Curo News

Staying safe and warm during a cold snap

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:43:20 Z

With low temperatures in charge, we’re rounding up our advice to customers to help you stay safe and warm this winter.

Cold weather isn't always kind to boilers and water pipes...
If your boiler is making a strange noise, or showing an error code it might have a frozen condensate pipe.

There's advice on our website about how to thaw it - Curo lifehacks: How to thaw a frozen condensate pipe on your boiler.
If it's still not working as it should then please get in touch to report.

Freezing temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and burst. To reduce the risk:
🔥Leave heating on low, even when you’re not at home.
💧Keep cupboard doors open where pipes are located to allow warm air to circulate.
❄️Make sure your taps are turned off as dripping taps can cause drains to freeze.

If you think a pipe has frozen here's some advice to help get the water flowing again - Curo lifehacks: Frozen pipes

You can find the full set of plumbing and heating lifehack on our website - from bleeding a radiator to unblocking a sink, these indispensable DIY guides have got you covered.

Managing the expense of winter heating
You’ll find advice on our website on maximising the efficiency of your heating system and links through to sources of information on benefits and support, including the Winter Fuel Payment.

Our Money Advice service is ready to help any Curo customer that needs their support. They can help with managing debt, accessing the correct benefits and applying for grants and funding. Their track record of helping residents to take back control of their finances is very impressive - the average amount each customer saves through the service is £4,446! Find out more about Curo's Money Advice service.

Housing Summit 2025

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:19:55 Z

Bath & North East Somerset councillors pledge to work across party lines in UK first

The region’s housing crisis was under the spotlight, as more than 150 policymakers, activists and industry figures came together at the second annual Bath and North East Somerset Housing Summit.

The summit saw leaders from across the political spectrum commit to improve the supply of affordable homes in the area. Their signing of a first-of-its-kind housing accord establishes a commitment to work together, across party lines and beyond individual council terms, to create long-term change.

The commitment was signed against the backdrop of unprecedented housing costs and levels of homelessness in our region. Attendees heard that in some parts of Bath, average house prices stand at 18 times average salary. Renters on the open market can expect to spend about 40% of gross average earnings on housing.

The human cost of the housing crisis was a central theme of the event. Wayne Hemingway MBE, a passionate campaigner for affordable housing and founder of advocacy group, Housing Assembly, led a panel discussion of local young people priced out of housing in Bath.

He also read entries from the new Housing Assembly website, which was officially launched at the summit. The site, thehousingassembly.co.uk, offers a platform for people locked out of the housing system and collects evidence of its dysfunction to build the case for urgent change.

He shared Bethany’s story who, though she works, is forced to sleep in her car. She describes herself as a mentally vulnerable woman and says, despite her dire situation, has no hope of accessing social housing.

On signing the landmark housing accord, Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:

“Only by working together and putting politics aside can we truly start to address a broken housing system. This accord is a turning point. It shows that no matter our political differences, the signatories are united in our commitment to deliver the right homes in the right places, for our communities across Bath & North East Somerset.

“We believe that through co-operation and innovation we can do our bit to urgently address the broken market and deliver more, truly affordable homes in our area. The housing crisis demands bold, long-term thinking—and today we’ve taken a major step forward together.”

The West of England Mayor, Helen Godwin, who also addressed the conference said:

“Tackling the housing crisis is not something any single organisation or political leader can achieve alone. By working together across authorities, and with government, we will build the right homes in the right places, with the services and infrastructure that local people need and deserve.

“We are already working with Homes England and Bath & North East Somerset Council to support work to deliver new homes at Bath Quays and along the Bristol to Bath strategic growth corridor. This new Housing Accord commits us all to further strengthen those partnerships, working together to solve this housing crisis.”

Reflecting on the success of the event, Victor da Cunha, CEO of Curo and Chair of the local Housing Mission Delivery Board, said:

"Bath & North East Somerset has become the first council in the country to sign a cross-party housing accord - we shouldn't underestimate the significance of that. The shared vision of eradicating the housing crisis and providing people with quality homes they can afford will also help to release the economic potential of our region."

Listen to episode four of the Cost of Living podcast

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 09:58:54 Z

In our latest episode, Tania Reason, Benefits Advisor at Curo, talks about the benefits that customers may be missing out on.

It’s easy to get lost in the complex benefits maze, but the Money Advice service has the latest information on what support is available. Tania explains how she’s there to support customers every step of the way in their applications.

“If you’re entitled to benefits, why struggle when we can help you to apply?” she says.

Tania also dispels some popular myths about claiming benefits and reveals the most common benefits customers may be missing out on.

The threshold for applying for benefits is increasing this year so if you haven’t been eligible for certain benefits in the past, you may now qualify, she adds.

Our Cost of Living podcast offers advice to customers on everything from benefits to help finding work.

In each episode, Marianne Rawlins, Communications and Media Manager at Curo, talks to people who can help.

If you’ve got an idea for a topic we should cover in a future episode, please email communications@curo-group.co.uk

Listen to the podcast here or you can find all episodes here.

