What is the Green Homes Grant?
Updated on Wednesday 20 January 2021
The Green Homes Grant is a government-funded scheme that aims to help UK homeowners and landlords pay for energy-efficient improvements to their home.
The Green Home Grant can issue vouchers to homeowners and landlords up to a value of £5,000 to cover up to two-thirds of the costs for making pre-approved energy-efficient home improvements.
And, if you’re a homeowner in receipt of certain benefits, you could be entitled to 100% of the costs, up to a value of £10,000.
So this Government’s ‘eco home’ funding grant could really help you save money on energy bills by making your home much more energy efficient.
With so many of us using more home energy due to lockdown restrictions and with a predicted hike in energy prices next April, I’m sure there are many of you that hope to apply for such an invaluable grant.
Who is eligible for the Green Homes Grant?
You may be eligible for a green homes grant if you:
- Reside in the UK
- Own your home or have a long lease or part-own a shared ownership home
- own a park home on a residential, travellers’ or gypsy site
- are a private or social residential landlord
You are not eligible for a Green Homes Grant if you own a brand new, newbuild home which has never been occupied.
Is the Green Homes Grant means-tested?
Homeowners and landlords do not have to be means tested to be entitled to a green homes grant. However, a non-means-tested grant will only cover up to two-thirds of the cost of eligible improvements up to a maximum of £5,000.
But, if you are a homeowner on a low income and are in receipt of certain benefits, you can be means-tested to see whether you’re eligible for a grant to cover 100% of the costs of eligible home improvements, up to a maximum of £10,000.
Can I get a new boiler on the Green Homes Grant?
No, you cannot get a new boiler on the Green Homes Grant Scheme. However, you could qualify for a new free boiler under the Government’s ECO Scheme or at least receive financial help towards the cost of a new boiler.
Incidentally, if your boiler breaks down, most standard home insurance policies do not cover emergency repairs to a boiler or for the replacement of a boiler.
So if your boiler is very old, you should seriously consider applying for a free boiler replacement grant and/or consider taking out a boiler breakdown insurance policy.
For more details, take a look at our guide that fully explains the free boiler replacement grant.
What is covered by the Green Homes Grant?
The Green Homes Grant covers:
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Insulation (primary measure)
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Low carbon heat measures (primary measure)
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Heat loss through windows and doors (secondary measure)
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Heating controls and hot water tank (secondary measure)
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Home improvement costs for labour, materials and VAT
To be eligible for any of the secondary measures, you must have installed and redeemed vouchers for one of the primary measures first. The cost of the secondary measure cannot exceed the cost of the initial primary measure.
Primary measures
Insulation
The following insulation measures are covered by the Green Homes Grant:
- Internal and external solid wall insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Solid or suspended under-floor insulation
- Loft insulation
- Pitched or flat roof insulation
- Loft room insulation
- Park home insulation
Low carbon heat measures
The following low carbon heating measures are covered by the Green Homes Grant:
- Heat pump (air or ground source or hybrid)
- Biomass boiler
- Solar thermal (liquid filled flat plate or evacuated tube collector)
Secondary measures Windows and doors
The following window and door measures are covered by the Green Homes Grant:
- Draught proofing windows or doors
- Replacement of single glazing with double or triple glazing
- Installation of secondary glazing on single glazing
- Replacement of energy inefficient doors (single glazed or solid doors installed prior to 2002)
Heating controls and hot water tank
The following heating control and hot water tank measures are covered by the Green Homes Grant:
- Installation of a hot water tank thermostat
- Installation of hot water tank insulation
- Installation of energy-efficient heating controls (appliance thermostats, smart heating controls, zone controls, intelligent delayed start thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves)
How do I apply for a Green Homes Grant?
To make a Green Homes Grant application, head over to the GOV.UK website.
For more home energy saving tips, check out our related articles below.