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- The UK Households with low income and low insulation levels qualify for external wall insulation grants.
- Households which have solid walls, have a lower energy efficiency of the property, and or receive qualifying benefits/meet low-income criteria can qualify for solid wall insulation grants under ECO4 & GBIS.
- Different types of insulation are covered under these schemes including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, underfloor, and external wall.
Approximately, 30% of the UK properties have solid walls, while only 9% of them have external wall insulation installed. To fill this gap, the government offers various energy efficiency and heating grants through schemes like ECO4 and GBIS.
In this guide, we will explore who can qualify for a free external wall insulation grant under these schemes, So, without further ado, let’s have a detailed look at these energy grants.
What Is an External Wall Insulation Grant?
External wall insulation (EWI) grant is a government-backed initiative to help households improve the energy efficiency of property and reduce energy bills. These initiatives provide partial and complete funding for these heating upgrades with external wall insulation.
Schemes that offer these grants are:
- Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)
- Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
These schemes serve Great Britain and provide different heating improvements. As far as the external insulation is concerned, external walls insulated under these schemes use high-quality insulation material and get certified installers for you.
Eligibility for External Wall Insulation Grant
To be eligible for grants provided for external wall insulation, you need to meet the criteria set to find those in need of heating solutions who can’t afford the higher upfront costs associated with these installations.
1. Income Criteria
The income criteria for both the ECO4 and GBIS are pretty much the same. Here is who qualifies for an external wall insulation grant:
Low-income Households
Households with a yearly income of under £31,000 can qualify for insulation improvements through ECO4 and GBIS. This requirement applies to both employed and self-employed individuals. However, for self-employed individuals, this income refers to profit, not the overall turnover.
Benefit Recipients
Households who are receiving qualifying benefits will directly qualify for these grants for external wall insulation. If you are receiving any of the following government benefits, you might be eligible for external insulation grants.
- Income Based – Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Child tax credit (CTC)
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Income Related – Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support Allowance (ISA)
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Pension Savings Credit
- Housing Benefits
Wall insulation grants are available for all of the benefits mentioned above. If you are one of those, avail insulation grant today.
2. Property Criteria
If you think insulation grants are only available to landlords or homeowners, here are the homeownership and other requirements to qualify.
Home Ownership
If you own your home or rent it privately, you may qualify to install external wall insulation with the government’s help.
If you are a tenant applying for the grants, you might need the landlord’s permission for the upgrades. However, landlords can also apply on behalf of their tenants.
Only the residents of properties owned by councils and housing associations are eligible for the grants available.
Property’s EPC Rating
If your property has an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G and meets the other requirements as well, and you are a Wales or England resident, you can consider yourself eligible for exterior wall insulation grants. If you are a Scotland resident, you need an EPC rating of E or Below to qualify for these grant schemes.
3. Households’ Health Considerations
If nothing makes you qualified for external wall insulation grants, the health issues of someone in the house can. If someone in your home is sick and is sensitive to cold weather, you might qualify through the local council under the ECO flex scheme.
4. Council Tax Band (for GBIS)
If applying through the Great British Insulation Grants, you might need the council tax band of A-D for England properties, while A-E for Wales and Scotland. You can get the wall insulation grant for your home if your property has a valid council tax band.
How to Apply for The External Wall Insulation Grant? (ECO4)
This might be the most obvious question coming into your mind right now. To answer that the application process to get wall insulation for your home is pretty simple.
If you are receiving qualifying benefits and your property needs energy efficiency measures, you might directly qualify and the local council contact you directly.
However, if you are not on benefits, here is the application process for you.
- Visit the Apply for Government Grants website through your browser.
- Confirm your eligibility through an online eligibility survey by answering the simple equations.
- If qualify, provide the requested information so the support team contact you and schedule the property survey as per your timeline.
- Prepare the requested documents before the survey. (property ownership or tenancy certificate, income or benefits proof, landlord permission if tenant applying, and a valid Energy Performance Certificate) or any other requested documents.
- Get your property surveyed by certified heating engineers who will then suggest the heating and energy efficiency measures for your property.
- Once approved and confirmed you are eligible for a free external wall insulation grant, Gas safe installers will install your external wall insulation at your property.
Apply for a Grant for External Insulation (GBIS)
The process for external wall insulation involves applying through the official government website for the GBIS scheme. You would be required to provide the basic information to initiate the process.
Once applied, the rest of the process remains the same as of ECO4 scheme which involves the documents, survey, approval time, and installation.
Additional Considerations for Free External Wall Insulation
While we have discussed the eligibility criteria in detail, here are some other scenarios and considerations while applying:
- Both plans pay for all wall insulation costs. But sometimes you might need to pay for extra repairs. Be ready just in case.
- Many people can get these free grants. Call your local council to check if you qualify, even if you think you won’t.
- Get all your papers ready before you apply for wall grants.
- These grants help people who need it – if you have high energy bills or get cold easily. There’s no minimum income limit. If you earn more money but have high costs like medical bills, you might still qualify.
Final thoughts
External wall insulation doesn’t only help you save on energy bills, but the grants available make them the perfect solution for your energy-saving needs.
Considering external wall insulation is a powerful way to make your home comfortable. External and internal wall insulation can improve your home’s energy efficiency and overall temperature.
In this guide, we have covered how can you qualify for a free external wall insulation grant and how wall insulation will help you reduce your energy costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! External wall insulation offers several big wins! Put a layer of insulation on your walls with insulation boards and insulation render. Stay warm and reduce your energy bills fast!
It’s like a big coat for your house. This coat keeps heat in when cold and out when hot. Most folks cut bills by 15-35%!
Short on cash? Great news! You may be eligible for free help. Many UK homes can get free home insulation now.
External wall insulation involves adding a shield to your outside wall. This keeps heat where you want it!
The cost? Insulation costs around £100 to £150 per square meter. This pays for materials for external wall insulation, work, and final coats.
Can’t pay now? You might qualify for a grant to get free external wall insulation! The insulation process is quick:
- Pros look at your walls
- They add specific insulation
- They put on a top coat that looks nice
Some try this work alone, but most find insulation can be installed best by pros. The good part? External wall insulation will help cut bills for years!
Let’s be clear: Wall insulation is one of the best ways to save heat. Insulation can help to reduce heat loss by up to 45%!
But what about damp? When done right, insulation helps stop dampness, not make it! Bad jobs might trap water – but good insulation work stops this.
Smart move: Talk to insulation specialists in your area about the right insulation material used for your home. They’ll pick the best material for your external walls for your area’s rain and wind.
Good jobs make sure insulation ensures that the insulation works well with no dampness. External wall insulation also needs air flow, so pros add vents where you need them.
