Making the Warm Home Discount fair for tenants

We have the luxury of working in an underserved part of the market, a genuine privilege, really, because we see firsthand how overlooked this sector is. With that comes a responsibility - to advocate for these tenants and to champion change where the system is falling short.

The latest issue that’s come to our attention, after speaking directly with the Warm Home Discount team, is particularly frustrating.

Eligible tenants living with landlord managed utilities will not receive the Warm Home Discount.

These are exactly the people the discount was designed to help.

Why the Warm Home Discount was set up

The Warm Home Discount was introduced to protect households most at risk of fuel poverty. It’s a one-off £150 discount off an electricity bill. Criteria includes:

• your energy supplier is part of the scheme

• you (or your partner) get certain means-tested benefits

• your name (or your partner’s) is on the electricity bill

So why are so many tenants missing out?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) currently links the Warm Home Discount to having an account with a licensed energy supplier. But some tenants don’t have their own account. Their energy is supplied through their landlord, managing agent or housing association instead.

Many of the tenants we manage utilities for have received letters from the Warm Home Discount scheme telling them they’re eligible. Some are already struggling with the cost of utilities, and some haven’t even turned their heating on yet this year because they’re worried about the bills. Yet they still can’t access the support, simply because of how their utilities are set up. This is a significant gap in the UK’s current energy support system.

Championing for change

The solution is simple, we would love to see low-income residents living in rented property, where the utilities are managed by the landlord or managing agent, added into Warm Home Discount eligibility. Payments could be made through local authorities or directly to utilities management companies like ours.