The Government’s Green Homes Scheme was introduced in. September 2020 with the intention of continuing until 31st March 2022. However, The Times has reported only 22,165 grants out of a target 600,000 have been issued, leading many to believe the scheme will be cut short. Make sure, as a landlord, you look to benefit from the Green Homes Grant sooner rather than later.
With the Green Homes Scheme, the Government made £2 billion available to help Britain build a greener future after COVID-19. The scheme was proposed to work in parallel with the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and help towards the bigger picture of Boris Johnson’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.
This plan has been put forward as Britain’s road map for a greener and environmentally-friendly future. These schemes’ main aim is to help the UK reach its key target for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The Deputy Policy Director for the National Residential Landlords Association, Meera Chindooroy, has said: “Our survey data shows that 43 per cent of landlords are interested in applying for a grant and there is a clear appeal in the potential of the scheme to ensure the energy efficiency improvements we all want to see.” It seems that despite landlords being keen to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, many have found the application process poor.
What is the Green Homes Grant?
As a homeowner or residential landlord, the Green Homes Scheme was made available to encourage the installation of energy-efficient improvements to homes and rental properties.
The hope was the grant would enable more people to make positive changes to their properties, lowing the amount of carbon dioxide their property produces. This grant could be used to install low-carbon heating or to increase the property’s insulation to reduce their energy use.
The scheme provides vouchers to homeowners and residential landlords in the private or social rented sector to cover two-thirds of the eligible improvements’ cost. The maximum contribution from the government would be £5,000.
What improvements are included?
As a landlord, you can use your Green Homes Grant towards the installation of one or more energy-saving measures. Popular options have been improving the property’s insulation. Whether it’s through solid wall, under-floor, cavity wall or roof insulation, you will require far less energy for heating by improving how well your property is insulated.
Another option is to implement a low-carbon heating system such as an air source or ground source heat pump, or perhaps a solar thermal. All these are great options is the building has or will be having wall and loft installation. Something else to consider is biomass boilers.
If your property has already implemented these larger measures, you can still benefit from the grant. Additional energy-saving measures include updating your single glazing to newer and improved double glazing or even triple or secondary glazing. The Green Homes Grant also includes upgrading to energy-efficient doors, as well as the addition of hot water tank and appliance tank thermostats.
The only condition in order to qualify for the Green Homes Grant, is to redeem the voucher and complete the improvements by 31st March 2022, unless the scheme comes to a premature end.