Grants to help with energy efficiency

Key information

If you need help with energy efficiency improvements in your privately-owned or rented home, there are a number of schemes that may be able to help. Which scheme you apply for depends on where you live in the country and whether you are on a low income.

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Taxable: No

Administered by: Depends on the scheme

Index

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Who does it help?

The scheme in England that offers grants to help improve energy efficiency is called the Warm Front Scheme. In Wales it is called the Nest Programme; in Scotland the Energy Assistance Package; and in Northern Ireland the Warm Homes scheme.
If you don't qualify for one of these grants to make your home warmer, you may qualify to get free or lower cost cavity wall insulation through Energy Link. This is an organisation which puts people in touch with reputable installers. The discounts are funded by energy companies, including npower, E.ON and Scottish Power. For more information go to the Energy Link free insulation website (link opens in a new window).

You may also be able to apply to your local council (link opens in a new window) for help towards energy efficiency.

Electricity companies may also provide help with energy efficiency.

Gas companies may also offer discounts on new boilers if you want to scrap your old one. In Scotland, the government may pay up to £400 towards the cost of a new boiler under the Energy Saving Scotland Boiler Scrappage Scheme (link opens in a new window).

Are the schemes means tested?

You need to be getting certain means-tested or income-related benefits to qualify for a grant. For example, you may qualify if you are getting one or more of the following benefits and depending on where you live:

Income Support
Housing Benefit (HB England, Scotland and Wales) (HB Northern Ireland)
Council Tax Benefit
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Pension Credit
Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance.

You may also get help if you're getting Tax Credits and your income is below a certain level.

You'll need to contact the scheme provider in the country where you live to find out how much help you can get. This is because some benefits may not entitle you to receive the full package of energy efficiency improvements.

What help do the schemes provide?

A technical survey of the work is needed for the existing heating system in your property to find out if you qualify for a grant. If your home needs to be made warmer, the grant could cover things like insulation or a replacement boiler. The work is carried out by recommended installers. You don't arrange for it to be done.
All the schemes offer free energy saving advice to everyone, even if you don't qualify for a grant to make your home warmer. You may also be able to get a free benefits check to make sure you're not missing out on other money.

How much does it pay?

In England, the maximum grant under the Warm Front scheme, is £3,500, or £6,000 if oil-fired central heating is to be installed. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the technical survey identifies the value of the work that needs to be done.

How to claim

You can get more information about how to apply for money for home energy efficiency schemes by calling your local Energy Saving Advice Centre on: 0800 512 012.

England: For more information about Warm Front, see the Directgov website (link opens in a new window)
Wales: For more information about the Nest Programme, see the Nest Wales website (link opens in a new window) go to:
Scotland: For more information about the Energy Assistance Package, go to the Energy Saving Trust website (link opens in a new window)
Northern Ireland: Call the Warm Homes Scheme on 0800 988 0559 or go to the Warm Homes scheme website (link opens in a new window)
For other grants, contact your local council (link opens in a new window) or energy supplier and find out if they have information.
The Energy Savings Trust also has useful information about energy grants (link opens in a new window).

Renewable Heat Premium Payments Phase 2

This Government scheme, which runs from 1 May 2012 to 31 March 2013, is designed to help you afford renewable technologies for your home, such as:

Solar thermal panels
Heat pumps (air to water source, ground source or water source but excluding exhaust air heat pumps)
Biomass boilers.

The amount received depends on which technology you are applying for.

Who can apply?

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you are eligible to apply for the Renewable Heat Premium Payment
How you currently heat your home will depend on which technologies you are able to apply for
The property must be owned by you or if you are a tenant you must be purchasing the system yourself and have permission from the owner of the property
If the property is a new build, then you must retain ownership of the property either as the occupier or as the private Landlord
Property must have loft insulation to 250mm and cavity wall insulation (where practical)
You should have all necessary planning and environmental permissions in place
The product and installer you go with must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) (link opens in a new window), Solar Keymark (link opens in a new window) (or equivalent).

Applications and further information

To apply or to obtain more information on the Renewable Heat Premium Payments scheme, see the Energy Saving Trust website (link opens in a new window).

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This information has been produced by Citizens Advice.

Last updated: 1 May 2012

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