From 20 September, if you’re a Home Owners or Landlord, you could benefit from the new Green Homes Grant, which will allow you to make savings on your energy bills.
Who can benefit from the Green Homes Grant?
Details recently announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, state that from September 2020, Home Owners and Landlords in England are eligible to apply for vouchers up to the value of £5,000 from the £2bn Green Homes Grant – These vouchers can be used to pay towards energy-saving home improvements, such as wall or loft insulation or double glazing to replace single glazing. Those in low-income households are eligible to apply for vouchers of a much greater value – up to £10,000.
What if the home improvement costs more than the vouchers provided?
Only those in low-income households are likely to receive vouchers that will cover the total cost of the home improvement (up to the value of £10,000). For other Households/ Landlords, the vouchers will cover up to two-thirds of the cost, so you should be prepared to pay the final contribution.
Who will complete the home improvements?
An accredited tradesperson i.e. who is registered with TrustMark, or who are already certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, must complete the home improvements, and this has been stressed by the Government. Details of suitable tradespeople is to be available once the Grant is launched in September 2020.
What home improvements covered under the Grant?
The home improvements are split into two categories, primary and secondary.
To gain support from the Grant you’ll have to install at least one of the following primary improvements (these have to be new installations rather than replacements – although some existing insulations or low carbon heating could qualify for the financial support)
These are:
- Insulation such as cavity wall, solid wall, underfloor, loft or roof insulation
- Low carbon heating such as solar thermal systems or air-source or ground-source heat pumps
Once support has been given to complete one of the measures from the primary category, a grant for secondary improvements will be considered.
These include:
- Heating controls and insulation, such as thermostats and smart heating controls.
- Replacement of single glazing with double/triple glazing
- Replacement of doors that were installed before 2002 with energy efficient doors
- Draught proofing
It’s worth noting that there will be limits to the amount of financial support offered with the value of vouchers for secondary measures limited to the same amount that was provided for the primary measures.
I’m a Landlord, should I apply for financial support through this Grant?
Yes, it could be worth it. At the moment if you are letting a property in the private rented sector, you are required to have a minimum energy performance rating of ‘E’, or above, on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
It is possible this minimum rating may rise within the next few years, and if so, you may be required to make improvements to comply. If you act now you would be prepared for any regulatory changes. It also means that your Tenants could benefit from the home improvements earlier rather than later.
Need more information?
The Simple Energy Advice service (SEA) will be providing advice and support about the Grant, if you are eligible for the vouchers and how to apply for them. They will also have a list of the approved Tradespeople that can be used, as well as an Energy Efficiency Calculator to help you understand what energy-saving improvements could be made to your property.
You can also find out more on the Government website.
