The Green Homes Grant Scheme Explained

On Tuesday 7th July 2020, the UK Government announced the Green Homes Grant Scheme as part of a raft of measures designed to stimulate economic recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic. Further details were announced in parliament the following day but what exactly is the scheme, who will benefit from it and what work can you have carried out to your home?

Full details have yet to be released but the Scheme is due to launch in September 2020 and is likely to be aimed at homeowners and landlords living in England. For most households, the Government will cover up to two thirds of the cost of works that will save customers money on their energy bills, up to a maximum of £5,000. Those on low incomes who are likely to be living in fuel poverty are set to receive the full cost up to a maximum of £10,000.

The complete list of qualifying products has not yet been announced but the Government have said that it will cover loft insulation, wall insulation, floor insulation and double glazing. Other products could include solar panels, boilers and central heating systems. It may be the case that the products must be recommended on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in order to qualify.

£2 Billion in funding has been set aside for the scheme which the Government say could support more than 100,000 jobs, in addition to strengthening the supply chain and helping to reach it’s target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. More than 600,000 homes could benefit from these energy efficient upgrades, saving hundreds of pounds each year on energy bills in addition to increasing the value of homes.

The scheme will be voucher-based and applications are set to be made online. Customers will be shown which products they can have installed and a list of suppliers that have been accredited to the scheme. Once they have received quotes from one or more suppliers they would then apply for the voucher, have the work carried out then redeem the voucher with the installer and pay any shortfall if required. Customers should also be able to enquire through this website as EnergyLink are working to ensure that we have installers who are accredited on the scheme. Our installers would then quote for the work and help customers with the voucher application.

So while this is great news for homeowners and landlords, what does it mean for the insulation industry? At present, grants are only available for homeowners and private tenants who are in receipt of qualifying benefits. Funding for other households was available until the end of 2012 but it was gradually reduced and ended completely in September 2018. The Green Deal commenced in January 2013 offering loans that were re-paid through savings made on energy bills but this failed to gather momentum and was withdrawn in July 2015. Due to the reduction in potential customer numbers, installers have found it increasingly difficult in recent years so the Green Homes Grant scheme will be a welcome boost to both installers and customers alike.

To see if you are entitled to any help under the current ECO grant scheme, click here to see if you qualify. To apply for the new Green Homes Grant, please check back in September 2020 when the scheme is due to open.