It’s safe to say almost everyone would like to save money on their heating bills, and one of the best ways to do this is to have external wall insulation installed. Similarly, as we all want to get the best deal on our home improvements, many people are asking if there are grants available for external wall insulation.
The short answer is yes – grants do exist for the purpose of installing external wall insulation (among other improvements that make your home more energy-efficient), but not all customers are eligible. Here, we’ll run through some of the grants available and who can apply for them.
ECO scheme
The main grant available is the ECO (Energy Company Obligation) scheme by the UK government which has the aims of helping homeowners reduce carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty. The current scheme is ECO3 and will run until 31st March 2022.
This scheme obliges medium and large energy providers to help with home improvements that make the property more energy-efficient – one of the main improvements being external wall insulation, among others.
The ECO scheme includes the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO) for those on certain benefits, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Allowance, and Universal Credit, among others. HHCRO is designed to help residents who are struggling with their fuel bills by reducing the cost of insulation improvements among other energy-saving changes.
Help to Heat flexible eligibility is another part of the ECO scheme for people in housing with poor energy efficiency. Local authorities will declare which properties are eligible for this scheme and must be households in fuel poverty or on a low income. Some non-fuel poor homes may also be eligible for solid wall insulation such as external wall insulation in addition to the vulnerable households.
Whether or not you are eligible for ECO funding depends on a number of factors, such as the improvements the property needs, the area you live in and what benefits you receive. If you live in social housing that has a low energy efficiency rating (E or lower) you should be eligible for an ECO grant.
Green Homes Grant
Homeowners and residential landlords can apply for the Green Homes Grant voucher, which helps by covering two-thirds of the cost of installing eligible energy-efficiency improvements to the property, such as external wall insulation or low-carbon heating, up to a maximum of £5,000. If you or someone in your household receives certain benefits, 100% of the cost may be covered, up to a maximum of £10,000.
You may be eligible for this grant if you are a homeowner, own a park home on a residential site, or if you are a residential landlord in the private or social rented sector. However, this grant is not available for new-build homes of which you are the first resident.
A Green Homes Grant can be applied for as well as ECO funding, but they cannot be used on the same improvement. Improvements made with the Green Homes Grant voucher must be completed by 31st March 2020.
Other grants for external wall insulation
The Green Deal was a previous scheme by the UK government, but it ended in 2015 and is no longer supported. Some local authority schemes are also available in certain areas, but you will need to check with your local authority to find the details of such schemes, and whether you are eligible.
There are grants for external wall insulation and, if you are eligible, you should take advantage, as you could save up to 50% on your annual heating bills once the installation is complete. You can find out if you’re eligible for grants using our handy grant application form.
Related:
What Grants are Available for Home Improvement in the UK?