Get Paid to Go Green

Homeowners and residential landlords can claim up to £5,000 in government home improvement grants from Wednesday 30 September.  The Green Homes Grant voucher can be used towards the cost of installing energy efficient improvements to your property, including insulation, double glazing and many other energy efficient measures.

Vouchers will cover two-thirds of the cost of eligible improvements, up to a maximum government contribution of £5,000.

If you, or someone in your household, receive certain benefits you may be eligible for a voucher covering 100% of the cost of the improvements.  The maximum value of the voucher is £10,000.  Landlords cannot apply for the low-income part of the scheme.

For anyone considering applying you need to have the work completed and the voucher redeemed by 31 March 2021.

 

Are you eligible?

The scheme is open to homeowners and residential landlords who live in England and own their own home, park home (on a residential site) or private or social rented sector property.

Grants are not available for newly built homes that have not been previously occupied.

Check if you’re eligible for a Green Homes Grant.

 

Additional eligibility criteria for landlords

Most private rented properties must have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E under the minimum energy efficiency standard.

If you’re applying for a voucher for a private rented sector property, you need to either provide:

• proof that you have met this standard
• proof of an exemption

 

How it will work?

1. Firstly, you should check if you are eligible by using the eligibility questionnaire here. Biomass boilers are also in the scope of the Green Home Grant, but are not included in this questionnaire.

2. It is then recommended that you seek advice on how best to improve the energy efficiency and heating in your home. A list of the home improvements is below.

You can use the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) website to check what energy efficiency or low carbon heating improvements may be best suited to your home.

You can also seek advice from your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or from a retrofit assessor. You cannot claim for the cost of any advice as part of your grant.

3. Once you have decided which improvements to have installed, it is recommended you get at least 3 quotes from certified installers to make sure you are getting the best value for money.

You must receive at least 1 quote from a Green Homes Grant registered installer in order to apply for a voucher.

4. When you apply you will need to provide a copy of the quote along with details of the installer(s) – if using more than one installer to install different measures you only need to complete one application form but will need to provide a separate quote for each measure.

Applying for a voucher does not guarantee that your application will be approved. You should not commit to start any work until you have been successfully issued with a voucher.

5. You will receive a separate voucher for each of the measures that you have applied to install.

Each voucher is only valid for the measure and property you have applied for. Once the voucher is issued the installer can begin the work.

6. To redeem your voucher, you’ll need to confirm that:

• the installation was completed satisfactorily before the voucher expiry date
• you have received the necessary documents from the installer
• you have paid your share of the costs to the installer (if applicable)
• you meet the relevant eligibility requirements

You will need to provide a dated copy of the invoice issued by the installer

When you redeem your voucher, the grant will be paid on your behalf directly to the installer.

 

What Home improvements are included?

The available measures are split into ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ measures.

Primary measures

The voucher must be used to install at least 1 primary measure.

Secondary measures

If you install at least 1 primary measure, your voucher can be used to help cover the cost of any of the following secondary measures.

The amount you get towards the cost of secondary measures cannot exceed the amount you get for primary measures, for example, if you received £1,000 towards loft insulation you can only receive a maximum of £1,000 towards any of the secondary measures below.

You will only be able to redeem vouchers for secondary measures once you have installed a primary measure and redeemed the vouchers for that measure.

 

Primary Measures

Secondary Measures

Insulation The following insulation measures are covered by the voucher: solid wall insulation (internal or external) cavity wall insulation under-floor insulation (solid floor, suspended floor) loft insulation flat roof insulation pitched roof insulation room in roof insulation insulating a park home   Low carbon heat The following low carbon heating measures are covered by the voucher: air source heat pump ground source heat pump solar thermal (liquid filled flat plate or evacuated tube collector) biomass boiler hybrid heat pump

Windows and doors The following measures are covered by the voucher: draught proofing double or triple glazing (where replacing single glazing) secondary glazing (in addition to single glazing) energy efficient replacement doors (replacing single glazed or solid doors installed before 2002)       Heating controls and insulation The following measures are covered by the voucher: hot water tank thermostat hot water tank insulation heating controls (such as appliance thermostats, smart heating controls, zone controls, intelligent delayed start thermostat, thermostatic radiator valves)

 

How to carry out work under the Green Homes Grant Scheme if you are a tradesperson or business

See the link below for government guidance on how to become an accredited tradesperson for the scheme.

Click here to find out how to become a Green Homes Grant installer.

 

What if I’m claiming other grants or funding?

 

Energy Company Obligation

You will not be able to claim a Green Homes Grant subsidy vouchers towards the cost of a measure which has also received funding under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). However, you can claim both ECO and Green Homes Grant subsidy providing they are each for different measures – for example, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.

Renewable Heat Incentive

The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) gives households money towards renewable heating costs in their home. Payments are made for 7 years and are based on the amount of renewable heat made by your heating system.

You can claim both the Domestic RHI and the Green Home Grant for the renewable heat installation. You must claim the Green Home Grant first and then notify Ofgem that you have used it when you apply for accreditation to the Domestic RHI. The Green Homes Grant will then be deducted from your Domestic RHI payments.

Households can claim the Green Homes Grant for energy efficiency measures both before and after accreditation to the Domestic RHI.

For full guidance on the scheme please see the government guidance, link below:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-green-homes-grant-scheme