Social landlords are eligible for the new Green Homes Grant scheme

More detail on the £2bn Green Home Grants scheme has been published on the government’s website. Following positive discussions with officials where we’ve made the case for housing associations’ key role in retrofitting, we can confirm that members are eligible to bid directly for funding via the new voucher scheme.

The Green Home Grants scheme provides funding to support home energy efficiency improvements. Only certain improvements will qualify for funding. As a minimum, improvements must include measures that improve insulation and/or deliver low carbon heating, such as the installation of heat pumps or solar thermal.

Homeowners, including private and social landlords, can apply for two thirds of the cost of improvements with grants capped at £5,000. Low income households qualify for grants worth up to £10,000 to support energy efficiency upgrades. Some funding has been set aside for local authorities, who will be encouraged to bid for funds to improve the energy efficiency of low income households in their areas. Local authority-led consortia bids (including housing associations) will be allowed. Additional funding will also be allocated in due course through local energy hubs.

Builders, plumbers and other tradespeople will have to register for TrustMark or be Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited in order to take part in the scheme.

The NHF has welcomed the scheme, and continues to work with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to ensure that the scheme is accessible as possible to housing association.

For more information please contact us.