Elected representatives in Harrow are being urged to support the continuation of the Warm Home Discount Scheme, a flagship government policy that helps low-income and vulnerable households cut energy costs and tackle fuel poverty.
The government is currently consulting on the scheme’s future, with existing regulations set to expire on 31 March 2026. Campaigners say this is a critical opportunity to secure continued support for households from winter 2026/27 onwards.
Fuel poverty remains a pressing issue in Harrow, where around 10.7% of households (10,277 homes) are affected, according to 2022 figures published by gov.uk in 2024.
Like elsewhere, fuel poverty in Harrow arises when a household has a low income and lives in a home that cannot be kept warm at a reasonable cost. The borough’s diverse communities include many elderly residents, single parents, disabled people and low-income families living in poorly insulated housing.
Advocates warn that many struggling households miss out on support because they do not receive qualifying benefits. This includes private renters in older, inefficient homes, multi-generational families above benefit thresholds, and others facing hardship without eligibility.
Calls are growing for Harrow to press for wider eligibility criteria, including discretionary or digital applications, and for expanded Industry Initiatives that could fund local energy advice, insulation, and debt relief schemes. Campaigners also want stable, inflation-linked funding to ensure charities and the council can continue to support households at risk.
They argue that stronger collaboration between local authorities and voluntary groups will be essential to protect residents from the health and financial impacts of cold homes.
The government is currently consulting on the scheme’s future, with existing regulations set to expire on 31 March 2026. Campaigners say this is a critical opportunity to secure continued support for households from winter 2026/27 onwards.
Fuel poverty remains a pressing issue in Harrow, where around 10.7% of households (10,277 homes) are affected, according to 2022 figures published by gov.uk in 2024.
Like elsewhere, fuel poverty in Harrow arises when a household has a low income and lives in a home that cannot be kept warm at a reasonable cost. The borough’s diverse communities include many elderly residents, single parents, disabled people and low-income families living in poorly insulated housing.
Advocates warn that many struggling households miss out on support because they do not receive qualifying benefits. This includes private renters in older, inefficient homes, multi-generational families above benefit thresholds, and others facing hardship without eligibility.
Calls are growing for Harrow to press for wider eligibility criteria, including discretionary or digital applications, and for expanded Industry Initiatives that could fund local energy advice, insulation, and debt relief schemes. Campaigners also want stable, inflation-linked funding to ensure charities and the council can continue to support households at risk.
They argue that stronger collaboration between local authorities and voluntary groups will be essential to protect residents from the health and financial impacts of cold homes.
Harrow Monitoring Group 