CAfS

FAQ Categories: Green Homes Grant

  • How do we apply?

    1. Plan your project with other members of your group and think about how you will answer the questions in the application form before you fill it in. For example,  you could construct a word document that you could use to ‘cut and paste’ into the form:
    • Contact details – email, phone, address, website if applicable
    • Summary of the project/event/activity you plan to do
    • What do you hope this will achieve?
    • How will you know if your project has been a success?
    • What costs do you need help with from the Zero Carbon Cumbria funding?
    • Do you have exact quotes for the costs – if not, could you get copies of these?

    2. Download an application form

    Make sure that you are filling in the right form for the amount of money that you are applying for.

    3. Fill in the application and complete with a signature. By signing the application form, you are confirming that you have read and agreed with all the terms and conditions of the grant, including a commitment to provide a monitoring report on your achievements. 

    4. Return to communitygrants@cafs.org.uk together with any necessary additional documents, including your constitution and bank account details, and a recent bank statement (he large grants process is currently under review).

  • I have heard about Green Homes Grant – LAD, what is this and can I apply?

    A Green Homes Grant LAD is a government funded grant which is delivered by the local authority where they can set a broader criteria for eligibility to meet the problems in their areas. The conditions are similar but not the same and so that should be checked upon with your own local authority where you live.

    The time scales for these grants are also longer than the individual homeowner voucher scheme. With some schemes running until 2022.

    Eden have a Green Homes Grant LAD scheme set up to cover harsh weather areas in the first instance around Alston, Langwathby and Brough.  Though anyone in Eden should seek information from there dedicated webpage and apply anyway , as they have the right to choose to accept applicants and match them onto the scheme, through various phases of it.

     

  • Can Cold to Cosy Homes give me impartial advice so that I can make the right decision on the order I do the work in and what’s right for my home?

    Yes, you can book a Cold to Cosy Homes advice call to help you through this.

    It is free if you fulfil the eligibility criteria. Otherwise, you can pay for advice and other services such as surveys.

    Call us on 01768 216500.

  • What about getting or if I have Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)?

    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.

     

  • Is there a helpline for questions about 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.

  • The VAT situation is confusing. Is there help with this?

    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.

     

  • For retrofit schemes, does the 5% VAT rate apply for Retrofit Coordinator fees and can you apply for work already done?

    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.

     

  • What VAT rate is work charged at, and is that covered by 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.

     

  • I have applied for the voucher. When can installation start? 

    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.

     

  • Do I need to get quotes from more than one installer?

    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.