FAQ

The Answers You Need

HOW ARE THE COUNCILS INVOLVED WITH THESE GRANTS?

The Counsel of Bracknell Forest, Runnymede, Spelthorne, West Berkshire and Maidenhead and Windsor were successful in securing funding from the Warm Homes Fund alongside existing Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding to provide 1st time, gas central heating systems, to eligible residents in the boroughs.

WHO PAYS FOR THE GRANT?

The grants for the heating / insulation upgrades are paid for by Energy Suppliers (Energy Company Obligation - ECO) who are required to fund works, to help people lower their energy bills - coupled with Affordable Warmth Solutions (Warm Homes Fund - WHF), who have made funding available for 1st time, gas central heating systems to successful local authorities. The mains gas connections are funded through the Fuel Poor Network Extension Scheme (FPNES) offered by SGN and Cadent.

ARE THE WORKS FREE?

Subject to meeting the qualifying criteria, certain complete central heating systems, heating upgrades and insulation works are free of charge, but we can confirm this once we know a bit more about your home and have completed a free home energy assessment survey.  For a 1st time, gas central heating system - your home will need to have no heating or be using electric heating. For a boiler upgrade, any existing boilers will need to be broken to qualify for the upgrade, but our qualified heating engineers can assess this for you. Once we have all of the information, you are free to decide if you wish to go ahead with the works.

DO I NEED TO BE IN RECEIPT OF BENEFITS?

No. If your household is on a low income (less than £35,000), you have a cold related illness, your energy costs are high and your property has a poor Energy Performance Rating - then you are likely to be eligible for some or all of our funding. 

Call or Apply Now to secure your grant.

WHAT WORKS ARE COVERED BY THE GRANT?

Grants are available for first time mains gas / LPG central heating systems; Air or Ground Source Heat Pumps. boiler upgrades; loft, underfloor and cavity wall insulation. 1st time central heating systems are typically free. Grants for gas, LPG or oil boiler upgrades cover up to 50% of the cost, but you may qualify for additional grants from your local Council - we will be able to advise further and apply on your behalf.

I HAVE NO HEATING AT ALL, DO YOU INSTALL FREE CENTRAL HEATING?

Yes, subject to survey and eligibility we may be able to provide a mains gas connection and a gas  LPG central heating system free of charge, but grants are limited so Apply Now.

I AM A TENANT/LANDLORD, CAN I APPLY?

Yes! Grants are available for private tenants and landlords can also apply subject to the property meeting the EPC eligibility criteria E rated or above.

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If your property does not have an EPC we will undertake a EPC for you - free of charge.

WHAT PAPERWORK WILL I NEED TO PROVIDE?

If you receive benefits, we may ask to see evidence of this, if you do not receive benefits, we will ask what your annual income is after housing and energy costs. As part of the grant scheme we may also ask for further information such as whether anyone living in your home suffers from an illness and ask to see a copy of a council tax or utility bill.  We try to keep questions to the minimum required by our funders.

WHAT IF MY BUILDING IS LISTED?

…This should not make too much difference! 

It is nevertheless a separate process which HEAT the HOME COUNTIES will assist you with. In the case of the HEAT Project, some of the measures, like the installation of loft insulation and upgrading* of an existing boiler are unlikely to require any formal consent. Our surveyors will make this clear.

Nevertheless an application for Listed Building Consent will be required for the installation of new gas central heating systems. Cavity wall insulation is not really applicable to listed buildings as they are generally constructed with solid walls. The installation of insulation to the inside or outside face of an external wall would also require listed building consent but this is unlikely to be considered favourably as this would alter the special architectural and/or historic merit of the building to an unacceptable degree.

It is important that owners’ permission is granted before any works commence as any liability for “unauthorised” work rests with the owner. It is worth remembering that it is a criminal offence to carry out “unauthorised work” (i.e. without listed building consent) to a listed building. (This includes internal alterations.)

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* Where existing openings through the external wall, can be re-used.

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WHO ARE HEAT THE HOME COUNTIES?

The Heat Project have been giving grants to help people to save money and stay warm since 1997 Heat the HOME COUNTIES is managed by heating and energy saving experts Happy Energy Solutions Ltd in partnership with the councils of Bracknell Forest, Runnymede, Spelthorne, West Berkshire and Windsor and Maidenhead.

HOW LONG DOES A HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENT TAKE?

In order to claim the grant, we need to undertake a free assessment of your home which takes around 2-3 hours to complete. As part of this, we will need access into all rooms and the loft to take photos of all / any existing heating equipment and insulation levels. We may also ask to see any required paperwork to take copies.

HOW IS MY DATA USED?

We will need to share your data with other organisations to enable us to offer you this grant. This will include your local Council, SGN (gas distribution network), Warm Homes Fund (funder), an energy supplier (funder), Ofgem, the Government, companies involved in installing or checking the works and it  may also include the Department of Work and Pensions to confirm if you or someone living in your home is on eligible benefit. You do not have to be in receipt of benefits to be eligible. By applying for the grant you agree that we may share your data for these purposes.