Property owners all over the UK might be missing out on financial assistance for heating their homes this winter. 

People over the UK may be entitled to extra funding to assist them through the harsh winter period.  The Home Heat Helpline is a free service who offers impartiality and information to people about schemes such as Warm Front and the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target.

Around one in 10 people are eligible for the assistance which allows people to buy new energy saving products such as insulation and more efficient boilers but unfortunately the service only receives 50, 000 calls each year, far too low a number.  This means that people are unaware that there are services out there that can assist them in saving money on electricity usage and heating their homes.

A recent survey found out that only 55 per cent of people have their boiler serviced on an annual basis.   This alone could save people money as these check ups can ensure that boilers are running efficiently enough and that there is no under performance – potentially costing the home owner more money.  People should have their boilers service every 12 months and most energy suppliers have tariffs where this is included.

Carers could have heating bills reduced

The Scottish Government has announced that a new scheme could help reduce the heating bills of up to 7000 carers in the country.

The energy assistance package, which currently helps the elderly and vulnerable people, is being altered to include those recieving a carers' allowance, said Infrastructure and Capital Investment Secretary Alex Neil. This will mean that carers may be eligable to have a boiler or heating system fitted at a reduced prices, or even get free or discount home insulation improved.

This will no doubt be welcome to carers who may have to stay at home to look after a friend or family member and are not able to take up full time employment.

200,000 people have recieved home heating advice through the energy assistance package since it's launch in 2009, and 21,000 have had access to discount heating or free insulation. This new alteration to the package is designed to help a further 7000 people in Scotland, and further prevent vulnerable groups from getting heating bills they cannot afford.