Housing efficiency grants
At Westmorland and Furness Council we are working to improve the existing housing stock of Cumbria through central government grants.
Current grants available to apply for are Home Upgrade phase 2 grant and EcoFlex.
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) has been set up to enhance the energy efficiency of socially rented homes. This is provided through your social housing provider. (Information only on this page) Further details on these schemes are set out below.
In addition to this, we are looking at future grants schemes that may become available. Updates will be made to this page if other schemes become available.
Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2
Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland Councils have been successful in their bid for HUG 2 funding and have been awarded £12.4 million to administer the scheme. This is a government funded scheme, funded by the Department of Energy, Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), to provide energy efficiency upgrades and low-carbon heating for low-income households living in the least energy efficient, off-gas grid homes.
The scheme is expected to last for two years – applications will be open from April 2023 until February 2025 (or until available funds are exhausted) and is available to owner-occupiers and private tenants. HUG2 grants are available to homes which are off-gas grid (do not have mains gas) and have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.
- The aim is to reduce fuel poverty and to phase out off-gas grid fossil fuels. By phasing out fossil fuels we aim to accelerate towards the UK’s net zero targets and reduce our dependency of expensive imported fuel.
- Private tenants will need consent from their landlord and landlords will also have separate eligibility checks.
- Landlords will need to demonstrate that they own 4 or fewer rental properties, agree to pay one third of the cost of measures installed and will agree to pay £500 (refundable) deposit prior to commencing on the scheme.
- Other referral routes for vulnerable residents are available via your local NHS worker (GP/Nurse/OT etc) or via the Citizens Advice Bureau for those residents who are currently receiving Fuel Poverty Assistance.
- A qualified retrofit coordinator will assess eligible homes individually to determine the best measures to be installed.
- Installation, replacement or repair of fossil fuel-based systems will not be offered under the scheme.
Energy Efficiency Cost Cap
| Archetype | Cavity Wall | Solid Wall |
|---|---|---|
| Flat | £3K | £9K |
| Mid-terrace | £8K | £15K |
| End-terrace/semi-detached | £12K | £24K |
Clean Heat Cost Cap
| Archetype | Amount |
|---|---|
| Flat | £5K |
| Mid-terrace | £14K |
| End-terrace/semi-detached | £14k |
If you want to apply or learn more about this scheme then please go to our expression of interest page Home Upgrade Grant 2 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 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.
The Westmorland and Furness Council has adopted an up-to-date version of the ECO Flexible Eligibility Statement of Intent.
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 to see if they are signed up to ECO or you can contact our Housing Retrofit 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 Housing Retrofit team at better.homes@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund SHDF - Information only
Westmorland and Furness Council has formed and led a consortium with 5 Social Housing Providers in Cumbria: Eden Housing Association, Lune Valley Rural Housing Association, Progress Housing Group, South Lakes Housing, Westfield Housing Association.
The scheme is being offered by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
The Consortium were successful in their application for £5.1m and the total project is expected to be £10.3m and are aiming to retrofit 1064 homes over 2 years. Works started in May 2023 and the scheme will then close in March 2025. Works will be funded by both the Social Housing Providers and DESNZ. With up to 50% of costs being funded by the Grant.
This grant is only available through one of the Social Housing providers and is not available to individual tenants.
Advice on these housing grant schemes
If you would like to enquire about any of the schemes above please complete the form below: