Housing efficiency grants

At Westmorland and Furness Council we are working to improve the existing housing stock of Cumbria through central government grants. We were successful in our previous bids for the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (LAD) schemes phase 1 and 2. These LAD schemes have closed, but we are currently working with Cumberland Council on the Sustainable Warmth Cumbria scheme and the new HUG 2 scheme.

In addition to this, Westmorland and Furness Council's Home Improvement Agency is looking at future grant schemes that may become available. Updates will be made to this page if other schemes become available.

Eden’s Green Homes Grant (LAD) schemes phase 1 and 2

Phase 1 and 2 of Eden’s Green Homes Grant (LAD) Scheme have now come to a close. However, the next round of funding, Sustainable Warmth Cumbria, is live.

If you have queries about improvement works done in either Phase 1 or 2, please contact your installer directly. If you need help to contact them, don’t hesitate to get in touch at better.homes@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.

Sustainable Warmth Cumbria Grant

All six legacy District and Borough councils, are now delivering the Sustainable Warmth Cumbria Grant scheme. This scheme includes LAD3 (Local Authority Delivery 3) for homes that are on-gas grid and HUG1 (Home Upgrade Grant 1) for homes that off-gas grid. The scheme is led by Homelife at Cumberland Council.

The aim of the grant scheme is to install sustainable energy efficiency measures into eligible existing homes in Cumbria. This could include insulation, solar photo voltaic arrays and low carbon heating solutions. These measures can help to make homes warmer, more efficient and more comfortable whilst helping to reduce carbon emissions.

Eligible properties could receive up to £25,000 worth of upgrades based on their wall and heating type. Owner-occupiers will not have to make any contribution to works but landlords of private tenure homes will have a grant limit of £5,000 and have to contribute a third to the cost of works.

To be eligible you must:

  • Live in Cumbria.
  • Be either an owner occupier or privately rent your home.*
  • Have a combined household income of less than £30,000 gross per year (if you have 3 or more household members the income may be up to £38,000 depending on your local authority’s ECO flex policy) OR be in receipt of a means-tested benefit.
  • Have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G. If you do not have an EPC then we can arrange this as part of the grant application. Check this at Find an energy certificate - GOV.UK.
  • If you have combined household savings of £50,000 or more, your application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This is to ensure that all grants are awarded in the spirit of the local authority scheme rules.

* If you privately rent your home, you are responsible for completing the application form and for providing proof of your income. However, you must gain your landlord's permission before submitting the application form. Your landlord's permission will be gained formally by the Sustainable Warmth Cumbria Project Team before any assessments can be carried out.

Scheme closure

We have stopped taking applications for the Sustainable Warmth Scheme. If you have applied for Sustainable Warmth Cumbria and are looking for information about your application please contact the Homelife team in Cumberland at homelife@cumberland.gov.uk.

Home Upgrade Grant 2

Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils have been successful in their bid for HUG 2 funding. This scheme will continue to focus on improving off-gas properties across Cumbria. If you want to learn more about this scheme or have received one of our HUG 2 postcards and want more information then please go to our Home Upgrade Grant 2 page or contact us at better.homes@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

Energy Company Obligation (ECO), exists whereby major gas and electricity suppliers have to provide funding towards energy efficiency measures such as insulation, or heating.

Energy Company Obligation offers energy efficiency measures including the following:

  • Loft insulation
  • Cavity wall insulation
  • External wall insulation
  • Internal wall insulation
  • Underfloor insulation
  • Room in roof insulation
  • A repair to a broken domestic boiler
  • Access to renewable forms of heating, for instance either an Air Source Heat Pump, or a Ground Source Heat Pump.

If you are in receipt of any of the following welfare benefits you may qualify for help:

  • Armed Forces Independence Payment
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Carers Allowance
  • Child Benefit (further criteria apply)
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Constant Attendance Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Pension Credit Guarantee
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Universal Credit
  • War Pensioners Mobility Supplement
  • Working Tax Credit

You can contact one of the major energy suppliers (you don't have to be their customer to qualify).

