4000 Renfrewshire Homes to get free energy surveys

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Almost 4000 homes in Renfrewshire are to get free energy surveys and insulation to their homes, thanks to a major £2.6m partnership initiative by Renfrewshire Council, the Scottish Executive and Scottish Power to combat fuel poverty in the area.

Over the next 2 years, Renfrewshire Council will be contracting specialised energy surveyors to carry out free home surveys in Moorpark, Cart Corridor, Paisley West End and West Johnstone. The purpose of these surveys is to find out if there are ways that residents can reduce their fuel bills or if they are entitled to any other benefits that they are currently not claiming.

The four areas taking part in this scheme are thought to have some of the highest levels of fuel poverty in Scotland. Any household that spends more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel bills can be described as suffering from ‘fuel poverty’. Fuel Poverty can affect people in different ways. Some people do not heat their homes properly as they cannot afford the fuel costs. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable from the effects of fuel poverty, with the dangers of hypothermia well known. Renfrewshire Council is therefore making every effort to try and help these households get themselves out of this poverty.

Councillor Iain McMillan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Housing, Environment and Community Safety Policy Board, said: “Heating bills are a necessity of life, especially in Scotland . However, unfortunately for some the cost of heating can be a heavy burden. We understand the financial demands facing households and that is why we are doing something about this to try and stamp out fuel poverty in Renfrewshire. We are hoping that this £2.6m project will help us introduce measures that can reduce these bills and help residents in getting the benefits they are entitled to, and help decrease the levels of fuel poverty.”

600 homes in Moorpark will be the among the first to take part, starting during the summer. Hopefully, those 600 residents will get the benefit of the surveys before the heating is turned on for the winter. Every home in this area, including Council, housing association and privately owned, will receive a letter about the impending surveys.

The surveys don’t take long and are designed to see what insulation could be done in the house. In addition to the survey, the heating experts will also ask the households a few questions to see if they are getting all the benefits they are entitled to. It is also the Council’s intention to carry any necessary insulation work highlighted in the surveys. This work should follow on shortly from the surveys, and will be free for all Council and housing association tenants and heavily subsidised for private owners.

Residents living in Moorpark, Cart Corridor, Paisley West End and West Johnstone, who want to find out more about the surveys should contact our contractor Everwarm Services Ltd on 0800 316 1200.

Press Release: Tuesday 6 June 2006