This section contains information for homeowners, landlords and private tenants. Our main duty to private sector housing is to ensure that everyone lives in accommodation that is well maintained, safe, and warm.
Private Sector Housing Renewal Assistance Policy
The Council’s Private Sector Housing Renewal Assistance Policy sets out available assistance for residents living in poor condition housing in the borough. Click here to download a copy of the policy (PDF document, 70Kb)
Contents
- Decent homes
A ten-year local and central government target to improve the quality of all social housing - Private Sector Leasing
Leasing housing from the private sector to provide accommodation to people in housing need - HouseProud equity release
An easy way to get repairs, improvements and adaptations carried out to your home - Keeping warm in winter
Helping to make cold houses warmer, and to save energy - Landlord accreditation
Waltham Forest Council have signed up to a new London-wide scheme to improve the standard private rented accommodation - Private empty properties
Tackling the issue of empty properties, by encouraging owners to bring their properties back into use. - Business Empty Property grant
Grants to convert floors above shops to residential properties.
Warm Front grant
Warm Front is a government-funded scheme which provides a grant of up to £2,700 (or £4,000 if oil central heating is recommended) to make your home warmer and more energy efficient. The grant is provided to people with the greatest health risk, such as older people and those with children under 16, people who are disabled or have a long-term illness and people who are on certain benefits. The grant can provide a package of insulation and heating tailored to each property.
For more information please telephone (free phone) 0800 316 6011.
Insulation works
Waltham Forest has been working in partnership with HEET to offer Energy Efficiency and remedial repairs to residents including:
- Loft / boiler / pipe insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Draught proofing to windows and doors; and
- Some Heating measures
For more information telephone HEET on 020 8520 1900.
Fire Safety in your home
Many fires in the home are caused by a single moment of carelessness and could be easily prevented. It is important to be aware of possible fire hazards around the home and to take steps to protect you and your family from fire.
For information and advice about fire safety in your home please visit the DirectGov website.
Energy advice and assistance
The North East London Energy efficiency Advice Centre, situated at 31 Church Hill E17, provides a one-stop energy efficiency service for residents. They offer:
- Home Energy Checks – by filling in a questionnaire residents will receive tailored advice about how to save energy in their homes and also receive free low-energy bulbs
- Advice – residents can visit the centre, telephone or request a home visit
- Grants – In partnership with Waltham Forest, NELEEAC are able to offer a limited number of grants to residents of up to £2,000 towards the cost of central heating installation and other measures
For more information call (free phone) 0800 458 7107.
Energy saving tips
- Turning your thermostat down by 1ºC could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent
- Always turn off the lights when you leave a room
- Ensure taps are turned off – in one-week a dripping tap wastes enough hot water to fill a bath!
- Only boil as much water as you need
- Replace light bulbs with energy saving ones – they last up to 12 times longer and save energy
- Do not leave appliances on stand-by or on charge unnecessarily
- Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should not be set higher than 60ºC/140ºF
- Draw your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping!
