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Can I get a grant to help insulate my home?

Our expert says...

You are right Jason - since June 2000 there has been a government scheme in place called Warm Front, which has been helping UK homes with their insulation needs.

However, in last year’s Spending Review the new coalition government announced that this scheme would be phased out over the next few years, and would be discontinued by 2014.

Funding is to be cut to £110million over 2011/12, and then to £100million in 2012/13.

According to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), after 2014 a similar scheme will be in place which will be funded through the government’s Green Deal instead.

As it stands, the original Warm Front scheme is still functioning, however it ran out of its annual allocated budget on 15 December 2010 is unfortunately temporarily closed to new applicants.

However, the scheme will accept new applications at a given date after 1 April 2011, so here is a summary of what it actually covers:

Warm Front

The scheme offers a package of heating and insulation measures of up to £3,500 - or alternatively up to £6,000 where oil central heating or alternative energy methods are recommended.

You won’t have to pay anything as long as the work doesn’t cost more than the grant available. If the work is more than the grant, you may have to meet the difference, but the Warm Front team will not start work without making sure you are able to pay the extra costs.

To be eligible for the grant, you must be on certain disability or income-related benefits and you must own your home or rent it from a private landlord.

The idea is that Warm Front will install these measures to make your home both warmer and more energy efficient.

The scheme will help you with grants towards:

• Loft insulation
• Draughtproofing
• Cavity wall insulation
• Hot water tank insulation
• Gas, electric or oil heating - The scheme could install a new energy-efficient boiler and up to six radiators, including all valves and pipework. They may also repair your existing heating system.
• Glass-fronted fire - the Warm Front Scheme can convert your solid-fuel open fire to a glass-fronted fire.

Be aware that the Warm Front scheme is only for people who live in England. However, if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland there are other similar schemes available.

The scheme is funded by the government and is managed by the company Eaga.

To find out more you can call an adviser free on 0800 316 2805 or email enquiry@eaga.com

Green Deal

The Green Deal will eventually replace Warm Front, and offer households loans of up to £6,000 to spend on a range of approved energy-saving measures.

Basically, with the Green Deal, you will be able to approach your energy company to request a loan to cover the cost of any energy efficient that need doing to your house, instead of having to pay for it upfront.

This includes:

• Loft insulation
• Loft insulation top-up
• Cavity wall insulation
• External solid wall insulation
• Internal solid wall insulation

Over the course of time you will pay back this loan by making regular payments through your energy bills.

The term of the loan would depend on the loan size and what job the loan was intended for, which could range from anywhere between 5-25 years.

All loans however must abide by the Green Deal’s “Golden Rule”, whereby all energy bill savings made by the insulation measures must be greater than the amount paid back on the loan.

So Jason, if you are looking for a grant to get your home insulated you will have to wait for the Warm Front scheme to reopen or wait for the Green Deal to launch.

Alternatively you can take advantage of various other insulation grants (see guide) from private companies which will make insulating your home not necessarily free, but a lot cheaper.

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