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What is the Green Homes grant?

Fri 20 Nov 2020

The Green Homes grant is one part of the government’s plans for the UK to become net zero carbon by the year 2050. It’s a £2 billion fund, to support homeowners (including residential landlords) by paying up to 2/3 of the cost of works to improve the energy efficiency of their property.

What work does the Green Homes grant cover?

There are a number of measures the grant applies to. At least one must be classed as a ‘primary measure’, before further energy savings measures, and supplementary costs like professional services or contractors can also be funded by the grant.

Primary measures include:

  • Solid-wall, cavity wall, under-floor, or roof insulation
  • Biomass boilers
  • Solar thermal
  • Air or ground source heat pump (in homes where wall and loft insulation is already, or going to be, installed).

Further measures include:

  • The double or triple glazing/ secondary glazing of windows which are replacing single glazed windows
  • Energy efficient doors (as long as they are an upgrade, and not replacing the same spec)
  • Hot water tank/ appliance tank thermostats/ heating controls

You can learn more about these measures on the Energy Saving Trust’s website. 

Is it worth looking in to?

For homeowners and residential landlords who have properties with an EPC rating below a C, this scheme is definitely worth looking at.

You can find out the EPC rating of your property by visiting the EPC register.

The idea of the grant, is that it’s being offered to improve the fabric of the property, and any work carried out must be done so by Trustmark and/or MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) registered contractors. You can find local tradespeople carrying out grant-approved work by putting your postcode into this tool.

How to apply for the Green Homes grant

  1. Get advice on energy efficiency improvements from the Simple Energy Advice service
  2. Find local tradespeople who agree to carry out the work and get quotes
  3. Apply for your Green Home grant voucher here.

The grant will be paid once the work has been completed.

When can I apply for the Green Homes Grant?  

The closing date for applications was due to be the 31st March 2021, but due to those applying for the scheme struggling to find approved installers to complete work on time, the deadline has been moved to the end of March 2022. Although this is an extra year, if you’re looking to take advantage of the scheme it’s advisable to get the ball rolling as soon as possible to ensure you can find someone available to complete the work for you.