UK households earning under £36,000 a year can receive up to £15,000 in energy-saving home improvements, with an additional £15,000 available for low-carbon heating systems. The Warm Homes: Local Grant, introduced by the Labour government, is available exclusively in England.
Eligibility and application
To qualify, your home must be in England and privately owned (either by you or your landlord). You must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G. If you don't know your EPC, it can be determined during the application process. Household income must typically be £36,000 or less per year. However, if you earn more, you may still be eligible if you live in a specific postcode area or if someone in your household receives certain benefits.
If eligible and your local council has funding, they will arrange a home survey to identify energy-efficiency improvements. The council will then organise and pay for the agreed work, meaning you won't have to cover any costs. If you have a landlord, they may be required to contribute to some improvements.
Improvements covered
The grant aims to boost your home's EPC rating to at least a 'C'. Possible improvements include:
- Cavity wall insulation
- Flat roof insulation
- Internal wall insulation
- Loft insulation
- Park home insulation
- Room-in-roof insulation
- Solid/external wall insulation
- Underfloor insulation
- Heating controls
- Hot water cylinder insulation
- Hot water cylinder thermostat
- Hot water cylinder/tank
- Low energy lighting
- Solar PV
- Solar thermal
- Battery storage (only when complementing Solar PV)
- Digital/smart controls
- Draught proofing
- Double/triple glazing
- Energy efficiency doors
- Air-source heat pump
- Ground-source heat pump
- Hybrid heat pump
- Shared ground loops
- High Heat Retention Storage Heaters
- Biomass boilers
According to Money Saving Expert, founded by Martin Lewis, the scheme's goal is to raise the EPC rating to at least a 'C' once improvements are installed. The first £15,000 covers energy-efficiency upgrades, while the second £15,000 grant is for low-carbon heating systems like heat pumps.
