Further help with cost of living

Business rates revaluation

Erewash businesses can now see the new rateable value for their business property. The Valuation Office Agency has updated the rateable values of all business, and other non-domestic, property in England and Wales.The new rateable values will take effect from 1 April 2023.The information gives the future rateable values for non-domestic properties in England and Wales.

This is not the amount of business rates that people will pay for their non domestic property. This will be shown on their bill when they receive it.

People can check the factual information used for their valuation and tell the VOA if anything is wrong. People can get an estimate of what their business rates bill may be from 1 April 2023 through the VOA’s Find a Business Rates Valuation Service at www.tax.service.gov.uk/businessrates-find/search Formal appeals cannot be made before 1 April 2023.

A valuation account must be created by using a Government Gateway ID and password via the VOA website.

Fuel payment

Households that use alternative fuels like heating oil are eligible for a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment to cover winter energy costs. Most households eligible for the AFP support received payment automatically via their energy supplier. Those households who will need to apply for the AFP, for example because they do not have a relationship with an energy supplier,

Help with energy bills

If you can’t afford the energy you need or are in debt with your energy supplier, help is available.

If you think you’ll struggle to stay warm and afford your energy bills you can contact Warmer Derby and Derbyshire on 0800 677 1332 or wdd@mea.org.uk

The service is a partnership between the Marches Energy Agency charity, the Local Authority Energy Partnership and Erewash Borough Council.

Their free energy helpline offers impartial advice on how to stay warm at home, afford energy bills and be more energy efficient.

Householders might be eligible for financial help with a new boiler, money off their energy bills, help with energy bill debt, or a home visit for more advice.

If you have a health condition that is made worse by the cold and you struggle to afford to heat your home, the Derbyshire County Council, Healthy Homes Project may be able to help or can direct you to other sources of support, Call: 01629 536919 can do so through the GOV.UK portal. As well as this 900,000 households without a direct relationship to an energy supplier – such as care home or park home residents – can soon apply online for £400 of nonrepayable help with their fuel bills through the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding.

We will keep updating our social media to highlight when you can apply. Payments to households that meet the eligibility criteria - including people who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid - will be made by Erewash Borough Council.

A total of 100 properties in Erewash will have benefited from energy efficiency upgrades by 31 March as part of the Local Authority Delivery Phase 3 programme.

Homes for Ukraine

Residents who house a Ukrainian refugee family will receive a £500 monthly thank you payment, following an extension of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Erewash residents have opened their homes to welcome guests, and whilst many are living in long-term, sponsored placements, for some refugees this arrangement has come to a premature end.

If you are interested in housing a Ukrainian refugee, or a refugee family in your own home or vacant property you will receive a monthly ‘thank you’ payment of £500.

If you have a property that could be given over to the scheme, you will also receive an additional 50 per cent discount towards your council tax.

For more information contact ukrainehosts@derbyshire.gov.uk