Quality assurance at heart of new £2 billion green homes grants

On 8th July 2020, the Chancellor announced a £2 billion Green Homes Grant scheme to upgrade homes across England.

Today, 4th August 2020, a further update has been published.  The Government’s new Green Homes Grant will give over 600,000 homeowners in England up to £10,000 to install insulation, heat pumps, draft proofing and more to help households cut energy bills.

Builders, plumbers, and other tradespeople across England will need a government-backed seal of approval to provide their services as part of the new £2 billion Green Homes Grant going live at the end of September.

The government is today setting out further details of the range of measures included and how consumers in England will be able to claim the new voucher, which are worth up to £5,000 for homeowners.  Households on low income can receive vouchers covering 100% of the cost of the improvements, up to a maximum of £10,000.

The Green Homes Grants will give homeowners, including owner occupiers and social/private landlords, vouchers to install one or more of the following:

• Solid wall, under-floor, cavity wall or roof insulation
• Air source or ground source heat pump
• Solar thermal

In addition, households can use their voucher for further energy savings measures.  These include one or more of the following:

• Double or triple glazing/secondary glazing, when replacing single glazing
• Upgrading to energy efficient doors
• Hot water tank/appliance tank thermostats/heating controls