Thousands of social housing tenants will be helped to cut bills with additional grants available for home energy efficiency upgrades, the government has said.

Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho yesterday announced that up to £80 million in additional funding will be made available through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund – which the government claims will generate energy bill savings of around £240 a year for some of the lowest-income households.

According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, more than 100,000 households in England are already benefiting from the scheme and the fresh funding is enough to upgrade an additional 9,500 homes.

Measures range from installing new wall, loft or underfloor insulation to supporting families to switch to low carbon heating – helping to cut energy bills and supporting around 2,000 jobs, the government has said.

Eligible tenants will receive the energy efficiency upgrades free of charge through their social housing provider, whether local councils or housing associations.

Claire Coutinho MP said: “We are delivering net zero in a way that supports the British public and does not burden hardworking families with additional costs.

“Our Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is delivering warmer homes and energy bill savings of around £240 for some of the lowest income families, as well as supporting thousands of jobs.

“We’re already making over 100,000 homes more energy efficient with this scheme, and I’m delighted an extra 9,500 social housing tenants will now benefit too.

The Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, Lord Callanan, added: “The UK is a trailblazer when it comes to reducing carbon emissions, cutting them faster than any other G7 country.

“By supporting families to improve their household energy efficiency, this additional funding will deliver measures such as new insulation and low-carbon heating for even more households – helping them save money and cut emissions.”