Energy Company Obligation Flexible Eligibility (ECO Flex)

ECO Flex funding is also available through ECO for people who don't receive one of the qualifying benefits, but who do meet local criteria. We will provide written confirmation to the energy supplier or their installer, if you meet our local criteria, and they will make the final decision on whether they can provide funding for heating or insulation. In summary, you may be eligible if you have a low income and your home is assessed as being a high cost to heat, or you have a low income and have a health condition or disability that makes you vulnerable to the cold.

Read the Energy Company Obligation (ECO Flex) Statement of Intent (PDF: 280Kb / 4 pages) Version 1.0.

Read the Energy Company Obligation (ECO Flex) Statement of Intent (PDF: 320Kb / 3 pages) Version 2.0.

Read the Energy Company Obligation (ECO Flex) Statement of Intent (PDF: 166Kb / 3 pages) Version 3.0.

Read the Energy Company Obligation (ECO Flex) Statement of Intent (PDF: 323Kb / 4 pages) Version 4.0.

To be eligible you must meet one of the following eligibility routes:

Route 1

  • Live in the Eden area of Westmorland and Furness Council.

  • Be either an owner occupier or privately rent your home.

  • Have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G if you are a private owner or have an EPC rating of E, F or G if you are a private renter. If you do not have a valid EPC then an installer can do this for the property as part of the grant scheme. This can be checked at Find an energy certificate - GOV.UK.

    AND

  • Have a combined household income of less than £31,000 gross per year.

Route 2

  • Live in the Eden area of Westmorland and Furness Council.

  • Be either an owner occupier or privately rent your home.

  • Have an EPC of E, F, G. If you do not have a valid EPC then an installer can do this for the property as part of the grant scheme. Check this at Find an energy certificate - GOV.UK. 

    AND meet two of the following points.

  • Be in receipt of Council Tax rebate (based on low income – excluding single person rebates).

  • Have a householder receiving free school meals for low-income.

  • A householder is in debt with their energy supplier for more than 13 weeks and are in a debt repayment plan, or repaying their fuel debt through third party deductions. 

  • A householder is referred to the LA for support by Citizens Advice Bureau

  • Any household member meets criteria from the following list*:

    • People with cardiovascular conditions

    • People with respiratory conditions (in particular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and childhood asthma).

    • People with mental health conditions

    • People with disabilities

    • Older people (65 and older)

    • Households with young children (0-5)

    • A person who is pregnant

*Residents will need evidence such as a signed letter from a Doctor / GP identifying that someone has one of the above medical conditions; a disability that, for instance, stops people moving around to keep warm, or makes them more likely to develop chest infections, following NICE guidance. For age related evidence, please provide a copy of birth certificate, passport or driving licence.

Route 3

  • Live in the Eden area of Westmorland and Furness Council

  • Be either an owner occupier or privately rent your home.

  • Have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G if you are a private owner or have an EPC rating of E, F or G if you are a private renter. If you do not have a valid EPC then an installer can do this for the property as part of the grant scheme. Check this at Find an energy certificate - GOV.UK.

    AND

  • Be suffering from a long term health conditions that is adversely affected by living in a cold home due to:

    • A cardiovascular condition
    • A respiratory disease
    • Limited mobility
    • Immunosuppression

To apply

You should either contact one of the major energy suppliers or you can contact our Green Homes team at better.homes@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk and they can advise you regarding the scheme.

Energy company enquiries

If you are an energy company and want to offer ECO Flex within Eden area, please contact the Green Homes team at better.homes@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.

Advice on these housing grant schemes

If you would like to enquire about any of the schemes above please complete the form below:

Complete the Housing efficiency grant scheme enquiry form.

Contact details:

Last updated: Wednesday, 2 August, 2023.