Energy improvements bring warmer, more comfortable homes for Westward customers
Thanks to funding from the government’s community regeneration partnership scheme, made available by Torridge District Council, Jacquline and Gerry received a series of energy‑efficiency upgrades through our improvement programme. They weren’t sure what to expect, but the transformation in their home has been clear. After living in their property for nine years, they describe it as significantly warmer, more comfortable and easier to heat than ever before.
Before the works, Jacquline shared that the house could feel “very cold at times,” and the couple often found they were turning the heating up higher than they wanted to just to stay comfortable.
As part of our improvement programme, where we are improving the EPC rating of our lowest rated homes, their home received solar panels, cavity wall insulation, new extractor fans and sensors to monitor humidity and prevent damp. They were confident that the work that was being done was to make their home more efficient and Gerry summed it up simply, “We knew it was for our benefit.”
One of the things the couple appreciated most was how smoothly everything went. Contractors from WMS kept them informed, worked respectfully and left their home clean and tidy at the end of each day. Jacqueline said: ‘You wouldn't even know they'd been there. I found them excellent. They tidied up after themselves, told us what they were doing, apologised if it was going to be any noise…they were very good.”
“We are proud to play our part in delivering these improvements for households across Torridge. Working closely with Westward Housing, our teams have focused on installing high‑quality energy‑efficient measures that make a meaningful difference to residents' daily lives. It’s rewarding to see homes becoming warmer, more comfortable, and more affordable to run as a direct result of this programme." WMS Contracts Director, Matthew Westaway
Since the improvements were completed, the difference in warmth has been immediate. Their home now heats up more quickly and stays warm for much longer, reducing how much they rely on their heating during the day.
Although it’s still too early for them to tell how much their energy bills might change, they’ve already started using their heating less. Instead of running it for long periods, they now use short bursts in the morning and evening because the insulation helps the home stay comfortable for much longer.
Both customers spoke warmly about their experience with Westward and the support they received throughout the process. Gerry described their relationship with us by saying, “Everything we’ve ever asked Westward for, they’ve helped us,” and the couple felt reassured knowing that the improvements were fully funded and carried out with care.
For Jacquline and Gerry, the upgrades have made a real difference to their daily comfort in their home. It now feels warmer and more efficient. Their experience reflects the positive impact these improvements can have on our customers’ homes who need them.