Warm Homes: Local Grant Erewash
Erewash Borough Council and Marches Energy Agency are working together to install home efficiency improvements at no cost to residents. The Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme is a UK government programme that helps low-income households in England improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
We expect the grant scheme to begin in late spring/ summer 2025 and residents who meet the eligibility criteria below can contact our partners Marches Energy Agency (MEA) to register their interest.
What home energy efficiency improvements could I be offered
Works offered will depend on funding availability AND the outcome of technical surveys, but could include:
- External Wall Insulation
- Internal Wall Insulation
- Cavity Wall Insulation
- Loft Insulation
- Low Carbon Heating
- Solar PV.
Am I Eligible
You are likely to qualify if you meet ALL the following criteria:
- you are an owner-occupier or are a private landlord. *1
- your property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G. *2
And one of the following statements:
- Route 1: you live in one of the eligible postcode areas set by central Government *3
- Route 2: a permanent member of your household receives a means tested benefit
Route 3: your combined household income is below £36,000 before tax.
*1 Landlords will only be able to apply for full funding for one of the properties that they let. A 50% cost contribution will be required from the private landlord for any additional homes upgraded after the first. If you live in privately rented accommodation and think your home may be eligible, please speak to your landlord.
*2 You can check your EPC online at Gov.uk. If you are unsure or your home does not have an EPC, you still are able to apply as a rating will be generated as part of the process for free.
*3 Households which reside within Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Income Deciles (ID) 1-2 areas. Eligible postcode areas are set by central government and not Erewash Borough Council.
How to apply
Any questions or to apply contact MEA’s local team (Warmer Derby & Derbyshire):
- call 0800 677 1332 (choose option 2) Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- Email HUGD@mea.org.uk
- Application form
Please note that registering your interest does not guarantee that you will receive funding. All works are subject to household eligibility, funding availability, and property surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I don’t meet the eligibility criteria, what are the next steps?
If you don't meet the eligibility criteria, MEA’s Warmer Derby and Derbyshire advice service is able to check to see if there are alternative funding schemes appropriate for you. You can contact them on 0800 677 1332 (Option 1) or email wdd@mea.org.uk
The service also offers free impartial advice on energy efficiency, billing, fuel debt and more. Alternatively, you can check with your energy supplier or search for localised grants via gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency
How long do energy efficiency improvements usually take
This is difficult to estimate! Some improvements may take longer to organise than others. For example, some may require planning permission and/or are weather-dependent. If needed, you will not need to pay or apply for planning yourself.
You may have multiple surveys depending on the measure. Once your home has been surveyed and the Council has confirmed your grant, we have to do some technical work to make sure that any works meet funding requirements. This happens in the background and does not require you to do anything to complete this. However, this can take several weeks to process, and must be done before the work can start. From your initial application to installation, it could take at least several months or more.
Why am I required to fit ventilation upgrades to my home before receiving an insulation measure
Government standards, known as PAS 2035, mean that households who qualify for free insulation must either have their existing ventilation upgraded or new additional ventilation installed in their homes.
When the survey is carried out your home's suitability for insulation, and the ventilation needed, will be assessed together. Should your property require any ventilation measures, they will be fitted at the same time as your insulation at no cost to you.
Upgrades could include extractor fans, trickle vents on windows or gaps beneath internal doors. These allow air to move throughout your home keeping your home safe and healthy.
Why has my application been declined
To receive funding, we must follow strict guidelines set out by the Government. Whilst we all do our best, sometimes eligibility is not clear until after the technical surveys.
Below are the common reasons for unsuccessful applications:
EPC rating too high
Properties rated A, B, C do not qualify because the scheme aims to upgrade the most inefficient properties first.
Property unsuitable
Not all homes are suitable for certain energy efficiency measures. A survey will be completed to determine what improvements your property needs from what is available under this scheme.
High costs
There is only limited amount of government grant for each home. If the quotes come back too high, your application will be cancelled.
Access difficulties
Your application may be cancelled if installers are unable to access relevant parts of your property safely. This could be due to narrow passageways or not enough room to erect scaffolding. For health and safety reasons, loft spaces with small loft hatches are often declined for measures such as loft insulation.
Planning constraints
Some measures are not allowed to be installed due to planning restrictions. For example, we may encounter complications if your property is listed or in a conservation area.