Heating help for renters

Fuel assistance programs generally accept renters, including some households whose heat is included in the rent. Rebates for equipment are usually written for the person who owns the building. Here is how the programs on this site describe it.

Programs that say renters can apply

These programs state that renters (and in Massachusetts, households with heat included in the rent) can apply.

• HEAP (fuel assistance) (Massachusetts). Applications open since Oct 1, 2026. Help covers Nov 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027.
• Good Neighbor Energy Fund (Salvation Army) (Massachusetts). Listed by MASSCAP as an option for limited-income households that do not qualify for fuel assistance.
• LIHEAP (heating assistance) (Rhode Island). Season is expected to open Oct 1. The DHS page we read on Oct 17 still said last season closed Apr 15, 2026 and that the program was 'expected to reopen' Oct 1, so confirm with your CAP agency.
• Fuel Assistance Program (NH LIHEAP) (New Hampshire). Apply now with your county Community Action Agency (applications accepted until Apr 30, 2027). Payments are expected from Dec 1.
• Home Energy Assistance (no-cost weatherization) and Electric Assistance Program (New Hampshire). Ongoing. Electric Assistance applications are accepted year-round (CAPHR).
• Seasonal Fuel Assistance (VT LIHEAP) (Vermont). Vermont processes heating-assistance applications year-round (LIHEAP Clearinghouse). Check DCF for this season's benefit amount.
• Crisis Fuel Assistance and furnace repair/replacement (Vermont). Opens the last Monday in November (Nov 30, 2026 on the calendar) for bulk fuels; weekend line starts the last Saturday in November.
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) (Maine). Open since Aug 3, 2026; runs until funds are exhausted or May 29, 2027. Apply early.
• Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) (Maine). Opens Nov 1, 2026 and runs through Apr 30, 2027.
• Community firewood banks (Maine). Demand is up and some report supply running out early (Lake Region expects to run out by about Dec 1).

Programs that need your landlord

Typically the owner must sign or give permission before work can start.

• Home Energy Solutions (HES) and no-cost HES-Income Eligible (Connecticut). Ongoing; the program may have a waiting list because of demand.
• Weatherization Assistance Program (free) (Vermont). Ongoing; apply to the agency that serves your town.
• Central Heating Improvement Program (CHIP) (Maine). Demand is high: WAGM reported 155 Aroostook households waiting on repairs on Oct 14, 2026, with the local agency between contracts and expecting new funding within about a week.

Programs written for homeowners

Ask your landlord whether they will apply, or whether they are eligible as a building owner (rules differ; check the official page).

• Efficiency Vermont heat pumps, wood and pellet heating (Vermont). 2026 offers (ductless effective Jan 1, 2026).
• Efficiency Maine heat pump rebates (Maine). Ongoing. Check the 'new construction' rule: from Jan 1, 2027 completed new-construction projects must have no furnace or boiler.
• Efficiency Maine insulation and air-sealing rebates (Maine). Current schedule (page title: up to $8,600).