Curo · Episode 4: Benefits - are you missing out?

Benefits advice for older people

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 12:18:49 Z

Curo Benefits Advisor Tania Reason explains the support that older customers may be missing out on and how we can help.

As a Benefits Advisor at Curo, I love that I can help to increase our customers’ incomes. Sometimes people come to us and they’re really struggling. But I can support them to access the benefits they’re entitled to, so that they don’t have to worry anymore.

I can help people over the phone or we can make an appointment to see them in person. Lots of older people prefer to meet up so that we can go through their paperwork together. I’ll find out what they’re entitled to and support them to apply.

I’d say 8 out of 10 people who come to us aren’t claiming the benefits they’re entitled to, simply because they don’t know what’s available.

Tania Reason pictured above

The most common benefits older people miss out on are Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance, which helps with extra costs if you have a disability. People claiming Attendance Allowance can get up to £92.40 a week to help with personal support.

Pension Credit acts as a gateway benefit. So, if you get Pension Credit, you could be eligible for full Housing Benefit and may not have to pay Council Tax. Pension-aged people who are entitled to Pension Credit and a disability payment – for example Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance - could get up to £1,350 in Cost of Living Payments this year.

I can also look into whether customers can get the Warm Home Discount. And a lot of people don’t know about the Cold Weather Payments - you could get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 April.

Another myth is that you can’t claim benefits if you’re working, but if you’re on a low income, you could be entitled to Universal Credit. The threshold for Universal Credit is increasing, so even if you weren’t eligible last year, you may be eligible this year. If you get Universal Credit, you can get the £900 Cost of Living Payment. Universal Credit also gives you access to things like cheaper broadband. So it’s worth claiming Universal Credit even if you only get 1p – just get in touch with us on the contact details below and we can do a quick check.

Older people can be proud about their finances and we understand that it’s a really personal topic. But our service is completely confidential. If you’re worried about money, we’re here to help, without judgement. I always tell older people that they’ve worked hard all their lives, they should claim what they’re entitled to. Please don’t be afraid to get in touch. Call the Money Advice service on 01225 366000, or email: customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk

Listen to episode three of Curo's Cost of Living podcast

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 15:34:54 Z

As the cost of living rises, more people are falling victim to loan sharks, sometimes with shocking consequences. In episode three of Curo’s Cost of Living podcast, Marianne Rawlins, Communications and Media Manager at Curo, talks to Catherine Wohler from Stop Loan Sharks, an organisation that investigates and prosecutes illegal money lenders and provides support for borrowers.

When we think of loan sharks, we often have an image in our head of a tough-looking man who’s intimidating and unfriendly, but that’s not always the case, explains Catherine.

She also describes the shocking case of a woman whose £100 debt to a loan shark turned into £43,000. Catherine tells how the woman’s housing officer put her in touch with Stop Loan Sharks, who stepped in to help.

Curo · Podcast Ep 3 MP3 Again

If you’ve borrowed from a loan shark or are worried about someone else, Stop Loan Sharks is there for you. Call them 24/7 on 0300 555 2222 or start a Live Chat by clicking on the chat icon in the bottom right hand corner of their website: www.stoploansharks.co.uk. This service is available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.

Credit unions can be a useful source of credit for some people. To find your local credit union visit: https://www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk/

If you need help with money, Curo’s Money Advice service is here for you. It provides help for residents and offers advice about money management. Please don’t be afraid the get in touch if it's your first time. Our friendly and experienced team can help with managing debt and accessing the correct benefits. They have access to grants and funds that you may not know about. The average amount each customer saves through using the service is £4,446. For more see here. Call the Money Advice service on 01225 366000, or email: customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk. We really want to help.

Listen to episode two of Curo's Cost of Living podcast

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:10:23 Z

At Curo, we’re really concerned about the effects the rising cost of living is having on our customers. We want you to know that support is available and we’re here to help. That’s why we’ve created our Cost of Living podcast.

In each episode, Marianne Rawlins, Communications and Media Manager at Curo, talks to people who can help with everything from money advice to saving energy. In episode two we speak to Ciara Aylett, Employability Service Manager, who tells us about Curo’s Work Wise service and how is can support people to maximise their incomes.

Work Wise offers support for people to gain employability skills, build confidence and get placements to take the next step in their careers. It’s not only for Curo customers, Work Wise is available to all residents of our communities. Opportunities include apprenticeships and access to construction careers. One example is our Power Up programme, which is introducing people to new ‘green’ jobs, as well as roles in construction and trades, many of which aren’t manual roles and which may surprise you.

Contact the Work Wise team on workwise@curo-group.co.uk or call 01225 366000 to find out more.

If you’re having money worries, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Contact Curo’s Money Advice service on customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk or 01225 366000.

You can find our podcast on Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible.

https://open.spotify.com/show/5fYpHbE8aVNk7KDNEz3rf6

Curo · Podcast Ep 2 Final Compressed