Suffolk residents urged to apply quickly for free home energy upgrades

Suffolk residents living in properties which are not energy efficient, could be eligible for funding to make their homes warmer and reduce their energy bills, thanks to Warm Homes Suffolk.

At the end of November 2025, Suffolk County Council secured £1.38 million from the government’s Warm Homes Local Grant Fund.

Residents and landlords are urged to apply quickly, as the funding must be allocated by the end of March 2026.

The fund aims to provide free energy saving improvements to energy inefficient homes if residents are on a low income, receive certain benefits or live in a certain postcode area. This could be wall and loft insulation, solar panels or air source heat pumps.

To be eligible, Suffolk homes must:

• be privately owned (either by you or your landlord)
• have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of D, E, F or G (you can find this out when you apply)

Household income must usually be £36,000 a year or less – but if you earn more than that, you might still be eligible if either:

• you live in a certain postcode area
  (certain areas of Beccles, Felixstowe, Ipswich, Lowestoft and Stowmarket)
• someone in your household is getting certain benefits
• you have a severe or long-term health condition, which is adversely affected by living in a cold home

Once these conditions have been approved, an assessment of your home will identify which measures are best suited to your property. These will then be installed by trusted contactors, for free.

Shirley from Ipswich was supported through a previous Warm Homes Suffolk initiative, to have cavity wall insulation, electric storage heaters and solar panels fitted to her home, improving the Energy Performance Certificate rating from a D to an A:

“I really noticed the difference with the wall insulation and was immediately warmer. I’m very happy with the new modern storage heaters, I had tiny heaters before.

“Now I have solar panels, I’m looking forward to my electricity bill being lower. I’m very thankful for the installation.”

Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reorganisation and NSIPs, said:

“Over recent years, Warm Homes Suffolk has made improvements to hundreds of properties, giving people warmer, safer homes and reducing their energy bills.

“We are constantly looking for ways to support our residents most in need, and securing the latest round of funding is evidence of that.

“But people must apply soon, as government has only given us a few months to distribute this funding.”

To check your eligibility, or to find out more about how Warm Homes Suffolk could help you, visit www.warmhomessuffolk.org or call the team on 03456 037 686.