Residents in Barking and Dagenham facing reduced income as a result of lockdown, or that have been made redundant and now claim Universal Credit, are being encouraged to take advantage of the council’s Cosy Homes scheme.

Cosy Homes is a partnership between the Council, E.ON energy and installers J & J Crump, and aims to help residents make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat.

Launched at the beginning of the year, the scheme provides free energy saving measures including cavity wall, party wall and loft insulation, and in some cases replacement boilers or new heating systems.

To qualify for the scheme, residents in the homes need to be in receipt of benefits, on a low income, or live in a property that is hard to heat.

Councillor Cameron Geddes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing, said: “We know that following the Covid-19 lockdown, many residents will be facing the reality of a reduced income whilst their fuel bills are likely to increase as a result of being at home all the time.

“We are seeing a huge surge in the number of Universal Credit claimants around the country and this is reflected in Barking and Dagenham too. We’d urge anyone who is now in this situation to take advantage of the free energy efficiency measures on offer from Cosy Homes, as this is one way to help residents make their homes warmer, whilst also reducing their fuel bills.”

Anyone wanting to see if they are eligible, or to register interest in the scheme can visit: www.lbbd.gov.uk/cosyhomes.