Home energy help for residents

Home Upgrade Grant

The Home Upgrade Grant scheme is available to eligible residents to help improve the energy efficiency of homes, lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions. The grant is available to properties that are not heated by mains gas and have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band D, E, F or G. If your property does not have a current EPC and you qualify for the grant, we will arrange for one to be carried out for you.

Examples of improvements that can be made to your home:

• solid wall insulation (internal or external)
• cavity wall insulation
• loft, room-in-roof and flat roof insulation
• under-floor insulation
• air source heat pump
• solar thermal for hot water
• solar panels for electricity generation
• replacement high heat retention electric storage heaters
• heating controls
• external door and window upgrades (single glazing replacements - only in conjunction with other improvements).

Apply for a Home Upgrade Grant

Typically, the main heating source for eligible properties will be electric, LPG, oil or solid fuel. You will still qualify if your property has a mains-gas supply for cooking purposes and you meet all other criteria.

To qualify, you must be a homeowner or private tenant and meet one of the following income criteria:

• you receive an income related benefit (for example, Universal Credit, Pension Credit Guarantee, Council Tax Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or Tax Credits)
• your total combined annual household income before tax, National Insurance and other deductions is no more than £36,000
• your total combined annual household income before tax, National Insurance and other deductions is no more than £20,000 after your housing costs have been deducted (by housing costs, we mean mortgage payments, rent payments and Council Tax)
• if you live in one of the scheme's eligible postcode areas you are not required to provide evidence of household income as long as the EPC and heating type requirements are met (eligible postcodes are automatically recognised during the application process)

All energy efficiency improvements are fully funded for qualifying homeowners. Eligible private tenants can apply with their landlord’s approval. In the case of a tenanted property the landlord is required to make a minimum one-third contribution.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) are national Government schemes aimed at improving the energy efficiency of eligible domestic properties to help reduce fuel poverty levels and lower carbon emissions.

If you live in a property with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band D-G* and you meet certain eligibility criteria, you may be able to benefit from a range of energy efficiency upgrades including insulation and heating upgrades.

Households eligible to apply include people who are:

• classed as living on a low household income, or
• vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home, or
• in receipt of qualifying benefits

For residents in receipt of a qualifying benefit, Grant Store will carry out a benefits check with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to verify eligibility to the scheme.

Residents not in receipt of a qualifying benefit will need to meet one of the Eligibility Routes set out in our Statement of Intent.

We have appointed Grant Store as our preferred delivery partner to help us deliver these schemes. Residents can apply to the scheme using the form or query their eligibility with Grant Store directly on 01942 918844.

Further information

The role local authorities play within the national schemes is only to verify resident eligibility. We have appointed Grant Store to help us raise awareness of the schemes and to identify eligible residents; to increase the uptake of the schemes across the borough.

Grant Store will carry-out eligibility checks on our behalf to ensure residents meet the eligibility criteria set by Ofgem. As a requirement of the scheme residents will need to provide evidence in regards to household income or eligible long-term health conditions.

Once eligibility has been confirmed the Council will provide Grant Store with a signed Declaration. This does not guarantee the installation of any energy efficiency improvements. The final decision will be made by the energy company who are providing the funding and will depend on a number of factors including; the results of a property survey, the cost of any measures needed, the energy savings that can be achieved and whether the energy supplier has achieved, or is close to achieving their targets.

*Homes with an Energy Performance Certificate of Band D will likely need to require an insulation and a heating upgrade in order to qualify.

More information on the national ECO scheme can be found on the Ofgem website.

Previous Statements of Intent:

Home Improvement Agency

Our Home Improvement Agency (HomeKey+), previously known as the Home Assistance Hub, is delivered by ForHousing. This service is provided across the borough with the aim of supporting people with continued independence in their home.

The Home Improvement Agency (HIA) supports older people, people with disabilities or those on low incomes to repair, improve or adapt their homes. The HIA offer Home Safety Grants and Decent Home Loans.

Home Safety Grant

Home Safety Grants are available to homeowners to carry out urgent repairs where there is a serious risk of harm to the occupier (i.e. new boilers). The grant is only available where no other grant funding or financial assistance is available. Applicants are subject to the following eligibility criteria:

• applicant has an owner’s interest in the property
• category one hazards present (bands A and B)
• maximum £5,000 subject to means testing
• grant must be repaid if applicant moves within five years.

Decent Homes Loan

Decent Homes Loan can help with essential repairs such as roof work, used to fund heating systems, insulation measures or to update kitchen and bathroom facilities. Funding can also be used to remove any serious hazards such as serious dampness, dangerous stairs or electrical wiring which could affect health and safety.

This means-tested equity loan is available from £1,000 to £40,000 for homeowners on low income who need to improve their home to bring it up to the government’s ‘Decent Homes Standard’.