Grants & Schemes
The ECO 4 scheme (the government’s Energy Company Obligation) is the fourth, and likely final, entry to the scheme to help qualifying households receive funding
October 3, 2023 No Comments
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There are a number of insulation grants in Wales that can help qualifying households receive free or substantially subsidised insulation to make their property more energy efficient. The most prominent scheme for insulation in Wales is Nest.
The Welsh Government Warm Homes Programme, which the Nest scheme is part of, offers to fund energy efficient home improvements for low-income households and disadvantaged areas across the region. The scheme supports the Welsh Government’s commitments to:
Are you finding it difficult to keep your home warm? You could qualify for the installation of energy efficient measures, such as insulation, at no cost to you. Through the Nest scheme, you could get a free boiler, central heating system, or free insulation if you are on a low income to ensure the heat in your property is better retained and to lower the cost of your yearly energy bills. You could be entitled to free energy efficient measures like insulation if:
If you are entitled to home improvements, a package of energy efficient insulation measures will be recommended at no cost to you. This will keep your property warmer and save you money on your bills. It is important to note that Nest only approves applications for residential homes, the property can’t have been used for business purposes in the 12 months before the application.
Customers who have benefitted from a package of free energy efficient improvements in the past through the Welsh Government Warm Homes scheme are not able to receive any more energy efficiency improvements at the same property.
The means-tested benefits that are eligible for Nest insulation grants are:
As well as the relevant criteria for people receiving a means-tested benefit, the new health criteria for free insulation grants in Wales are someone in your property needs to:
When applying for free insulation funding through the scheme you need to confirm that you have proof of your health condition e.g a prescription, medication package, treatment plan, or a GP/hospital appointment or referral letter. If you are found to be eligible for a grant, the evidence will be requested and examined by an assessor when they visit your property.
Some individuals, who spend significant portion of their time at home, are considered to be at more risk during the cold winter months. This can include:
For these residents who are living with a health condition that can qualify them for funding, the income threshold increases to £21,352 after housing costs with savings of no more than £16,000 for older individuals aged 75 or more.
Alongside the health condition evidence detailed above, you can show your eligibility for the extra income threshold by providing a discretionary/disabled bus pass, blue badge, or by being registered with the local authority under section 18 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. This proof will be confirmed by the assessor when they visit your home.
As we have seen above homeowners and privately renting tenants can qualify for Nest energy efficient insulation. However, for privately rented homes, permission from the landlord will be required prior to any work being started. The process of getting landlord permission can be managed for you.
When a tenant applies for the scheme, landlords who give their approval for energy efficient improvements to be fitted need to sign a declaration form beforehand. The declaration puts in place a clause that the landlord cannot increase the rent on the property for at least 12 months after the installation has been completed.
You could be eligible for loft insulation grants in Wales through the Nest scheme if you meet the eligibility criteria above. Another option to get free loft insulation is via the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. This is a government-backed scheme that was launched in 2013 with the intention of lowering carbon emissions in domestic households across the UK as well as providing financial assistance to low-income homes who need support with their energy bills.
To qualify, your home should be owned or privately rented, currently occupied, and not going through any renovation, and if you are receiving an eligible benefit, you should be able to get a 100% grant that will fully cover the cost of installing loft insulation into your property. As well as this, there should be 100mm (4 inches) or less of insulation already in place in your loft. Normally, this will be in line with or below the joists, if it is over this level, you can get a survey and a quote to add it up to 270mm.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical detached property receiving 270m of loft insulation could experience annual energy bills savings of £590 (based on a gas-heated home and energy prices as of October 2022).
Any homeowners and private tenants that meet the terms of the eligibility criteria can get a free cavity wall insulation grant in Wales, as long as you are living in the home and there is no renovation work being done. Homes that are made of brick and constructed between 1924 and 1982 are generally suitable for cavity wall insulation. However, houses that were built up to 2005 without any insulation could also get help through funding.
As energy costs continue to rise and negatively impact homes across Wales, getting cavity wall insulation is one of the best things you can do to lower your heating bills and efficiently retain heat in your property. Studies have shown that an uninsulated cavity wall can lead to up to 35% of heat within a home escaping, and houses that have cavity wall insulation are able to save up to £690 a year on their bills.
According to the Energy Saving Trust (based on a gas-heated home and fuel prices as of October 2022), a typical cavity wall installation could result in the following annual energy bill savings for different types of property:
There are many different types of insulation available to suit any home.
There has never been a better time to take advantage of insulation funding grants
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The ECO 4 scheme (the government’s Energy Company Obligation) is the fourth, and likely final, entry to the scheme to help qualifying households receive funding
Are you fed up with being overlooked when it comes to funding home energy efficiency measures through grants? The good news is that the ECO+
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