Details released on new warm home discount. Bad news for those in flats.

Chrysalis

Here

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093377/warm-home-discount-draft-eligibility-statement-2022.pdf

In summary, its primarily done on floor space.  So people who live in smaller properties are been highly discriminated against, only 7% of low income people who live in flats will qualify for WHD this year vs 88% in detached houses.  The means tested aspect of it is significantly misleading as the second criteria is of more impact.

ZolaBuddy

The Draft document also suggests that people living in Park Homes may not be eligible for the Warm Home Discount

Households living in Park Homes are not eligible for a rebate. Many residents of Park Homes pay for their electricity supply to their site owner and are therefore not a direct customer of an electricity supplier. Meanwhile, Park Homes which are directly supplied with electricity from an electricity supplier will not be eligible under Core Group 2, as they are not sufficiently comparable to other property types and therefore, we have not been able to model and rank their energy costs in a comparable way. 

Spoonie_Turtle

ZolaBuddy said:

The Draft document also suggests that people living in Park Homes may not be eligible for the Warm Home Discount

Households living in Park Homes are not eligible for a rebate. Many residents of Park Homes pay for their electricity supply to their site owner and are therefore not a direct customer of an electricity supplier. Meanwhile, Park Homes which are directly supplied with electricity from an electricity supplier will not be eligible under Core Group 2, as they are not sufficiently comparable to other property types and therefore, we have not been able to model and rank their energy costs in a comparable way. 

Did park home residents get the WHD before? 

The paragraph you've quoted refers to Core Group 2, but pensioners receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit are still Core Group 1 so property type for them is irrelevant.  It depends whether they need to have their own energy account though, like for the £400 grant.

michaels

Chrysalis said:

Here

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093377/warm-home-discount-draft-eligibility-statement-2022.pdf

In summary, its primarily done on floor space.  So people who live in smaller properties are been highly discriminated against, only 7% of low income people who live in flats will qualify for WHD this year vs 88% in detached houses.  The means tested aspect of it is significantly misleading as the second criteria is of more impact.

On top of the income criteria there is a 'amount of heat needed' criteria that is apparently based on property type (semi etc) age (pre ww1, interwar etc) and VOA assessment of floor space.  Does anyone know if they VoA estimates are available?  For example we are extended but I suspect the VoA may not know this.

Spoonie_Turtle

michaels said:

Chrysalis said:

Here

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093377/warm-home-discount-draft-eligibility-statement-2022.pdf

In summary, its primarily done on floor space.  So people who live in smaller properties are been highly discriminated against, only 7% of low income people who live in flats will qualify for WHD this year vs 88% in detached houses.  The means tested aspect of it is significantly misleading as the second criteria is of more impact.

On top of the income criteria there is a 'amount of heat needed' criteria that is apparently based on property type (semi etc) age (pre ww1, interwar etc) and VOA assessment of floor space.  Does anyone know if they VoA estimates are available?  For example we are extended but I suspect the VoA may not know this.

If you can find your EPC it should say floor space
https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
[Assuming here that if it's in the government's database the VOA should know about it, but of course that could be wrong.]

KxMx

I live in a one bed flat so I'm not counting on this money, but the rooms are big (my Auntie's two bed bungalow is smaller and could fit inside here with space to spare) so I do kind of have my fingers crossed... 

michaels

KxMx said:

I live in a one bed flat so I'm not counting on this money, but the rooms are big (my Auntie's two bed bungalow is smaller and could fit inside here with space to spare) so I do kind of have my fingers crossed... 

Thanks.  The EPC of course also has a rating on it - will they use this rating instead of the building age/type when making an assessment of WHD eligibility?

Sncjw

Why do people on pip never get the warm home discount?