Improving your home
Getting started
Do you want to make your home warmer and cosy in winter? Or keep it cooler in the summer? Are you worried about damp or mould affecting your health?
For advice and support with energy efficiency upgrades, people in East Sussex can contact the Warm Home Check service.
Government funding is available for certain home improvements. Some households may get fully funded support. See Funding and grants.
Small changes and low-cost home upgrades
You can have a warmer, healthier, and more comfortable home with cheaper energy bills. There are simple things you can do to reduce heat loss, feel warmer and reduce the energy bills in your home.
Insulation is often one of the best ways to reduce energy bills and to keep a home feeling warm.
Low-cost and quick energy saving tips
- Open your windows for a few minutes every day to reduce moisture and ventilate the home. Damp air requires more energy to heat.
- Reflective panels behind radiators.
- Reduce draughts by using draught excluders, rugs and lining curtains.
- Bleed your radiators at least once per year.
Other things you can do yourself to improve energy efficiency include:
- Insulate your loft and cavity walls.
- Fill gaps around pipes and door frames.
- Add secondary window glazing film.
- Insulate your immersion heater with a jacket.
- Insulate pipes with foam lagging.
- Block unused chimneys.
- Install energy efficient appliances and lightbulbs (and get them checked).
- Get a smart meter.
- Shop around for the best energy prices using an Ofgem-accredited price comparison site.
For more advice, check the Energy Saving Trust.
Bigger home upgrades
Depending on your budget and priorities, you may want to upgrade your heating system or insulation as part of a building project like a new kitchen or bathroom. Home upgrades such as installing solar panels or an air source heat pump are also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.
Funding is already available from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. For details, see funding and grants.
Later in 2026 more details are expected about low and zero interest loans for solar panels, home batteries and heat pumps. They are part of the government's Warm Homes Plan.
See more information about the types of improvement you could make to your home:
Get independent advice about these improvements from:
- Local community energy organisations
- Energy Saving Trust guides energy at home and retrofit explained
Community energy
Community energy organisations help people have more control over energy. This may include:
- sharing systems to generate your own energy, such as solar panels
- sharing home batteries to store energy
Contact local organisations:
- OVESCO covers Lewes and surrounding areas
- Energise Sussex Coast covers Hastings, Rother, Wealden and Eastbourne
Find a local trader
To find a trusted tradesperson:
- ask family and friends - the easiest and safest way to find recommended traders who give quality service
- use TrustMark - the only government-endorsed scheme for all trades in and around the home
Be wary of traders who knock on your front door looking for work. Don’t feel pressured to hire them. If in doubt, always say no and close the door. If necessary, contact the police.
When you have a shortlist of tradespeople:
- Get at least 3 quotes to compare
- Check exactly what is covered by the price, such as labour and materials
- Check their credentials and trade licence - for example, boiler engineers must be Gas Safe registered
- Ask for examples of recent work - then contact the people they worked for because written references aren’t always genuine
- Check how long they have been trading
- Verify their contact details, office address and landline phone number
See the list of quality marks and guarantees for different trades.
Building regulations and certificates
Certain types of work must comply with building regulations. For example, a new heating system, boiler or oil tank.
You will need a compliance certificate from your local authority. This certificate proves that the work is safe and has been done to the right standard.
Don’t hand decision-making over to tradespeople. Be persistent and consistent to ensure a high standard of work.
Avoiding problems
Unfortunately, home improvements and repairs don’t always go to plan. Follow these tips to minimise problems and extra costs.
Give the tradesperson a clear brief
Be specific and set out a clear, detailed description of the work (except for very small jobs). The brief should describe what work needs to be done in the greatest detail possible.
Get a written contract
For medium or large jobs, you should insist on a full legal written contract. This offers you protection if anything goes wrong. Agree on any stage and final payments before work starts.
Don’t pay in advance
Only pay for work that has been done. Sometimes materials need to be bought in advance. It is reasonable for the trader to ask you to pay a fair percentage of these costs as the job progresses.
Consider:
- the materials the tradesperson will use and what you will supply
- whether subcontractors. such as plumbers, are included in the cost
- cleaning up and waste disposal
- whether there is adequate insurance to cover the work? This is often linked to quality marks and guarantees (see the table below).
Do lots of research. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the installers or tradespeople. Get their advice on the best energy efficiency improvements for your home before you start.
If you have problems with a tradesperson, contact Citizens Advice. They will pass your information to Trading Standards, who may contact you for further information.
