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There are currently a number of home improvement grants are currently in place to help those on low income who are struggling. 

The energy price guarantee currently costs the average household £2,500 for gas and electricity bills with the government’s energy bill support – but yours may be higher or lower than this depending on your usage. But from April next year, that figure will rise to £3000 as the government scales back support. This means thousands on benefits or low-income are on the hunt for ways to keep costs at bay.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme aims to incentivise and increase the deployment of Heat Pumps by providing upfront grants toward the cost of a Heat Pump for the consumer and hopefully cause an uplift in installs to help the UK meet its net-zero targets sooner rather than later.

A one-time payment grant of £7,500 towards the cost will be available for Air Source Heat Pumps and biomass boilers in limited circumstances. The grant is claimed by the installer on the customer’s behalf and is taken off the total cost.

You will be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme if you meet a few simple requirements:

• Be employed, self-employed or retired
• You must be a homeowner or small business owner
• Your property must be in England or Wales
• The building must have been issued an energy performance certificate (EPC) or if not you will need to have your property assessed to get an EPC certificate.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy efficiency scheme that aims to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty by providing funding to energy companies to help them install energy-saving measures in households that are in need of support. The measures covered by ECO include insulation, heating, and glazing. The scheme is mandatory for energy companies and is funded through a surcharge on energy bills. It is designed to help low-income and vulnerable households reduce their energy usage and save on their energy bills.

The ECO scheme supports energy efficiency measures in the home of those considered to be in fuel poverty and claiming benefits or those who live in social housing.

Free cavity wall insulation

Cavity wall insulation can cost between £500 and £600 but could save you roughly £145 a year. How much you save will depend on the type of property you live in, but it’s worth calling your supplier to check what can be done and if you are eligible for free cavity wall insulation under the ECO scheme.

Uninsulated walls let heat out, which means some of the money you spend on your heating is completely going to waste. But not all homes can have cavity wall insulation and so a survey will need to be carried out first. 

Generally, the free insulation is for those who receive benefits, but it also depends on how much you earn.

Free loft insulation

Installing loft insulation also costs roughly £500 – but this will depend on your home. As with the above grants, you should contact your energy supplier to see if they carry out this service as part of the ECO scheme.

As much as 25% of your home’s heat can escape through the roof, which is why loft insulation can make such a difference. Getting it installed for free is a big initial saving and could then reduce your energy bills by as much as £150 per year.

Once again, the free insulation is for those who receive benefits.

Get in touch with us here to find out more about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.