Stay warm with free £10k home upgrade

A PIONEERING scheme to tackle fuel poverty and offer Oldhamers free heating and insulation upgrades worth up to £10,000 will be officially launched in Oldham tomorrow.

Warm Homes Oldham is the UK’s first scheme to combat fuel poverty and could slash participants’ energy bills by up to £630 a year.

Thousands of households can claim free home insulation or a free boiler as part of the scheme, which also offers heating and income advice.

The scheme hopes to lift 1,000 households out of fuel poverty by making their heating systems more efficient and as a result reducing the load on the likes of local health care and social services.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, cabinet member for environment and housing, said: “We have had many complaints from residents about other companies offering grants over the last couple of months, over the phone and on the doorstep. I would urge residents who may benefit to use the council’s approved provider, Keepmoat, as they don’t just offer quality-assured property improvements, but also advice and practical help with other things like dealing with fuel debt and benefits advice.”

Keepmoat has already installed 32 new energy-efficient boilers and upgraded the homes of 47 householders free.

Details at www.warmhomesoldham.org