LEAP Housing
Tackling fuel poverty with solar panels
LEAP Housing is a registered charity and social landlord that provides housing and support to vulnerable individuals who are facing homelessness in Lincoln and Gainsborough. Their work goes beyond housing, encouraging residents to regain stability by taking part in community projects and activities, and helping to create safer, cleaner and more welcoming places to live.
Key stats
- Sector: Social housing & charity
- Location: Lincoln, UK
- Systems installed: 6 solar arrays from 2.76–5.06 kWp; with 5.18 kWh batteries
- Total annual generation: 21,900 kWh
- Total annual carbon savings: 5.1 tonnes
The challenge: Rising utility bills hitting residents hard
Rising utility bills have hit LEAP particularly hard. As a landlord, LEAP pays the utility bills on many of its properties and has struggled to absorb the rising costs.
At the same time, LEAP aimed to upgrade all properties to EPC level C by 2028. The board had already prioritised this agenda, recognising that more efficient, affordable homes are key to reducing fuel poverty and supporting people in crisis. Solar panels were a proven solution to help LEAP to achieve its objectives.
“Usually people in social housing have a low income, and fuel poverty is horrendous. It’s criminal that we’re in an age where people can’t afford to heat their own homes. Everyone should be entitled to warmth, it should be a basic human right. So I think we all have a moral duty to start installing solar panels and reduce bills.”
Heidi Walton, Chief Executive at LEAP
The solution: Solar and battery installations across six properties
A call with the Good Energy team gave LEAP Housing the confidence that they would get the “best quality service.” Soon after, they partnered with Good Energy to begin rolling out solar PV with battery storage across its housing stock.
“By putting solar panels onto our roofs, we were hoping to reduce the energy use of our properties, which should have a knock-on impact on what we charge our tenants and make it more affordable – particularly as they’re vulnerable tenants on very low incomes.” Heidi Walton, Chief Executive at LEAP
For those living in shared houses where energy bills are included, the reduced running costs directly help LEAP as an organisation, lowering the overall expense of providing safe, secure housing. In family flats where tenants manage their own bills and face additional financial pressures caring for children, that extra affordability can make a real difference – freeing up income for other household essentials.
The impact: Reduced bills for vulnerable tenants
So far, six homes in Lincoln have been fitted with solar panel systems, each including solar panels and a 5.18 kWh battery to maximise use of the clean energy generated onsite. The new systems are already helping reduce energy use across properties and deliver bill savings. In fact, together, they’re set to generate roughly 21,900 kWh of clean electricity and save around 5.1 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
These environmental benefits haven’t gone unnoticed too: “Where we already have panels, we’ve had some good feedback – our tenants definitely appreciate what we’re doing.” Heidi Walton, Chief Executive at LEAP
And for LEAP and its tenants, investing in solar and battery installation means:
- Lower costs for shared houses where the charity covers utility bills.
- More affordable homes for tenants in family flats who manage their own bills.
- Resilience against rising energy costs, which disproportionately affect vulnerable households.
- Progress towards EPC targets well ahead of LEAP’s internal 2028 deadline.
“We would definitely, definitely recommend Good Energy. Our relationship with Amelio (part of Good Energy) has been brilliant. Your team has been really helpful in bringing things together for our properties, I don’t think this is a short-term relationship with Good Energy – it’s a long-term one. We’re moving our properties over to Good Energy supply too.”
Heidi Walton, Chief Executive at LEAP