Housing & Energy Grants
There's free cash available to help increase your home's energy efficiency or pay your energy bills – hundreds of millions of pounds of it. The key is knowing where to look.
Lots of UK grants go unclaimed. Many – but not all – are for the elderly, disabled or those on lower incomes. This guide will take you through what's available, and how to apply for the free cash.
What is a grant?
A grant is money, or a voucher, that contributes towards the cost of you buying something. Although it may not cover the full cost of the item, meaning you'll have to cough up the rest yourself, it's almost always completely free.
Most grants tend to be for specific utility suppliers, which can mean even after the grant it isn't necessarily the cheapest place. They're usually offered to encourage people to do or buy something they wouldn't normally consider.
For more help saving on home devices, plus tips from DIY nuts, see the In My Home forum board.
The top energy grants, discounts & freebies
Energy is one of the main grant-giving areas because substantial Government funding's available to reduce our impact on the environment. After all, in the long run slashing our fuel use is cheaper than building new power stations.
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The Government, energy suppliers and local authorities all provide grants to help you implement energy saving measures. The best place to start is the Government's Energy Saving Trust (EST). It has an advice and information helpline on 0300 123 1234 (or see where to find similar info for Scotland and Northern Ireland).
Everyone should try this. Here's some inspiration...
I have been lucky enough to qualify for a brand new boiler. I didn't think I'd meet the criteria but I did, so check and see if you qualify too.
The end result of these grants is an increase in your home's value, warmth and economy. Of course, just as big savings are available by cutting costs, or insuring your boiler against breakdown. Check out our Cheap Gas & Electricity and Boiler Cover guides.
If you use heating oil to warm your home, instead of gas, we've compiled five simple steps to cut your costs too. For full help see our Cheap Heating Oil guide.
Free boilers and insulation
The big energy suppliers are giving wads of freebies to those receiving certain benefits, from new boilers to insulation. It's because of efficiency obligations to people in certain groups.
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The cost of a new boiler varies, but a typical gas boiler replacement costs around £2,300, so this is a fantastic freebie.
Boilers are one of the biggest contributors to your energy bills – the more efficient your boiler, the more heat it produces from each gas unit. Depending on its age, a shiny new efficient one could save you between £100 and £320 a year.
Cavity wall insulation can slice between £70 and £225 off energy bills every year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. We've heard of cases where damp has formed after having cavity wall insulation installed, so make sure it's appropriate for your home.
If your loft isn't insulated and you get it fitted with 270mm of new insulation, this'll save another £120-£225 a year.
You could qualify for freebies if you get tax credits or income-based benefits, such as pension credit or income support. To speedily uncover these crocks of gold and see a rundown of current offers, check the Free Boilers and Insulation guide.
Can you get the up-to £300 winter fuel payment?
If you were born on or before 5 August 1953, then regardless of income, you can grab a one-off, tax-free winter fuel payment of between £100 and £300 from the Government.
You usually get the money before Christmas every year, and it doesn't affect any other benefits you get, but exactly how much you'll receive depends on your circumstances.
Who's eligible? You can get it automatically if you're on the state pension or get another social security benefit, such as pension credit, jobseeker's allowance (JSA), or income-related employment and support allowance (ESA). See the full eligibility criteria.
If you've not had it before and don't get benefits or a state pension, or only get housing benefit, council tax reduction, child benefit or universal credit, then you'll have to claim it. To get it, you'll have to apply by 31 March 2018 (though the later you apply, the longer you'll have to wait to get it).
It's available to all in the UK, so if any of the following circumstances applied to you between 18 and 24 September 2017, here's what you'll get for winter 2017/18.
Home repair and maintenance help
If you are elderly, disabled or on a low income, your local Home Improvement Agency (HIA) may help you to repair, improve, maintain or adapt your home. There are around 200 HIA services around the country that can help in varying ways.
Assistance can include providing a list of reliable local builders and contractors, checking if you can get financial help or helping to make your home more energy efficient. Search for your nearest HIA on the Foundations website (or Care and Repair Cymru in Wales).
Alternatively, independent charity Turn2Us has a grant search to help you check for any charities that might be able to help with things like furniture, decorating or bills and household expenses. The grants usually depend on an individual's circumstances, maybe any illnesses or their nationality, occupation, age or income.
Need help in an emergency?
Since April 2013, under the Department of Work and Pensions' Social Fund reform, each local authority has been responsible for providing help to its residents struggling with an emergency.
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This could be you or your families' health being at risk, not being able to afford to buy food, needing help to stay in your own home and coming out of care, hospital or prison. Low income families can apply and the maximum award varies, though it's usually a couple of hundred pounds.
However, sadly this is a postcode lottery. Each council can choose whether to offer financial help or not or who is eligible. For example, some may give furniture or food grants while others may give cash.
Demand is likely to be high and there isn't a bottomless pot of money but if you think you qualify and really need the cash, ask your council for more info.
Free fire safety check and alarm
Many local fire stations offer free home fire risk assessments, to check for potential fire risks and give fire safety advice.
The check will help you plan what to do if a fire starts in your home and you'll usually be given a free smoke alarm if you don't already have one.
The scheme's open to anyone but it's aimed at the elderly, families with young children or any homes which may carry a high fire risk.
The Chief Fire Officers Association has put together a list of what each brigade offers and you can find out more about the assessments on the Fire Service website. If your local brigade isn't listed, you could ring it to see what it offers.
Bear in mind it's usually serving fire officers that do the checks, so slots will be limited.
Help adapting your home if you're disabled
A Disabled Facilities Grant is available from your council to help towards the cost of adapting your home if you, or someone living in your property, is disabled.
You can get up to £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales and up to £25,000 in Northern Ireland. In Scotland Disabled Facilities Grants aren't available.
The grant is for work that is essential to help a disabled person live an independent life. Here's an example...
I had a disabled facilities grant to remove my bath and put in a level access shower.
Contact your council's housing or environmental health department and ask it to send you an application form before you start work. If work begins before the council's approved your application, you won't normally get anything. Find more info on the grant on the Gov.uk website, as well as your council's details.
In Wales, an additional scheme provided by Care and Repair is the Rapid Response Adaptations Programme, which helps with small-scale alterations to your home (such as grab rail installments). You need to be referred by a health or social services professional such as an occupational therapist, so speak to your doctor to see if you qualify.
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