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Green Homes Grant – Reduce your Energy Improvement Costs

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IMPORTANT NOTE:

Applications to the Green Homes Grant scheme are closed

If you have already been issued a voucher, you can still use it to get the work done. You should redeem your voucher before its expiry date.


Are you a residential landlord or homeowner looking to improve the energy efficiency of your home? If so, the UK government is offering an insulation grant that could significantly reduce your energy improvement costs—provided you qualify.

With Green Homes Grant vouchers issued by the UK government, homeowners in England can access up to £5,000 per household in energy-saving improvements. But there are conditions that stipulate what encompasses an eligible homeowner and installations that are covered by the scheme.

Read on for more on how you can take full advantage of the Green Homes Grants to insulate your home—and cut on future energy bills in the process.

First Things First; What is the Green Homes Grant?

The Green Homes Grant is a £2bn scheme launched by the government as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The scheme awards vouchers to eligible homeowners—allowing them the opportunity to make specified home improvements at a reduced cost.

The home improvements could include the installation of low-carbon heating to cut carbon dioxide emissions or measures to insulate your home.

While the scheme offers immense benefits to homeowners looking to cut their energy-efficiency costs, there are concern over oversubscription and a scarcity of qualified installers.

green homes grant image

How Much are the Government Insulation Grants Worth?

Each household can save two-thirds of the cost of installing covered energy-efficient improvement up to a maximum of £5,000.

For example, let’s assume you plan to install spray foam insulation to curb carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency to your home for £4,250. In such a case, the government would contribute approximately £2,833 (two-thirds)—with the homeowner covering the remaining £1,417.

Keep in mind that the government also offers a low-income Green Homes Grant scheme—whereby it may cover the full cost (100%) of home improvements up to a maximum voucher contribution of £10,000. This covers households with the following:

  • Housing benefit
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Income Support (IS)
  • Pension Guarantee Credit
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • Child Tax Credits (CTC)
  • Universal Credit (UC)
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Contribution-based Jobseekers allowance (JSA)
  • Working Tax Credit (WTC)
  • Income-based Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Contribution-based Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
5000 pounds

When Can You Redeem the Voucher?

The Green Homes government insulation grant went live on 30 September 2020—but the government will start issuing the vouchers from early November 2020.

Once issued, a voucher is redeemable by 31st March 2022—and homeowners are required to schedule and completed their installation works within the 3-month voucher period. This means that you should consider consulting and getting a quote from accredited/certified installers such as Mass Foam Systems as soon as possible—owing to the testing timeframe.

Utilizing the Green Homes Grant vouchers could help families in England make energy savings—allowing them to slash around £200 off their energy bills. It can also help reduce each household’s carbon footprint.

Note that the voucher can only be utilised within the 3 months of redeeming the voucher or by the end date of 31st March 2022. This means it is your job to ensure that the works are completed by the 31st March 2022 so that you can utilise your voucher.

30th of September

What Does the Green Homes Grant Cover? – Home Improvements

The eligible home improvements that you can install with the Green Homes Grant are divided into a “Primary” and “Secondary” category.

The Primary category includes:

  • Energy Efficiency Insulations: This covers solid wall (internal or external), cavity wall, under-floor (suspended floor, solid floor), loft, flat roof, pitched roof, room in roof, and insulating a park home.
  • Low Carbon Heating: Air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, solar thermal (liquid-filled flat plate or evacuated tube collector), biomass boiler, and a hybrid heat pump.

If you qualify for one of these measures in the Primary category of eligible home improvements, you can also further your energy-saving measures with the following Secondary installations:

  • Windows and Doors: Draught proofing, double or triple glazing, secondary glazing, and energy-efficient replacement doors (i.e.., replacing solid or single glazed doors installed before 2002).
  • Insulation and Heating Controls: Hot water tank thermostat, hot water tank insulation, heating controls (e.g., thermostatic radiator valves, intelligent delayed start thermostat, zone controls, smart heating controls, and appliance thermostats).

The amount for the Secondary measures is capped at the same government contribution made for Primary measures. For examples, homeowners who saved £2,833 from solid wall insulation can only claim a maximum of £2,833 for draught-proofing windows and doors.

In addition to the above measures, the issued vouchers also cover associated works (e.g., changes to radiators and improving ventilation) and supplementary costs (e.g., contractor costs and professional costs).

Please note that the government grant DOES NOT cover the following measures/projects”

  • Installations works that commenced before the issuance of the government insulation grant.
  • Construction of new extensions.
  • Renovations that do not contribute to the energy efficiency of a home.
  • Works for conservatories or extensions that lack a fixed heating system.

Who is Eligible for the Green Homes Insulation Grant?

Below are conditions for eligible applicants:

  • You can only apply for a voucher if you’re a homeowner in England—whether it’s shared ownership or a long-leasehold.
  • You’re a landlord in the social rented or private sector. This also includes housing associations or local authorities.
  • You must own a residential site or park home—and not a commercial property.
  • The insulation grant does not apply for newly constructed houses that haven’t been previously occupied.
  • The home improvement measures in question must have not received funding under ECO (Energy Company Obligation) or a Local Authority Delivery Scheme.

How do you apply for the Green Homes Government Grant?

Accessing the government insulation grant involves a few steps as highlighted below:

STEP 1: Complete a questionnaire available at Simple Energy Advice (SEA) to check your eligibility for the insulation grant. You’re also required to check the best/applicable low carbon heat or energy-efficient improvements for your property.

STEP 2: Find trustworthy accredited installers within your region to complete the installations. It’s advisable to obtain at least 3 quotes for good measure. Ensure you consult a TrustMark or Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) registered tradesperson—and obtain their license for use in the application process. This step is important due to the risk of rogue and fraudulent tradespersons.

STEP 3: Fill the application form for the government grant. Ensure you have the full name/DoB of the homeowner and people living in the covered property and an installation quote from a tradesperson with a TrustMark registration.

Keep in mind that applying for the voucher does not guarantee approval – hence you should not start installation works without a voucher in hand.

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