More grants available for homes without gas heating

Many more private or rented households in Sheffield can benefit from a warm home that can be cheaper to run, following a change to the Home Improvement Grant eligibility rules.

Residents are encouraged to apply for these free energy efficiency measures for their homes as eligibility criteria have now increased, but are urged to act quickly and apply before November 2024.

The eligibility fund has increased by almost 20% following the increase in the income threshold for the grant.

Funding is available through the Warm Homes Sheffield initiative, which is currently open for applications. Warm Homes Sheffield is a collaborative partnership between Sheffield City Council and energy efficiency company Agility Eco.

Households with an annual income of £36,000 or less – up from the previous threshold of £31,000 – and who do not use a gas boiler as their main heating system can apply to receive free energy saving upgrades. These include insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels and more. You can still apply for this scheme if you have a gas connection, such as a cooker, as long as it is not used for heating.

Homes that are heated primarily by electricity, oil, coal, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or solid fuel are all eligible.

Other eligibility requirements include:

• The resident must be a private owner or tenant
• Evaluation of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of the DG

Funding, provided by Sheffield City Council, is limited – applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with a final submission deadline of November this year (2024).

Eligible households could receive up to £38,000 in funding for energy efficiency measures tailored to the needs of their property. The amount of finance available will depend on the type of property and the measures suitable for the property.

Cllr Douglas Johnson, Chair of Sheffield City Council’s Housing Committee, said: “Sheffield City Council is very pleased that more people are now eligible for the Home Improvement Grant. Raising the income threshold from £31,000 to £36,000 means more households in Sheffield can enjoy warmer and healthier homes.

“Homes in Sheffield should be fit for the present and the future. This shows our focus on improving the fabric of Sheffield’s homes and reducing carbon emissions by building climate resilience. We continue to work in all types of housing so that more homes are suitable. to live and sustain the health of the people who live in them.”

John Moores from AgilityEco, said: “The Home Improvement Grant is there to help low-income homeowners to upgrade their property with free energy efficiency measures, in turn saving them money on their energy bills and increasing the value their house. The problem is that few residents have heard of the funding or believe they are eligible. We urge all Sheffield residents who do not use gas central heating to check their eligibility and spread the word to friends and family before applications close later this year.”

To find out more or to apply for the Home Improvement Grant (HUG2), register your interest via the Warm Homes Sheffield website or by calling 0800 107 8882 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

If you’re not sure if you might be eligible, call the number above and the team will be able to help.