Housing Changes Lives: Energy advice service
SFHA's Housing Changes Lives campaign is highlighting why it’s vital that all political parties commit to investing in the social housing sector because of the impact that housing associations' and co-operatives' homes and services have on tenants' lives.
Hillcrest Homes tenant
An energy adviser from Hillcrest's Energy Advice Team visited a tenant that had high debt on their pre-payment meter and was struggling to heat their property.
During the home visit, the energy adviser showed the tenant the best way to use their heating system, applied for warm home discount on behalf of the tenant and also contacted the tenant’s supplier regarding their meter debt.
The adviser then submitted an application to the energy supplier’s priority assistance fund, which resulted in £5114.32 being written off from their pre-payment meter. The adviser then successfully obtained a cooker via the supplier’s white goods scheme. The tenant was also referred to Hillcrest’s Tenancy Sustainment Service which successfully sourced and applied for benefits that the tenant was eligible for but wasn’t claiming. A repairs referral was made to Hillcrest Maintenance to improve the heat retention in the property.
Throughout this process, the team ensured the tenant stayed on supply with their energy supplier, despite income challenges, by providing a total of £300 from the Fuel Poverty Alleviation Fund.
As part of its Scottish Parliament election manifesto, SFHA is calling on all political parties to commit to increasing fuel poverty and energy efficiency funding to £244 million for 2021/22 as well as to delivering a national, five-year public education campaign on energy efficiency to support housing associations to work with tenants in making changes to their heating systems.