Grants & Schemes
What is the LAD Scheme?
In 2020, the government introduced the £2 billion Green Homes Grant to upgrade properties across the UK with energy efficient improvements that will save money
June 24, 2022 No Comments
Insulating the floor in your home is a useful way to maintain heat as even if you’ve got your loft and walls insulated, as much as 20% of your heating can be lost through your floor. As with other types of insulation, you could be eligible for a free underfloor insulation grant through the ECO scheme, if you meet the eligibility criteria.
When your home is being insulated from underneath, the mineral fibre is rolled out and secured with netting that is stapled between the floor joists. Under the ECO scheme, low-income households and those who will struggle with the cost of heating their home could benefit from a free grant which would see free underfloor insulation installed if they qualify and if it is suitable for their home.
If you have a basement or cellar below your property, then you will likely have a suspended floor that is suitable for underfloor insulation. Suspended floors are where the floorboards rest over the joists. These types of floors usually lose more heat as they are resting over a void of cold air. If you have air bricks or ventilation bricks on the outside walls this could be another indication that you have a suspended floor that is suitable for underfloor insulation.
If you have a basement or cellar that you can access safely, have a look down there to see what type of floor you have. If it is a suspended wooden floor, you will probably be able to see wooden joists and the undersides of the floorboards. In cases where there is no method of accessing the space below your property, you will need to lift a corner of the carpet and underlay to have a look.
If your house was constructed after the 1980s the likelihood is that you won’t be eligible for underfloor insulation as they are normally built with concrete floors rather than timber. You could qualify if you have a basement, cellar, or property that is built on a slope. In any case, you will need a minimum of 1m of headroom underneath the floor, and hatch access. At least two-thirds of the footprint of the home needs to be available for underfloor insulation to be installed.
You could qualify if your household income is £31,000 or less, or if your property is in receipt of a qualifying benefit in order to get access to an insulation grant for free underfloor insulation. These benefits include:
As well as being in receipt of a benefit, you need to be the homeowner occupying the property and your home should be situated in England, Scotland, or Wales, and be heated by gas. If you have had your ground floor insulated in the past, you could be eligible to have it redone to the most recent standards, but one of our professionals can advise on this.
When adding extra insulation to floors, the work will fully comply with the appropriate building regulations for where you live. If you live in England or Wales, the floor should have a U-value of 0.25 W/m2K or less if possible. The U-value is a measurement of how quickly heat will travel through the floor.
In order to reach this standard, this usually requires a minimum of 70mm of high-performance foam insulation, or 150mm of mineral wool, but this will vary based on floor type, shape, and size.
High-quality underfloor insulation fitted by professionals can cost anything between £300 and £1200, but with underfloor insulation grants, you could get it for free. Installation of underfloor insulation can result in annual energy savings.
The statistics below are from the Energy Saving Trust (2018) of average annual energy savings based on your house type.
Through the ECO scheme, eligible homeowners could receive cavity wall insulation grants, loft insulation grants, external wall insulation grants, internal wall insulation grants, party wall insulation grants, spray foam insulation grants or room in roof insulation grants.
Find out more information if one of these applies to you:
You don’t need to be receiving benefits!
Why Are Households Installing Insulation
There has never been a better time to take advantage of insulation funding grants
Uninsulated homes experience significant heat loss
With rising energy costs, insulation can be one of the best ways to reduce your bills
Did you know…
In 2020, the government introduced the £2 billion Green Homes Grant to upgrade properties across the UK with energy efficient improvements that will save money
The Warm Homes Fund is a support fund of £150 million that was established by Affordable Warmth Solutions (AWS), National Grid, and Community Interest Company.
Local Authority Flexible Energy (LA Flex) is an extension of the government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme that aims to help homes in the UK
Free Insulation Scheme is a trading style of Lead Pronto Ltd, a Company registered in England & Wales, company number 11563815.
Free Funding to Install Home Insulation