Chancellor Sunak launches Green Home Grants for UK households

Chancellor of Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, recently launched the Green Home Grants Scheme, allowing lower income households to receive vouchers of £5,000 or £10,000 towards home improvements to make their homes more energy efficient. 

The measures are not only designed to improve the UK’s carbon footprint – but to generate more business and income for builders and contractors and continue economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Green Home Grants Scheme is free to apply for and is broken down into two parts: insulation and carbon.

The insulation measures include making improvements to solid walls, under floors, cavity walls, lofts and insulating a park home.

The carbon measures refer to boilers, heat pumps and solar thermal.

Beyond this, you can look at secondary measures, such as double glazing, energy efficient doors and heating controls.

Not included in the scheme is any conversions or extensions or installing a new fossil fuel boiler.

Who Can Apply and Who Can Benefit From The Scheme?

Any household can take advantage of the scheme, with the standard amount of £5,000 of vouchers or contributions towards your energy efficient home improvements. Those on lower incomes or receiving benefits may be able to claim up to £10,000.

In addition, contractors, builders and suppliers are set to benefit from this new scheme. Whilst many people working in construction would likely have been put on furlough or have paused working during lockdown, they are now seeing a resurgence in work as property owners aim to complete on construction projects ‘whilst the sun shines.’

Subsequently, this benefits finance providers and construction lenders who are able to provide able cash flow for those in the construction industry.

Again, a group of people who would have otherwise not seen any business during the pandemic or lockdown measures.

How Do I Apply For a Green Home Grant?

To get started, you can use the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) website to check what energy efficiency and low carbon heat improvements can be made to your home – and then you can find an accredited contractor near you using the same website.

You are encouraged to get three quotes to ensure you get the most value for money when using the vouchers.

You can then apply directly through the Gov.uk website. The Government will pay the contractors directly using the vouchers, so you do not have to worry about covering the costs yourself and claiming any reimbursements.