Written by Kate Hallewell
North Cotswold District Council is committed to making your home more energy-efficient and comfortable. The flexible policy will allow you the opportunity for insulation or heating upgrades on any eligible property, so long as it’s not too much work! This helpful information provides helpful tips about saving money through improvements such as those who may need some assistance with their own plans; we’re here every step of the way from planning sessions all throughout installation day
1. What is Local Authority Flexible Energy or LA Flex?
2. What grants are available?
The types of grants available to residents living in the North Cotswold District Council area include:
- Boiler grants
- Cavity wall insulation grants
- External wall insulation grants
- First time central heating grants
- Internal wall insulation grants
- Loft Insulation
- Roof Insulation
- Smart thermostat grants
- Underfloor insulation grants
Boiler grants are expected to be removed from the grant scheme in the next phase so you should apply for this grant as soon as possible.
3. Who is eligible for grants?
Whether you are a homeowner, a housing association tenant or a private renter you could benefit from this scheme. You will need to receive a benefit or have a low income to be eligible for funding and the types of grants you can get depends on a range of factors. The easiest way to see if you are eligible is to use our eligibility checker here.
Eligibility
There are 6 ways to qualify for a grant:
1. Receiving a qualifying benefit
2. Receiving Child Benefit and meeting income rules
3. Income-based eligibility (for households that earn less than £31,000 per year)
4. Vulnerable eligibility
5. Health-related eligibility
6. Bespoke targeting
This route to eligibility applies where a member of the household receives or has received a 'qualifying benefit'. If the benefit isn't a current claim (for example for households where they have gone back to work after the pandemic) providing the benefit has been claimed at some point within the last 12 months, the household will still be eligible for a grant.
Qualifying benefits include:
- Child Tax Credit
- Employment & Support Allowance (Income Based) - Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Pension Credit Savings Credit
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Note if you receive any of the following benefits you could qualify later in the scheme (or through the ECO4 Flex routes). We advise anyone claiming the following benefits to register for updates so you are the first to know when these benefits are accepted.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
If you receive Child Benefit you could be eligible for the scheme but unlike the qualifying benefits above they would need to meet an additional income criteria.
The Child Benefit income criteria depends on the number of children in the household and also whether the claim is a single or joint claim.
The income limits are as follows:
Single parents
1 Child – £19,900
2 Children – £24,800
3 Children – £29,600
4+ Children – £34,500
Parents in a couple
1 Child – £27,500
2 Children – £32,300
3 Children – £37,200
4+ Children – £42,000
(figures updated to Ofgem’s Administration Consultation released on 13 June 2022)
If you are eligible through the Child Benefit route you should apply as soon as you can. The Government's Green Homes Grant excluded Child Benefit recipients so potentially this eligibility route could be removed later in the the scheme.
To be eligible through the income-based route your annual household income will need to be under £31,000. You will need to provide evidence such as bank statements and income information to confirm eligibility.
This is an ECO4 Flex route so it requires the applicants council to have published a Statement of Intent and to issue eligibility declarations.
Vulnerable people can access grants if they meet two of the following criteria (1 & 3 can’t be used together):
1. Lives in a Lower Super Output Area
2. Receives Council Tax Rebate (excluding for single person discounts)
3. Householder has a disability, mental health condition, is over 65, school children or under 16 and pregnant women.
4. Receives free school meals due to a low income
5. Supported by a Council scheme described in a Statement of Intent
6. Households referred by a Citizen’s advice as struggling to pay gas and electricity bills
7. Households in energy debt
A medical practitioner will need to complete a referral form to confirm eligibility.
This is an ECO4 Flex route so it requires the applicants council to have published a Statement of Intent and to issue eligibility declarations.
People with health conditions that are made worse by living in a cold home qualify.
These include:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Immunosuppressed
- Mobility issues
- Respiratory conditions
A medical practitioner will need to complete a referral form to confirm eligibility.
This is an ECO4 Flex route so it requires the applicants council to have published a Statement of Intent and to issue eligibility declarations.
Installers can target specific groups of people living in fuel poverty. Installers will approach you if your property is eligible through this route.
North Cotswold District Council
If you DON'T claim benefits, the criteria for identifying households in fuel poverty in North Cotswold District Council are as follows:
Criteria for North Cotswold District Council eligible households
High Heat Costs
- Are in receipt of either the Department of Work & Pensions Pension Credit (savings element) or Council Tax Credit.
or - Satisfy the annual income thresholds, after tax and housing costs as detailed in the table
Vulnerability to the Cold
- Cardiovascular condition
- Respiratory condition
- Mental health condition
- Disability
- Limiting long term or terminal illness
- Suppressed immune systems (e.g. from cancer treatment or HIV)
- Are 70 years of age or over
- Have dependent children of 5 years or younger
- Have recently been admitted to hospital due to a fall
- Are recent immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees (if living in private
tenure) - Who are pregnant
| GL12 |
| GL4 |
| GL51 |
| GL53 |
| GL54 |
| GL55 |
| GL56 |
| GL6 |
| GL7 |
| GL8 |
| GL9 |
| OX18 |
| OX7 |
| OX8 |
| SN16 |
| SN6 |
| WR11 |
| WR12 |
| Grumbolds Ash with Avening |
| Ermin |
| Sandywell |
| Chedworth & Churn Valley |
| Stow |
| Fosseridge |
| Bourton Vale |
| Bourton Village |
| The Rissingtons |
| Northleach |
| Coln Valley |
| Campden & Vale |
| Blockley |
| Moreton West |
| Moreton East |
| