WCC Warmer Homes Initiative

Message from Housing & Inclusion Dept, WCC:

Dear Councillors and Parish Clerks,

You may possibly recall that I sent out an email in January and last October, in respect of funding that is available to eligible households living in off-gas properties, to possibly have insulation and other energy efficiency measures installed through the Warmer Homes scheme.

This is just a recap and reminder that as a council, we are part of a consortium of 23 local authorities, led by Portsmouth City Council, who have been successful in bidding for £41.4m of Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) funding, provided by the Government’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ). This funding is delivered through the Warmer Homes programme and is available to residents until March 2025. See attached flyer.

Funding is available to homes that are not heated by a gas boiler/not heated by mains gas. For example, the home is primarily heated by electric, oil, LPG, solid fuels or has no central heating. Funding of up to £38,000 is available, depending on the property’s composition.

Who is delivering the programme?

The programme is being delivered by AgilityEco. AgilityEco will be responsible for all customer and installer communications for the programme, approval of all quotes and keeping applicants informed of their progression through the programme.

There is funding available under the programme for the following energy efficiency measures:

• Solid wall insulation (external or internal)
• Cavity wall insulation
• Underfloor insulation
• Loft insulation
• High heat retention storage heaters
• Room-in-roof insulation
• Air source heat pumps
• Park home external wall insulation
• Solar PV panels
• Heating controls

Who is eligible for the funding?

Households must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the programme:

• Have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G. (residents can check a home’s EPC rating here: www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate or if they don’t have one, the Warmer Homes team can arrange one free of charge)

And either:

• Have an annual total household income of £36,000 or less (before mortgage/rent & council tax) This has increased from £31,000

Or:

• Receive a means tested benefit

Or:

• Their home is within a Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Income Decile 1- 3 postcode area. (you can check this by inputting the property address on the Warmer Homes application form).

What tenure types are eligible?

The funding is available to private households: owner occupiers or private rental tenants. Unfortunately, the funding is not available for social housing or housing association homes.

For private rental properties, landlords must provide consent and make a contribution of 50% of the funding available. Landlords must also not have a portfolio of more than 4 properties. NB. Shared ownership homes can receive measures, but are treated as private rental, so the scheme owner (not the leaseholder/renter), is responsible for the landlord contribution.

How to apply

Residents can apply either online or by phone:

Online: visit www.warmerhomes.org.uk and click Apply

Phone: call 0800 038 5737 (freephone) Monday - Friday during office hours

For further information about the programme residents can visit the Warmer Homes website:www.warmerhomes.org.uk or email: retrofit@warmerhomes.org.uk

I would very much encourage you to spread the word about this scheme to constituents, friends, family and neighbours etc in order to potentially help our eligible residents living in off-gas properties.