Northampton Partnership Homes is a partner in the Northants Warm Homes Fund (WHF). The WHF is a Northamptonshire-wide initiative funded by National Grid’s Warm Homes Fund and administered by Affordable Warmth Solutions. The scheme aims to replace old-fashioned electric storage heaters with gas central heating and hot water systems.
The Warm Homes Fund was introduced earlier this year, and our team began finding homes that were eligible without residents having to pay or do any of the work. You may have received a letter from us about the WHF. If we’ve written to you, it’s because your home does not currently have a central heating system, and we may be able to install one in your home for free.
If you've received a letter and would like to find out more about the scheme, or you're an NPH resident who hasn't received a letter from us but think you may be eligible, call us on 01604 837407. If you're not an NPH resident, but would like to find out more, head to the Northants Warm Homes website for more information and contact details.
We've put together some frequently asked questions below which you may find useful.
Northampton Partnership Homes is a partner in the Northants Warm Homes Fund (WHF). The WHF is a Northamptonshire-wide initiative funded by National Grid’s Warm Homes Fund and administered by Affordable Warmth Solutions. The scheme aims to replace old-fashioned electric storage heaters with gas central heating and hot water systems.
The Northants Warm Homes Fund covers all parts of the scheme, including the survey, gas connection and gas meter (if required), and the central heating installation itself. This means NPH residents can benefit from all parts of the scheme at no cost.
Yes! If you have electric storage heaters or electric room heaters, switching to gas central heating could reduce your household heating bill by more than 50%. On average, heating your home with electric storage heaters will cost you £1,500 per year, but if you use gas central heating it will cost you on average £650 per year. That’s an average annual saving of £850 on your heating bills.
| House type | Electricity - Average annual heating bill (£/year) | Gas - Average annual heating bill (£/year) | Average savings (%) from upgrade to gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-terrace/flat | £1,141 | £569 | 50% |
| Semi-detatched | £1,463 | £680 | 54% |
| Detatched | £2,386 | £1,790 | 58% |
Yes! Most energy suppliers offer dual fuel tariffs, so you should be able to stay with your current energy supplier and only receive one energy bill from them. This can make your bills a lot easier to manage. Some energy suppliers also offer discounts if you get a dual fuel tariff, such as cashback, a discount on your bill, a cheaper energy unit rate, or a lower standing charge on your meter.
Yes, you can buy green gas as well as green electricity. A green energy tariff works by the supplier promising to match some or all of the electricity you use with renewable energy, which it then feeds back into the National Grid. Energy suppliers also offer green gas which is often made through bio-methane, decaying food, plants and animal waste.
The government have a set a “net carbon neutral” target by 2050, which would require a rapid move to electrification of heating across the UK. At the moment, the electricity network is not able to support this and installing or upgrading electric heating into poorly insulated homes could significantly increase heating bills. The gas networks are also working hard on several future green gas options, such as hydrogen and bio-methane.
Not only could switching to gas central heating save you over 50% on your heating bills, but central heating can be more easily controlled than a typical electric storage heater system. Unlike electric storage heaters, you don’t have to wait for your central heating to charge, and you can have heating on demand throughout the whole day.
Some articles suggest that gas central heating can cause a dry throat or coughing, but there is little scientific evidence to prove this. You are more likely to create or make existing health issues worse by having a house that is too cold or too hot. Gas central heating controls can keep your house at a constant temperature, by not letting the temperature get too low or too high throughout the day and night. The government recommends you keep the temperature in your house between 18-21 degrees. If your house is at a lower temperature, there is a higher risk of damp, mould and cold-related illnesses.
Yes, as the scheme fully funds a gas connection and gas meter, if required. If we do need to set up a gas connection, you will be contacted by your gas network (Cadent) as part of the process.
You may be contacted by either NPH or Plumbline, our regular heating contractor. We will arrange a survey of your home at a date and time to suit you. Representatives from NPH and Plumbline may visit your neighbourhood from time to time. Our representatives will always carry ID, so please ask to see this if we knock on your door.
If you already have a gas connection in your property, the process shouldn’t take too long, and can be flexible to meet your requirements. If you do not currently have a gas connection in your property, you will need to be connected to the mains gas network and have a gas meter installed. It may take up to six weeks for Cadent to connect your home to the gas network, and this must be completed before we can install your central heating system.
The installation should take 1-2 days to complete, depending on the size of your property. You won’t need to vacate your property during this time, and our installers will clean up before they leave. If you have any concerns about noise or disruption, please speak with the installer during your survey. They will discuss your concerns and put you at ease.
The installer will speak to you about the location of the boiler and radiations during the survey. They will try to accommodate your requests, but they may not always be able to. If they aren’t able to, they will explain why.
Yes, once your new central heating system is installed, the installer will show you how to use it. they will show you how to use the controls, including setting timers and the thermostat. They will also leave you will the instruction manual and their contact details, if you have any problems.
We know you may have a lot of questions or concerns about getting a new heating system, and we are here to help answer those questions. If you're an NPH resident, please contact us on 0300 330 7003 and ask to speak to Jon Dove who will be happy to help with any queries.
For more information about the project, please visit the Northants Warm Homes website.