Havering Council To Spend £8M To Improve Insulation In Homes.

Local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann today writes:

Havering Council will spend more than £8million improving insulation in the homes it owns.

The council will look to make 205 homes more energy efficient, in a bid to lower bills and meet net-zero targets.

The government has proposed targets for all rented homes in the UK to meet band-C of the energy performance certificate (EFC) register by 2035.

A property falls within band-C if its heating and running costs are moderate, and it is well insulated with efficient heating systems.

The legal minimum for a rented property is band-E, which is still considered poor. Homes classified as band-D or below will be eligible for improvements.

The council says the project will involve “upgrading a significant amount of the social housing stock to meet an energy performance certificate band-C standard, delivering warm, energy-efficient homes, reducing carbon emissions and fuel bills and tackling fuel poverty.”

Data shows it can cost around £6,000 to upgrade a terrace house from band-D to band-C. Flats are cheaper, and estimated to cost about £3,600.

Band-D homes could save £200 a month in bills, while lower-ranked homes could potentially save more than £1,000.

The cash-strapped council entered the current financial year with a budget gap of £74m. Housing has become one of the largest strains on the council’s coffers, leading to an overspend of £6m last year.

The town hall has been given a grant of £2.07m through the third wave of the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. A total of £1.29 billion was allocated as part of the Autumn Budget, for schemes until 2028.

The council will spend £5.1m of its own money, as per its annual budget for 2025/26.

Kieron Williams, London Councils’ executive member for climate, transport and environment said: “Far too many Londoners are living in fuel poverty and in homes unfit for our changing climate. Through Warmer Homes London, we are securing vital investment to help tackle these challenges.

“This funding will help us make thousands of homes across the capital warmer and greener, bringing down both energy bills and carbon emissions. In the long run, we want to deliver energy efficiency upgrades to even more homes and we will be looking to secure further investment to support this crucial work.”

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