefit from support.
Bringing Croydon Healthy Homes in house will allow the council to move away from a one size fits all model of home visits, and away from rigid eligibility criteria, to a flexible service where they can tailor the support to the needs of the individual household. Some residents just need a pointer in the right direction, but others need intensive support on an ongoing basis. The new service will also will allow them to work much more closely with other Council services, and link in more with the excellent work being done by other organisations across the borough.
They will continue to offer home owners and residents renting from a private sector landlord the following:
1. Help using energy measures and controls already fitted in the home (including heating controls)
2. Support accessing grant funding for larger energy measures (heating and insulation)
3. Help with finding and switching to the best energy tariffs, and accessing support and discounts from energy and water companies
You can download an application for support form here
When they relaunch they will be able to start offering Council and Housing Association tenants support with energy tariffs and energy and water billing issues. Social Housing tenants needing support using the equipment already fitted in their home, and with repairs/upgrades should continue to be directed to their housing provider.
On the webpage www.croydon.gov.uk/healthyhomes there is a link for residents to pre-apply for support for the new service (or be professionally referred It can be scanned and emailed to healthyhomes@croydon.gov.uk or sent by post to Croydon Healthy Homes to:
Facilities Management, Resources Department, 7th Floor Zone A, Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon, CR0 1EA.
Mayor of London's Warmer Homes Scheme
If any home owners or private sector tenants, need support funding larger energy improvements, the Mayor of London’s Warmer Homes scheme which offers up to £4k of grant for larger energy measures for home owners and private sector tenants is open now.
This scheme is aimed at vulnerable and low income households and grant is offered on a first come first serviced basis. If any residents are able to apply online themselves, they may wish to apply directly rather than wait for our service to launch
There is information about this scheme here