The Government has launched a new Warm Homes Plan Consultation seeking views on how consumer protections can be strengthened for households receiving energy efficiency and low-carbon heating upgrades through government-backed schemes.
The consultation, titled Reforming Consumer Protection for Home Upgrade Schemes, is open until 10 September 2026 and forms part of the Government’s wider efforts to ensure that home improvements delivered under the Warm Homes Plan are carried out to a high standard and that homeowners are properly protected if problems arise.
What is the Warm Homes Plan?
The Warm Homes Plan is the Government’s flagship programme to improve the energy efficiency of homes, reduce energy bills and tackle fuel poverty. The plan includes £15 billion of public investment and aims to upgrade up to five million homes by 2030 through measures such as insulation, solar panels, batteries and heat pumps. The Government estimates that the programme could help lift up to one million families out of fuel poverty while supporting the transition to low-carbon heating and energy systems.
Alongside financial support for households, the Warm Homes Plan also commits to improving consumer protections and making it easier for people to access trusted advice and accredited installers.
What is the ‘Reforming Consumer Protection for Home Upgrade Schemes’ Consultation?
The consultation invites feedback on proposals to reform the consumer protection framework for home upgrade schemes. The Government is seeking views on how to build a system around three main priorities:
- Work should be right first time: Homeowners should be confident that upgrades are completed correctly the first time, with issues arising only in exceptional circumstances.
- Simplicity: Consumers should be able to improve their homes without having to navigate multiple organisations, schemes or processes.
- Swift remediation and a straightforward process for redress: When problems do occur, consumers should have straightforward routes to get issues resolved quickly, with clear responsibility for putting things right and appropriate financial protection in place.
The consultation suggests the following adjustments to achieve this:
- A single service to support consumers from start to finish. The government is proposing one organisation that would oversee consumer protection across home upgrade schemes, while also providing advice, support and help with resolving any issues that arise.
- Stronger accountability across the system. New agreements would make it clearer who is responsible for delivering quality work and ensuring consumers receive a good service throughout the upgrade process.
- Better use of data to spot problems early. A new government-run data system could help identify emerging issues, target inspections where they are needed most, and improve the overall performance of home upgrade schemes.
- A public register of approved installers. Consumers would be able to check whether an installer or retrofit professional is approved to work on government-funded schemes, helping them make more informed choices.
Why is the consultation being launched?
As the Government prepares to deliver large-scale home energy upgrades across the UK, it recognises that strong consumer protection will be essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring installations are completed correctly the first time. The consultation aims to gather views from homeowners, installers, local authorities, industry bodies and other stakeholders on how the future consumer protection regime should operate.
How to Read and Respond to the Consultation
The full consultation document, Reforming Consumer Protection for Home Upgrade Schemes, is available on the GOV.UK website.
Interested parties can submit responses online through the Government’s consultation portal. For questions, or if you are unable to respond via Citizen Space, you can contact: consumer.protection.reform@energysecurity.gov.uk
The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 10 September 2026. Responses are welcomed from consumers, industry participants, installers, local authorities and anyone with an interest in the future delivery of home upgrade schemes.
The consultation represents an important opportunity to help shape the consumer protection framework that will support delivery of the Warm Homes Plan over the coming years.