Quality marks and guarantees
To ensure good work is done on your home, you should use tradespeople who are covered by quality marks and guarantees.
Each quality mark offers different services and protection. Some types of work are covered by multiple schemes. See their websites below to find what each one offers.
Insulation
Insulation is specific material installed in different parts of your home. It keeps heat in so your home warms up quicker and stays cosy. It can also stop your home getting too hot and stuffy in the summer.
| Type of improvement work | Guarantee scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| Cavity wall insulation |
Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) CERTASS NAPIT |
|
| Floor insulation | CERTASS | |
| Loft insulation | CERTASS | |
| Walls - internal or external |
CERTASS NAPIT |
Windows and doors
Energy efficient windows reduce heat loss and condensation. They can also make your home quieter by reducing noise from outdoors.
| Type of improvement | Guarantee scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservatories and conservatory warm roofs | CERTASS | |
| Energy efficient glazing and draught proofing | CERTASS | |
| Roof lights, roof windows |
FENSA Independent Network NAPIT |
|
| Replacement windows and doors |
FENSA Independent Network NAPIT |
Heating and hot water systems
Many households spend over half of their energy bills on heating and hot water. Upgrading your heating system can give you more control over how you heat your home.
| Type of improvement | Guarantee scheme |
|---|---|
| Heating and hot water systems, including electric boilers for central heating, underfloor electrical heating, vented and unvented hot water storage, heat recovery systems | NAPIT |
| Heat pumps, including air source, exhaust air, gas absorption, ground/water, micro combined heat and power (CHP), solar assisted heat pump and solar thermal |
NAPIT Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) |
| Biomass heating |
HETAS NAPIT Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) |
| Oil heating, including storage tanks, pipework, boilers and other appliances |
NAPIT OFTEC |
| Solid fuel heating, including non-masonry chimney systems (excluding biomass) | NAPIT |
| Solid fuel and wood heating systems, fuels and services | HETAS |
Renewable energy
Renewable energy provides small-scale electricity generation from the sun, wind and water, rather than fossil fuels. With a home battery you can store your own power and even sell excess energy back to the grid.
| Type of improvement | Guarantee scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| Pitched roof installation kit for renewable or low-carbon technology | Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) | |
| Micro CHP (combined heat and power) |
NAPIT Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) |
|
| Solar panels (also called solar photovoltaics) |
NAPIT Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) |
|
| Water turbines | NAPIT | |
| Wind turbines |
NAPIT Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) |
Other home improvements
Improving ventilation and creating good airflow helps avoid any potential damp and mould issues. Updating old electrical systems can reduce power loss and save money on your bills.
| Type of improvement | Guarantee scheme | |
|---|---|---|
| Building repair, maintenance and improvement | CERTASS | |
| Cavity clearance | CERTASS | |
| Electrical - full and partial installations | NAPIT | |
| Ventilation systems and air-conditioning | NAPIT |
Landlords and renters
Landlords and housing providers must meet legal standards for rental properties. As a landlord you must:
- fix problems such as damp and mould which are bad for health
- ensure an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or above unless exempt (privately rented homes)
Tenants have rights and responsibilities too:
- you may need landlord approval for home improvements
- you can complain if problems are not fixed by the landlord
See Private renting: Your rights and responsibilities and Renters' Rights Act.
Energy efficiency standards
The government want landlords to continue improving energy efficiency in rented homes. The aim is to upgrade as many homes as possible to EPC rating of C or equivalent by 2030. Read the guidance at Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES).
Acting now to improve energy efficiency can avoid higher maintenance costs later. You may be eligible for funding and grants.
Local councils can investigate homes that don't meet the standard. They can issue fines up to £5,000. If you're a tenant whose home is in poor condition or below the standard, contact the local housing office.
Advice and support
- Citizens Advice - if you have damp or mould in your rented home
- Shelter - private renting includes making complaints about a landlord
- Warm Home Check service advice about funding or dealing with damp and mould
What local residents have said
We spoke to over a dozen East Sussex residents who carried out energy saving improvements to make their homes cosier and healthier, and to reduce future energy bills.
The residents lived in different types of properties and had different reasons for wanting to improve their homes. While some experienced challenges during their journey, it was overwhelmingly agreed that they were happy with the result.
Read their stories and top tips at How East Sussex residents are improving their home energy efficiency.
Prioritise preventing heat loss.
Think ‘fabric first’ – understand how your house is built to solve heat loss issues.
Think about practicalities.
Where will things go? How will they fit?
Make sure you do things in the right order for the technologies to work most effectively.
