Page last updated at 16:55 GMT, Tuesday, November 15 2011

Grants for Heating and Insulation

Find the Best Deal and Financial Help to Keep Your Home Warm

Under Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) legislation, energy companies are obliged to subsidise energy improvements to domestic properties.  Anyone over 70 years of age or claiming qualifying benefits is entitled to Free cavity wall and/or loft insulation, if appropriate for the property, and subject to a couple of conditions.   Note that in 2012 All Subsidies will be withdrawn, meaning you would pay over £200 minimum for any insulation work - and this could be £500 or more for larger properties.  The Government is then proposing to put in place "The Green Deal", whereby residents take out a long term loan, which stays with the property and is paid back through fuel bills.

Currently, there are a variety of sources of help for insulation, heating improvements, or renewable energy

• Insulate Hampshire - A new partnership between all local authorities in Hampshire, backed by the County Council offers £75 for cavity wall insulation (first 5000 applicants) or £99 for loft.  Those over 70 or claiming qualifying benefits can still obtain this work for free,  Call 0800 952 0037 to book an appointment.
• The 'Green Deal' - The Government is working towards a way we can have energy efficiency works carried out on our homes without up front costs.  New Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) document gives more detail about the measures that the Green Deal will cover.
• New funding for Solid Wall Property Insulation - Thousands of pounds per property in subsidy available.  If you are in private housing with solid walls (no cavity) and claiming any of a range of benefit some residents could get 100% funding to install insulation for solid walls and save hundreds on fuel bills.  This funding available from British Gas but must be claimed via the local authority.  Contact 023 8068 8274 to enquire.
• CarbonFREE - Free Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation for residents in private housing funded by Eastleigh Council (currently fully allocated). 
• The Warm Front Grant  has been re-issued in April 2011 with New Eligibility Criteria (see below or click on link) 
• Energy Company Grants (also called "CERT")  These grants will be ending at the end of next year so take advantage of the savings while you can!
• The Home Trust Loan - a low interest non-profit loan for Eastleigh residents home improvements or to install renewable energy.
• Warm Home Discount comes into force – April 2011
• New mandatory “Warm Home Discount” scheme worth up to £1.1bn over 4 years has come in to force. Under the new scheme pensioners on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit only will automatically receive annual rebates of at least £120 off their electricity bills, with some support available for other groups too
• Crest Surveying (phone 0800 567 7474) is working with Eastleigh Borough Council to help to assess your insulation requirements and to arrange for loft and/or cavity wall insulation to be carried out on your home, whether you are eligible for this to be done for free, or would be asked to contribute.  Note that all of this type of insulation is currently subsidised by the energy suppliers so is cheaper than it will be once the Green Deal comes in, so act now!
• Hampshire County Council can provide personalised help for older persons to arrange for home improvements under their Safe Warm & Secure ( PDF 2MB) programme
• The Energy Smart boiler discount scheme managed by Creative Environmental Networks
• You may be eligible for a reduced energy bills under your own energy supplier's Social Tariff, if you are vulnerable in some way (older or disabled), claiming any of a variety of benefits, or paying more than 10% of your income on your fuel bills.  Contact your energy supplier to enquire.

The Warm Front Grant  

NEW eligibility criteria have now been published and the scheme has been re-opened to new applications.

There are also some other changes you should be aware of:

• the £300 Rebate Scheme is no longer available
• Benefit Entitlement Checks are no longer available
• Low energy lightbulbs (CFLs) will no longer be provided
• LPG boilers will now be available in rural areas as a new system

The grant maximum will remain the same at £3,500 and £6,000 for properties off the gas mains network. There are no other changes to the measures available through the Scheme.

Energy company grants (via CERT - the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target legislation)

Energy companies also provide grants to help customers be more energy efficient. The money for these grants are collected through the energy bills of everyone each year.  The grants are available to all owner-occupiers or private tenants (with landlord's permission) and there are no income or age restrictions. You do not need to be in receipt of benefits to claim one of these grants.  However the grant may not cover the total costs and this will depend on

• your circumstances - everyone over 70 or on qualifying benefits is entitled to FREE insulation for loft or cavity walls, unless your house is unusually large or has a feature that would require non-standard works.  The funding may not last the entire year but if it does run out it should be replenished the following spring when you can apply again.
• if you are over 70 or claiming qualifying benefits, but you already have 60mm or more of loft insulation, it is likely that you may be asked to pay for further 'top up's.  You should have 270mm (about 10 inches) so if this is the case, contact the Council - we may be able to arrange for your loft to be topped up for free under the Wheatsheaf scheme.
•  the size of your house and the type of heating fuel you use
• whether your are on the gas mains network

Call Crest on 0800 567 7474 if you are eligible for free insulation or Insulate Hampshire 0800 952 0037 if you are not claiming qualifying benefits.

Qualifying Benefits for CERT

Over 70 years or age and/or claiming: 

• Council Tax benefit
• Housing Benefit
• Income support
• Income based jobseekers allowance
• Employment and support allowance
• Disability living allowance
• Disablement pension which includes a constant attendance allowance
• War disablement pension which includes a mobility supplement or a constant attendance allowance
• Child tax credit - where your relevant income is £16,040 or less
• Working tax credit - where your relevant income is £16,040 or less
• State pension credit

The Home Trust Loan

Eastleigh Council can now offer a very low interest loan for our residents to carry out important home improvements, such as energy efficiency improvements or even to install renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or air source heat pumps.  For clients aged over 60, the loan may even be arranged on interest only terms, so that the capital and interest is repaid when the property is sold.  To discuss this option, contact Eastleigh Council's Environmental Health unit on 023 8068 8329 or visit the Home Trust Loan website.

Contact  for further advice on home energy efficiency  call 023 8068 8274 (Council) or 0800 512 012 (national energy efficiency helpline).