Homeowners will be able to claim up to £5,600 from the government towards home improvements such as a new boiler and cavity wall insulation from Wednesday 10 December – but the money may not be around for long.
The government will release £30m in vouchers under the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, with £24m going towards solid wall insulation and £6m available for other home improvements.
This is the second time money has been made available under the scheme, the first being in June when £120m was released. Then, the scheme was so popular that the money was snapped up within weeks, leading to protests from installers, manufacturers and householders who were turned down for the vouchers.
This time the £100m allocated to the fund will be released in tranches every few months, with the next release planned for February 2015.
“The best way people can cut their energy bills, this winter and every winter, is to improve their homes so that they leak less heat and use less energy,” said the energy and climate change secretary, Ed Davey, announcing the new funding.
Householders can claim up to £4,000 for solid wall installation (down from £6,000 last time), up to £1,000 for two measures from an approved list that includes a condensing mains gas boiler, secondary glazing, floor insulation and energy-efficient replacement doors. A further £500 is available for those who apply within 12 months of buying a new home.
Householders will either need to have the improvements recommended as part of a Green Deal advice report carried out by an approved assessor or as part of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The government will pay £100 towards the cost of an advice report.
Householders who got their report carried out last time, but were unable to apply before the funds ran out will not need a new report. An EPC certificate is also valid as long as it’s less than two years old.
To apply from 9am on Wednesday 10 December or to find an assessor go to gov.uk/greendeal.
