What you need to know about the Green Home Grants scheme

6 August 2020

 

What is the Green Home Grants scheme?

Following the announcement from Chancellor Rishi Sunak in July, the government has officially introduced a new ‘Green Home Grants’ scheme to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes across England and generate green jobs into the local community. The government aims to boost the UK economy to ‘build back better’, reduce fuel poverty and tackle climate change.

 

How does the government scheme work?

The government will invest £2bn in the scheme to offer homeowners, private and social landlords’ vouchers to install home energy improvements measures, having a direct impact on people's living condition while reducing our carbon footprint. Households can apply for a voucher worth up to £5,000 while contributing to at least one third of the overall install cost. Households on low income are eligible to receive vouchers of up to £10,000 to fully fund retrofit measures. 

 

Who can apply to the grant scheme?

The following properties will be eligible for government funding:

  • 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.

For the low-income scheme, only owner-occupied properties and park homes will be eligible. Households receiving income-based or disability benefits would be eligible for a fully funded package of measures. You qualify for the Green Home Grants low-income scheme if you receive at least one of the following benefits: 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), Housing benefit.

 

Which home energy improvements will be covered by the grant scheme?

The government has now confirmed that the Green Homes Grant scheme will provide homeowners and landlords vouchers to install at least of the primary measures below to qualify for funding:

  • Insulation: Solid wall, cavity wall, under-floor, loft, flat roof, room in roof, park home;

  • Low carbon heat: Air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, solar thermal.

This will include “top ups”, but not replacements. For example, additional loft insulation up to the recommended level, or another area where it has been previously insulated will not be covered by the grant scheme.

In addition of the primary measure(s), households can use vouchers for further energy-saving measures, as per the options below:

  • 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 doors installed prior to 2002);

  • Heating controls and insulation: appliance thermostats, hot water tank thermostats, hot water tank insulation, smart heating controls, zone controls, delayed start thermostat, thermostatic radiator valves.

Households are entitled to install one or more of the secondary measures. However, the level of funding is up to the amount provided for primary measures. For example, if you receive £2,000 for underfloor and loft insulation, you will only receive the same amount for any secondary measures, as per appliance thermostats or double glazing.

 

Why you should install underfloor insulation?

In a typical home, 20% of all heat escapes through a suspended timber floor. This leaves your home draughty and uncomfortable, while you waste energy and money heating cold rooms.

The effect of underfloor insulation is immediate, draughts are reduced by a third across the whole house and the reduction in the temperature stratification, or difference in temperature levels between the floor and the ceiling results in a much warmer house to live in. You can access the Government report to learn more about best practice for insulating suspended timber floors, including details of Q-Bot’s fully accredited underfloor insulation.

However, underfloor insulation doesn’t have to be a hassle to install, you don’t even need to move your furniture and lift up your whole floorboards. Q-Bot uses powerful robots to spray insulation to the underside of floorboards with minimal disruption to households. More information about our unique installation process is available. Q-Bot’s underfloor insulation reduces by 79% the heat lost through the floor and reduces by 30% the cold draughts across the whole house. Following the Energy Saving Trust assessment to certify energy savings claims, it was found that insulating a floor with Q-Bot may typically save around £110 a year in a gas-heated home or £255 a year in an electrically heated home. Find out whether your home might be suitable for our robotic underfloor insulation through our eligibility checker.

 

When will the Green Home Grant be available?

The government hasn’t revealed the starting date of the grant scheme yet, however it is expected to launch at the end of September 2020 until March 2021.

 

How to claim home energy improvements vouchers?

Households across England will be able to receive advice and support from the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) service on the appropriate home improvement measure(s) to install and apply for funding. You will then be offered a list of approved and accredited tradespeople in your local area to carry out the work. Once the works and financials are agreed, you will be able to apply for your voucher to start the work.

If you are looking to receive a quote for our robotic underfloor insulation, please fill in our eligibility checker and we will be in touch shortly.

 

How the government will ensure the best quality of service?

Only approved and accredited tradespeople will be able to take part in the scheme, ensuring high standards, technical competence and consumer protection. Businesses will need to be TrustMark registered or Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited to carry out home energy-saving improvement. Since February 2020, Q-Bot’s underfloor insulation is endorsed by TrustMark, check out our TrustMark profile.

 

If you have any further queries, please get in touch with us on 0203 795 0236  or email.