What is and how to get a Green Homes Grant

Green Homes Grant was brought in by the UK government in August 2020 to give homeowners a way to improve their home and make some savings at the same time.

The Green Homes Grant can give you a vital saving at a difficult financial time. Read on to find out what it is and how how you can qualify for the grant.

What is the Green Homes Grant?

It’s a grant available to homeowners to help with the cost of energy saving renovations and upgrades such as double glazing, insulation, smart thermostats and energy efficient doors.

Who can apply?

Homeowners and social and private landlords can apply. Application here.

What can I get?

Most homeowners and landlords will be eligible for vouchers up to the value of £5,000 to pay for at least two thirds of the cost. Those on low incomes, and in receipt of certain benefits, may receive additional funding up to £10,000 to cover all of the costs.

What works qualify for the grant?

The list of home improvements that will qualify for the funding is split into primary and secondary measures. You can have one or more of the measures installed. To obtain funding for a secondary measure, you must have already carried out one of the primary measures. The cost of the secondary measure can’t be more than the amount you paid for the primary measure.

Primary measures

• A range of insulation measures including solid wall insulation, under-floor insulation, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, flat roof insulation, room in room insulation, park home insulation or roof insulation.
• Air or ground source heat pumps.
• Solar thermal.

If you don’t already have the recommended insulation, you can get top up insulation. The vouchers can’t be used to replace existing insulation or low-carbon heating. If you want to install low-carbon heating then you’ll need a sufficient level of wall insulation.

Secondary measures

Once again, to obtain funding for a secondary measure, you must have already carried out one of the primary measures. The cost of the secondary measure can’t be more than the amount you paid for the primary measure.

Double glazing, secondary glazing, triple glazing

To use the grant for glazing, you must be upgrading from single glazing and also be having one or more of the primary measures installed. The cost of the double glazing can’t exceed the cost of the primary measure.

Secondary glazing is useful for people who live in a listed building or a property in a conservation area, where you are not allowed to change the external look or feel of a property.

Energy efficient doors

You can use the grant to upgrade your doors to energy efficient alternatives, such as the replacement of doors fitted prior to 2002, when the European Energy Performance Certificate for Buildings was introduced.

Draught proofing

This keeps warm air in and cold air out by sealing your doors and windows, and can really help to reduce your energy bills by enabling you to keep the heating off for longer or turn down the temperature on your thermostat.

Hot water and heating

You can use the vouchers for a hot water tank or appliance tank thermostat or heating controls. They’re also valid for thermostatic radiator valves, smart heating controls and zone controls.

What is not covered in the Green Homes Grant?

Additional information on what the voucher does and does not cover.

How does the Green Homes Grant voucher work?

The voucher can pay for at least two thirds of your chosen primary measure.

“If you decided to install solar panels worth £6,000, you would need to pay £2,000 and the government would then give you a voucher to make up the remaining £4,000.” Shailesh Ramani from Free Price Compare

If you also wanted to make one of the improvements listed as a secondary measure, such as installing energy efficient doors, the amount you could get depends on how much you were given for the primary measure, the solar panels.

So if you got £2,000 for the solar panels, you could then get up to £2,000 for the energy efficient doors.

Simple Energy Advice have a good questionnaire to see if your household is eligible for improvements here. It is definitely worth considering or having a look if you are thinking about doing any upgrades that may fall into eligibility.