Funding: grants and other financial support
Cost of living crisis
If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, you should speak to your energy supplier in the first instance.
You can also contact B&NES Welfare Support to find out if there is any current financial support for people struggling to pay bills here:
https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/apply-welfare-support
If you live in a Curo home, Curo are offering support to their tenants via this link:
https://www.curo-group.co.uk/costofliving/
Citizens advice also have a webpage dedicated to energy bills advice here:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/get-help-with-the-cost-of-living/
You can also refer to our ‘cost of living crisis’ webpages on the Bath and North East Somerset website.
Extra support with heating bills and keeping warm
Cold weather payment
Check your eligibility here.
Warm homes discount
You may be eligible for a discount on your electricity bill, check here.
Free advice from the Centre for Sustainable Energy
Advice provided includes:
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Getting the best deal from your energy supplier, understanding your energy bills and switching tariffs.
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Dealing with fuel debt and negotiating with energy companies – referring to debt specialist when needed.
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Maximizing income by checking Benefits entitlement and other forms of financial assistance.
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Seeking grants to insulate your home.
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Installing small measures to improve the energy efficiency of the property.
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Seeking funds to replace broken boilers.
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Low cost and no cost tips to save energy and money.
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Advice on making your home warmer.
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Issuing Foodbank vouchers to those in need.
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Advice on dealing with damp and mould caused by condensation.
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Issuing gas or electric fuel vouchers (when available).
Website: https://www.cse.org.uk/my-home/advice-projects/wham-warmer-homes-advice-and-money/
Self Referrals: https://www.cse.org.uk/my-home/how-we-help-you/#ways-to-contact-us
Advice line: 0800 082 2234
Email: home.energy@cse.org.uk
WHAM (Warmer Homes Advice and Money) is a free service from the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), a charity based in Bristol that serves the South West region. The service supports B&NES residents by giving advice on energy, money, benefits and carrying out home repairs.
Grants
If you want to make energy-saving improvements to your home, you may be able to get some help to cover the costs through grants and other types of funding which may be available.
There are a number of energy-related home improvement grant schemes currently available for Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) residents on low incomes. Please note that the below list of grants and funding schemes should be used as a guide to the type of funding that may be available at any one time. To help you work out which funding might be appropriate for you and for the latest information, please contact the CSE Home Energy Team on 0800 082 2234 or email home.energy@cse.org.uk.
Bright Green Homes
Apply here
The funding is available through the government's Home Upgrade Grant Scheme and is open to residents living in the B&NES area who also meet the following eligibility criteria:
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Currently on Electric, Oil, LPG or Solid Fuel heating (homes with gas central heating are not eligible)
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Household income must be below £36,000 per year (unless your postcode is in a specific area – see below*)
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An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G. You can check yours at www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
*Please note if your postcode is in deciles 1,2 or 3 on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation list you do not need to meet the annual household income cap. You can check this here.
The funding is to help homeowners and private renters improve the energy efficiency of their homes via a wide range of measures. Residents who are eligible for funding could have a wide range of energy saving measures installed, including insulation, solar panels, heat pumps, glazing and doors. All measures are subject to a satisfactory survey and funding limits.
Read about BANES resident Dan's experience of getting Bright Green Homes funding to improve his home's energy efficiency and reduce his bills.
LEAP Boiler scheme
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This is a short term grant often offered in the winter to replace a recently broken gas boiler for homeowners that are in a 'no heat' situation
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The combined household income must be below £31,000 or
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Be in receipt of a qualifying benefit and a member of the household will need to be over 65, under 5 or have a qualifying medical condition.
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The boiler must be no more than 20 years old
Find out more and apply here
Affordable Warmth Grant
This funding is now open again for applications. This is available for residents in the B&NES area who meet the following eligibility criteria:
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Household income must be below £30,000 per year
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An EPC rating of D, E, F or G
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Owner-occupiers only
The affordable warmth grant is a smaller amount of money available to cover measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation and repairs to heating and windows. All measures are subject to a satisfactory survey and funding limits.
Other Funding and support
Great British Insulation Scheme
This funding is for eligible households across the UK to insulate their homes through a wide range of insulation measures. This is funded through certain energy companies which are obligated by the government to help households reduce their heating bills and energy consumption.
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The funding will help low-income households, as well as support homes with an EPC rating of D or below and in Council Tax bands A-D. (If you are unsure of your Council Tax band, you can check here)
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The cost of the insulation measures may be covered in full through the scheme, or you may be expected to make a contribution
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Measures available include loft insulation, internal and external solid wall insulation, solid floor insulation, underfloor insulation, and more
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Funding is available to households who haven’t previously received government funding energy efficiency home improvements
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
This scheme offers eligible homeowners money off the cost and installation of a heat pump or biomass boiler.
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To be eligible, homes will need to have a fossil fuel heating system currently in place (such as gas, oil or electric)
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Properties must have a valid EPC with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation.
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Funding available: £7,500 off the cost and installation of an air source or ground source heat pump; £5,000 off the cost and installation of a biomass boiler.
The scheme is designed to minimise the amount of work property owners need to do. It is ‘installer-led’, which means your chosen installer will:
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make a BUS application on your behalf
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liaise with Ofgem on most matters related to the scheme
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tell Ofgem when they’ve installed your heating system
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claim the money from Ofgem at the end of the project
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The grant value should be deducted from your quote upfront and installers are responsible for passing on the discount that the BUS grant provides to you, the property owner.
For a heating system to be eligible under BUS, it has to be installed by an installer certified by the Microgeneration Certification Service (MCS). You can find an installer in your area on the MCS website. It is recommended you obtain quotes from multiple installers.
Find out more here
Low-cost loans
Lendology
For a low-cost loan at 4.2% for energy-related home improvements see below and contact Lendology direct via their website www.lendology.org.uk
A low-cost Energy Loan can be used to fund solar PV, low carbon heating and other renewable energy installations as well as insulation measures. It is for owner-occupiers and landlords for B&NES homes.
After obtaining approval from Lendology you can choose your own contractors* to carry out the work who can be paid directly once the completion of work is confirmed.
An Energy Loan from Lendology can be used to help spread the cost of installing energy-saving improvements over time.
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Loans from £500 - £15,000.
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Repayment term of between 6 months to 15 years.
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Fixed interest rate throughout the term of the loan and typical 4.2% APR
*All low carbon heating and PV contractors must be MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certified
WE Care Home Improvements
WE Care Home Improvements helps people over 60 and disabled people of all ages in the area. Eligible residents can get extra support with:
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making a grant, Lendology loan or planning application
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repairs using their handy person service including
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small jobs e.g. loft clearance leaking pipes, unblocking gutters, replacing curtains and light bulbs; and larger jobs e.g. dealing with rising damp, heating repairs
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a loan of plug-in heaters if central heating breaks down
WE Care Home Improvements is a not-for-profit organisation. There may be a charge for some services but it is subsidised by Bath & North East Somerset Council to make them low cost or free in some cases.
Contact WE Care Home Improvements for more information: Phone 0300 323 0700, email info@wecr.org.uk or visit www.wecr.org.uk