The cost-of-living crisis is affecting everyone with the cost of everyday essentials, like groceries and bills, rising faster than ever before. At Radius we recognise that everyone is finding it difficult to manage, so we’ve created a quick guide to help our tenants

Cost-of-Living Crisis Advice

At the bottom of this page, there are a series of links where you can get further help and advice with respect to helping you through this on a day-to-day basis. We also have a few handy tips on how to save energy - helping you and your family to create good habits to reduce the bills in your home.

Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

• Switch off / Standby - Switching off screens, lights and appliances that don’t need 24-hour electricity
• Unplug devices - Leaving devices plugged in when they’re fully charged and while you sleep, means you’re paying for unnecessary electricity usage
• Bathroom - Take a shower rather than a bath, showers generally use 20% less energy than baths
• Brew smart - Boil smart and making sure you only boil enough water as required, making sure you have enough water to cover the element
• Cook smart – Use other more efficient methods of cooking rather than your oven as it uses significant amounts of electricity, such as a microwave, steamer or air fryer. If you do use your oven, make sure you cook either larger meals and fill the oven for better efficiency or batch-cook multiple meals which you can refrigerate or freeze and eat during the week or later
• Check your thermostat – Keep your main room’s thermostat to a comfortable temperature – normally 21^oc. Turing it down by 1^oc to 20^oc can save significant amounts of money on your bills. In halls and bedrooms ideally, thermostats should be set between 15^oc and 18^oc to keep bills down and at the same time avoid freezing pipes in winter
• Wash cooler – there are plenty of products on the market that work at lower temperatures to use when washing dishes or clothes that will help reduce your energy consumption

A well-insulated home will reduce heat loss and conserve energy, resulting in lower fuel usage and reduced fuel bills. We’ve put together a couple of other energy-saving tips that can help reduce your energy bills:

• Check your thermostat – Keep your main room’s thermostat to a comfortable temperature – normally 21^oc. Turing it down by 1^oc to 20^oc can save significant amounts of money on your bills. In halls and bedrooms ideally, thermostats should be set between 15^oc and 18^oc to keep bills down and at the same time avoid freezing pipes in winter
• Boiler Service – make sure your boiler is regularly serviced and working safely and efficiently as this will keep you safe and help reduce your energy consumption

Keep in mind that not heating your home correctly or sufficiently may lead to issues relating to damp and the formation of mould –see our page relating to damp and mould and what can be done to help.

Reducing Home Heat Loss

• Radiator foils – install these behind your radiators to help reflect heat back into the room and reduce heat loss through your walls
• Use draft stoppers at the base of doors to keep heat in rooms
• To reduce drafts and heat loss and draw the curtains when it’s getting dark to help keep heat in the house. By filling these gaps, it’ll make sure you are limiting the amount of cold air that is coming in will massively increase the temperature of your home

Useful Energy-Saving Links

As well as speaking to your energy supplier directly, you can also click on any of the links below for further energy-saving advice and tips:

https://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/consumers/save-money/energy

https://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/consumers/save-money/energy/energy-efficiency

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/northern-ireland/information-advice/money-matters/energy-efficiency/

https://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/consumers/save-money/energy/check-how-much-your-electrical-appliances-cost-use

More homes across Northern Ireland are expected to receive their Government supported £600 energy voucher from Monday 16th January 2023. Customers should receive the single payment or voucher by 28^th February.

Here’s what you need to know:

Keypad meter and Standard credit customers will receive a £600 voucher in the post from the Post Office. Vouchers need to be redeemed* at a Post Office branch. The voucher and supporting paperwork will be needed.

Direct Debit customers will receive a £600 payment directly to their bank account. No action is needed. Suppliers generally have all the information they need to get this payment to you. All customers should receive the single payment or voucher by 28th February. If electricity suppliers need to contact you they will do so directly.

WARNING - BEWARE OF SCAMS

Radius are urging you to be vigilant and be aware of scams associated with the scheme. Communications from any source suggesting you need to provide personal information, phone a number, or follow a link are likely to be scams. Please exercise caution. Do not click on suspicious links, emails or SMS messages.

You can report messaging you think is suspicious at report@phishing.gov.uk

All information about the scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-household-energy-bill-support-in-northern-ireland

* Redeeming - What do I need to bring with me to the Post Office?

• The voucher

• Proof of address e.g. bill

• Photographic ID if you want it as cash eg passport

• Bank card if you put it into bank account

• Top up card if keypad customer

Apart from speaking to your Welfare Advice Officer, who may be able to help look at your benefits and see if there is anything that you may be missing out on, speak directly to your specific energy provider. There are also other organisations that can offer support and advice, including:

NI Direct - www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/cost-living

Citizens Advice - www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/get-help-...

The Consumer Council - www.consumercouncil.org.uk

The Trussell Trust - www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/