CAfS

Archives: FAQs

  • How long is the Green Homes Grant Voucher valid for? 

    Vouchers are valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

    The Green Homes Grant Scheme will end on 31 March 2021. All vouchers applied for after 31 December 2020 will expire at the end of March regardless of when they are issued.

    All work under the Green Homes Grant Scheme must be completed within the validity period of the voucher.

    There is a 10-day process between the voucher being submitted by the homeowner and the scheme paying out.

    Installers must complete all works by 20 March 2021 to ensure they are paid before the scheme closes.

     

     

  • What is the ‘low-income’ voucher worth?

    For homeowners on certain benefits there is a low-income voucher that is worth up to £10,000 and that does not require any contribution from the homeowner.

    If you want to install measures worth up to £10,000 you will not have to pay anything and the voucher will cover the whole amount.

    If you want to install measures worth £11,000 the voucher will still only cover £10,000 and you will have to pay the remaining £1,000.

    You will not need to pay a deposit if your measures cost within the £10,000 covered by the voucher.

     

  • What are the eligibility criteria to qualify for a voucher? 

    To be eligible for a voucher you must own your home (including park home owners, long-leaseholders and shared ownership) or be a private or social landlord.

    Your property must be in England (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not involved in this scheme).

    New-build properties that have not previously been occupied are not eligible for the scheme.

    You cannot apply for the scheme if you have already received a grant from your local authority as part of the Local Authority Delivery Scheme.

    If you are a private rent landlord your property must have an EPC band E, F or G.

     

  • What is the ‘standard’ voucher worth? 

    Standard voucher

    The standard voucher is worth up to a maximum value of £5,000 per household. The homeowner must also contribute towards the costs of the eligible energy efficiency measures under the scheme. The grant can contribute 67% of the costs. Here are a few examples:

    If you want to install measures worth £6,000 you will have to pay £2,000 to the installer and the voucher will cover the remaining £4,000.

    If you want to install measures worth £7,500 you will have to pay £2,500 to the installer and the voucher will cover the remaining £5,000.

    If you want to install measures worth £9,000 the voucher will still only cover the maximum £5,000, so you will have to pay £4,000.

  • What is the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme? 

    The Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme is a government scheme that provides finance to homeowners to help them pay for measures that will help improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

     

  • What is the Ofgem Confidence Code?

    The Ofgem Confidence Code is a voluntary code of conduct adhered to by a select number of price comparison sites, including The Energy Shop. The code is designed to protect consumers and ensure that each of the signatories to the code carry out in-depth, unbiased and accurate comparisons of the UK energy market at all times in a fair and consistent way.

    The Energy Shop are proud to have been signatories of the Code since it’s foundation under Energywatch in 2003.

  • Can I switch energy supplier if I’m a tenant?

    Yes, you should be able to switch energy supplier if you rent your property, but the way you go about it will depend upon who looks after the energy bills.

    If you pay the energy bills directly to the property’s supplier, then you’re free to compare prices and switch at any time. If you’ve just moved into a rental property, you’ll be on your supplier’s more expensive standard variable tariff, so you should compare prices to find a cheaper energy deal as soon as possible.

    If your landlord pays for the energy to the property, you need to speak to them about switching to the best possible energy tariff to ensure your bills are kept to a minimum. If you have just moved into a property and are not sure who supplies your gas and electricity then you should contact CAfS and start an energy comparison without delay. CAfS may be able to help you with energy advice and tariff comparisons. To see if you are eligible for this free service see https://cafs.org.uk/cafs-draughtproofing-energy-saving-services/

  • Will my energy supply be disrupted during the switch?

    No, there will be no disruption to your supply when changing energy provider. When you switch, it’s just the provider that changes and your gas and electricity is still supplied through the existing pipes and cables, meaning there will be no loss of supply.

  • How long does it take to switch energy supplier?

    21 days from the date you apply to switch is the industry standard for switching energy supplier.

    The “Energy Switch Guarantee” ensures that switching supplier takes no longer than 21 days, including a 14 day cooling off period, whether you switch to one of the Big Six suppliers – British Gas, SSE, EDF Energy, Npower, Scottish Power and E.ON – or a smaller supplier, such as Octopus Energy, Shell Energy, So Energy and Bulb.

    All switching applications come with a mandatory 14-day cool-off period should you wish to cancel your application and revert back to your original supplier.

    The switching process itself is very straightforward and is dealt with by your old and new suppliers – the only thing you need to do is provide your old supplier with a final meter reading to close your account.

  • How do I choose an energy supplier?

    When choosing an energy supplier, we suggest that you weigh up the rates on offer alongside the quality of the provider. You can do this by asking the following questions:

    •     Do they have positive reviews?
    •     Will they be easy to contact if you have any issues?
    •     Is there an exit fee?

    When you switch with CAfS via our partner The Energy Shop, you can be sure you’re switching to a quality supplier, whether you choose a Big Six energy supplier or a smaller provider.

    The latest statistics from EnergyUK show that around 34% of customers are switching from what are considered as ‘larger suppliers’ to ‘small and mid-tier suppliers’, but you need to be cautious about being tempted by a supplier that simply offers low prices.

    The energy market is constantly evolving and a number of new suppliers rush to the top of price comparison results pages based on price, only to find their customer service can be lacking as they struggle to handle the volume of customers that suddenly come their way. In doing so, this can lead to consumer frustration as teething issues set in so as we say consider price but also service.

    CAfS may be able to help you with energy advice and tariff comparisons. To see if you are eligible for this free service see https://cafs.org.uk/cafs-draughtproofing-energy-saving-services/