You may have seen the words ‘Green Homes Grant’ popping up on the news recently and wondered how it could affect you and the kind of jobs you’ll be doing over the next few months.
Well, fear not, we’ve put together a guide explaining everything you need to know about the government’s new scheme, including how you can benefit!
What is the Green Homes Grant?
The Green Homes Grant is a new government scheme which will help homeowners in England pay for ‘green’ improvements to their homes.
As part of the recovery from COVID-19, the government is keen for homeowners to help tackle climate change by carrying out work that will reduce their energy bills and cut carbon emissions. The other huge benefit of this is creating new work for tradespeople to help support the recovery across the construction industry.
So, they’re giving over 600,000 homeowners in England the chance to apply for vouchers worth up to £10,000 to spend on green home improvements, using approved tradespeople.
How can the trade get involved?
To be part of the Green Homes Grant scheme, you will need to be approved by the government’s TrustMark or Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation schemes.
Once approved, homeowners will be able to choose from a list of accredited tradespeople in their local area to carry out the work. So, your first job is to get the ball rolling on making sure you’ve got the right accreditation to make the list.
What kind of work is covered?
The Green Home Grants scheme covers a range of work, making it a perfect opportunity for lots of different trades.
Homeowners will be provided with vouchers to install one or more of the following:
– Solid wall, under-floor, cavity wall or roof insulation
– Air source or ground source heat pump
– Solar thermal
They can also be used on:
– Double or triple glazing/secondary glazing, when replacing single glazing
– Upgrading to energy efficient doors
– Hot water tank/appliance tank thermostats/heating controls
If you’ve got skills in any of those areas then this scheme could lead to some new work heading in your direction.
When does it all kick off?
At the end of August, homeowners will be able to get advice from the Simple Energy Advice service on how they can improve their energy efficiency.
Once the plans have been agreed, vouchers will be issued in September so work can get started.
What kind of properties are eligible?
A whole host of property types can take advantage of the Green Homes Grant, including owner-occupied homes, rented properties and park homes, which means there are a number of customers you can start looking to for work.
For a full breakdown of what properties are covered, visit the government’s website here.
How does payment work?
Homeowners in England will be provided with vouchers worth up to £5,000, while households on low income can receive vouchers up to £10,000.
The scheme will see the government pay up to two-thirds of the cost of the improvements – but don’t worry, you still get all the money!
Details on how homeowners can spend the vouchers and how you claim the costs are yet to be announced, but keep an eye on our social media channels, as we’ll share for more information when it’s available.
Watch the below video to find out more:
