Green Homes Grant

The government launched a new Green Homes Grant scheme in September 2020. Through the scheme homeowners and private or social landlords in England can apply for vouchers to pay for green improvements. This government grant covers two-thirds of the cost up to £5,000 per household and the homeowner or landlord contributes the remainder. For owner-occupier and park home households on low incomes, the scheme can fully fund energy efficiency measures of up to £10,000 per household.

Webinars

We have been running Green Homes Grant webinars to share more information about the scheme and answer questions. In these webinars we talk through what we know about measures available, eligibility criteria, approved tradespeople, how to apply and the most frequently asked questions. We also explain the services we offer and any support we may be able to provide households looking to apply for this scheme. Find a recording of our latest webinar on YouTube.

Measures

Available measures are split into “primary” and “secondary” groups and households will need to install at least one primary measure to qualify for funding.

Primary measures:

• Insulation – Solid wall (internal or external), cavity wall, under-floor (solid floor or suspended floor), loft, flat roof, pitched roof, room in roof, park home
• Low carbon heat – Air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, solar thermal, biomass boiler, hybrid heat pump

If at least one primary measure is installed, households will also be able to install secondary measures. These will be funded up to the amount of funding provided for primary measures and you will only be able to redeem vouchers for secondary measures once you have installed a primary measure and redeemed the vouchers for that measure.

Secondary measures :

• Draught proofing
• Windows and doors – Double/triple glazing (where replacing single glazing), secondary glazing (in addition to single glazing), upgrading to energy efficient doors (where replacing single-glazed or solid doors installed prior to 2002)
• Heating controls and insulation – appliance thermostats, hot water tank thermostats, hot water tank insulation, smart heating controls, zone controls, intelligent delayed start thermostat, thermostatic radiator valves

Additional work (e.g. professional services, contractor costs, enabling works, low carbon heating systems) can be covered if they are necessary for installation of a measure. More information on what the scheme does and doesn’t cover on the government website.

Eligibility

You can check your eligibility on the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) website.

For the general scheme these properties are eligible:

• All owner-occupied homes (including long-leaseholders, shared ownership)
• Landlords of private rented sector domestic properties
• Landlords of social sector domestic properties (including local authority owned homes)
• Park home owners (for residential sites, including Gypsy and Traveller sites)

New-build domestic properties and non-domestic properties are not eligible.

If you are a landlord the Green Homes Grant counts towards state aid, so check that applying does not exceed your state aid threshold. You can also only get a Green Homes Grant if your rental property meets the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) EPC rating E or you have an exemption.

For the low-income scheme, only owner-occupied properties and park homes are eligible, and households must receive income-based or disability benefits to be eligible for fully funded package of measures.

Eligible benefits include: Income based Jobseekers allowance (JSA), Income based Employment & Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support (IS), Pension Guarantee Credit, Working Tax Credit (WTC), Child Tax Credits (CTC), Universal Credit (UC), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Contribution based Jobseekers allowance (JSA), Contribution based Employment & Support Allowance (ESA), and Housing benefit.

You cannot claim the Green Homes Grant for a measure which is already being funded by the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. You also cannot apply for a Green Homes Grant voucher if you have already received a grant from your local authority through their Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme. You can claim domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for renewable heat installed through the Green Homes Grant, and the grant amount will be deducted from the RHI payments.

Approved tradespeople

To apply for a voucher you need to have a quote from an approved tradesperson, and you must wait for the voucher to be issued before arranging for work to be carried out. Tradespeople must be registered with TrustMark or Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation to take part in the scheme. You can search for approved tradespeople on the SEA website. It is recommended to get at least three quotes to ensure you are getting value for money.

If you are an installer and want to carry out work under the Green Homes Grant scheme you can find out about standards to meet and how to register on the government website.

Application

You can apply for the Green Homes Grant online, with full terms and conditions here. You can apply for different measures by different installers through the same application. You will receive separate vouchers for each measure, and the voucher is only valid for the measure, property and named applicant that you have applied for.

To redeem a voucher you need to provide a dated copy of the invoice issued by approved tradesperson and you will need to confirm the work has been completed to your satisfaction, you have received any documentation like warranties and you have made the customer payment (if applicable) to the installer. Once you have redeemed the voucher the government grant will be paid directly to the approved tradesperson. Vouchers must be redeemed and measures completed by 31st March 2022 (this was extended on 18/11/20).

Advice and support

To contact the government about the scheme you can email: customer.green-homes-grant@beis.gov.uk

Homeowners and landlords can access advice and support on improving the energy efficiency of their homes from the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) service (they also have a phone number: 0800 444202), which includes checking eligibility and suitable home improvements for the Green Homes Grant scheme.

If you live in Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth, are eligible for the low income scheme and need support with applying for the Green Homes Grant, you can contact us by phone: 0800 804 8601 or email: enquiries@environmentcentre.com.

We have answered the most frequently answered questions here.

Green Home Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme

Of the £2 billion scheme, the government have indicated that £500m will go towards vouchers for low-income households, £1bn will go towards vouchers for the general scheme and £500m will be administered by local authorities to support low-income households in their area through the Green Home Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme.

Other government energy efficiency schemes:

• Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme – The government will invest £1 billion over the next year in grants to public sector bodies, including schools and hospitals, to fund both energy efficiency and low carbon heat upgrades.
• Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund – The government will establish a new fund to help social landlords improve the least energy-efficient social rented homes, starting with a £50 million demonstrator project in 2020-21, that will mean warmer homes and lower annual energy bills for some of the lowest income households.