Julian campaigns for fairer warm homes funding
November 4, 2014
With winter on its way, Julian is campaigning to ensure that his constituents receive the help and support they need with their energy bills
Currently, park home residents are not eligible to receive the £140 annual Warm Homes Discount on their electricity bills. The benefit, now in its fourth year, has been an important part of the Government’s strategy in alleviating fuel poverty and reducing the impact of rising energy prices on people on low incomes. The benefit helps around two million households every year.
Julian is currently campaigning for the benefit to be extended to families living in park homes, such as residents living on Westfield Park in Acaster Malbis. Julian said “Many elderly residents choose to live in park homes as they are an affordable form of housing. It is simply not acceptable that one of the most vulnerable sections of our society have been systematically discriminated against purely because of the type of dwelling they live in.
“The energy costs incurred by park home residents will be much the same as those for a small house or bungalow and yet the same level of assistance offered to ordinary households is not available. It is essential that the current policy be reviewed as a matter of urgency and that park home residents be made eligible for the Warm Homes Discount this year. All households must be prepared for winter and the necessary help should be extended to those who need it most”.
Julian first raised the matter with the Department for Energy and Climate Change last year but was informed that an extension would be too complex to administer. However, by continuing to raise the matter with the Minister and Fuel Poverty Team, as well as tabling Written Parliamentary Questions, the Minister has now opened a national consultation on the issue.
It is hoped that an announcement will be made shortly after the consultation closes on 13 November. Julian has also been a key supporter of the recent campaign for a Government review into the sale of park homes, where it is routine for site owners to demand 10% of the sale price.
