Green Homes Grant

Our summary of the Green Homes Grant.  Important: this scheme only runs for 6 months from Sept-20.  Act now to claim this generous funding!

Grant scheme logo and link

 

 

HOW MUCH?

The government’s new grant scheme pays up to £5,000 per household as a 2/3rds contribution towards total cost.  So if a project costs £7,500, you’d pay £2,500 with £5,000 from the government.

If anyone in the household is on any income-based or disability benefit, you will qualify for up to £10,000 with no contribution needed from you.  See list of qualifying benefits at the bottom.

Only owner-occupied homes / landlords (private and social) will be eligible.   If you are a social housing tenant, we suggest contacting your landlord to urge them to claim this ASAP.

WHAT WORK QUALIFIES?

Work must include at least one “primary measure”:

  • Insulation: Solid wall, cavity wall, under-floor, loft, flat roof, room in roof AND/OR
  • Low carbon heat: Air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, solar thermal.  Heat pumps are powered by electricity and will entirely replace your oil or gas boiler.  More info here.

You can then claim for a “secondary measure”

Grant available only up to the amount provided for the primary measures above.

  • Draught proofing
  • Windows and doors: Double/triple glazing (where replacing single glazing), secondary glazing (in addition to single glazing), upgrading to energy efficient doors (where replacing doors installed prior to 2002).
  • Heating controls and insulation: appliance thermostats, hot water tank thermostats, hot water tank insulation, smart heating controls, zone controls, delayed start thermostat, thermostatic radiator valves

WHO CAN DO THE WORK?

You must use a certified installer with the governments’ Trustmark scheme.   The following companies are listed in our vicinity on the Trustmark website which provide some or all of the qualifying services.

HELP AND ADVICE

  • The climate action group is happy to help where it can, sharing knowledge and advice.  Contact simon.oldridge@gmail.com or on 07889 379910.  We are looking for guidance on how best to insulate the types of houses prevalent in the parish and will share it.
  • South Dartmoor Community Energy also offer free and impartial advice to households in South Hams.  Contact them on freephone 0800 112 3044 or info@sdce.org.uk.  I’ve been in touch with Sophie Phillips there who is happy to help people understand how to approach this grant.

Warm & Well South Hams logo

OVERLAP WITH RHI GRANT

The RHI (renewable heat incentive) grant also covers heat pumps etc and runs until March 2022.  RHI can pay up to over £30,000 depending on system size, but you receive it over 7 years which means you have to foot the cost up-front.  Ideally, I’d suggest using the Green Homes Grant to fund insulating your home, and then use the RHI grant to hep fund switching to a heat pump.  But if you can’t afford the up-front costs of a heat pump and you live in a smaller home, it may make sense to use the Green Homes Grant for a heat pump.

Other Stuff

  • You can top-up existing (e.g. more insulation) but the grant doesn’t cover replacement
  • Not new-build
  • Only payable to the owner

Eligible benefits for the £10,000 scheme

You qualify for the Green Home Grants low-income scheme if you receive at least one of the following benefits:

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

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