Archives: FAQs

The Green Homes Grant can be used in conjunction with the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), but only if you do not currently receive RHI payments for the specific installation you are applying for with the grant.

Homeowners will first need to apply for a Green Homes Grant and then apply for RHI.

The cost of the vouchers provided will then be taken off the value of their projected RHI payments.

However, this cannot work the other way round: you cannot apply for RHI first before applying for the Green Homes Grant.

Yes, the helpline opened on 26 October.

The number to call is: 0300 131 0053.

You can also use the government’s online contact form for the scheme.

There is more VAT information on the HMRC website:

Energy-saving materials and heating equipment (VAT Notice 708/6): How to account for VAT if you are a contractor installing energy-saving materials and grant-funded heating equipment.

BEIS has said that HMRC is not allowing the 5% rate on Retrofit Coordinator fees.

You cannot claim for work already done.

You have to ask the administrator about what can be included as a part of your claim for preparatory work before you can apply for the voucher.

VAT on the installation of many energy-efficiency measures is not necessarily charged at the usual 20% rate. Instead, installers can, in many circumstances, charge 5% VAT, if both their customer and the installed measure qualify.

Installers will provide quotations and will show which elements of their installation are charged at the lower rate, and which are charged at the normal rate.

The installer usually has to buy the materials at the higher rate, but they can claim that back when they sell at the lower rate. The 5% rate is available on the installation of all the primary measures in the Green Homes Grant Scheme and most, but not all, the secondary measures.

Installations paid for by contributions from landlords do not qualify for the reduced rate.

The installer cannot start work until the voucher has been issued.

It will take about 10 days for the voucher to be issued from when you put the application in.

(For applications submitted in October there will be a longer delay in receiving your voucher as the Scheme Administrator is having to manually process the applications while their automated systems are developed. The first homeowners should have started receiving their vouchers towards the end of October.)

The government confirmed that as of 4pm on 20 October, the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme had received 20,903 applications since its launch.

No, you only need one quote that covers each measure you are installing.

When you apply for a voucher the Scheme Administrator will compare that quoted price with other quotes on their system to ensure the homeowner is not being overcharged.  The government still recommends you seek out three quotes before making your choice of installers, but, given the very tight deadlines and the limited number of registered installers, it is not a requirement and a single quote is sufficient for this scheme.

The Scheme Administrator is the organisation tasked with overseeing the delivery of the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme.

The Scheme Administrator approves all the applications and is responsible for releasing the payment to the installers when they are ready to redeem the voucher.

The Scheme Administrator for the Green Homes Grant Scheme is ICF Consulting Services Limited.

Check on the Simple Energy Advice website to find relevant installers, but we suggest you make it a wider area search.

CAfS offers a free advice call through our Cold to Cosy Homes service, and we can tell you about all schemes in the area.

Ask local authorities if they have a scheme running using qualified installers.

Please also see the FAQ on installers in Cumbria.

No, the Green Homes Grant is only available for homeowners, landlords of residential properties and housing associations.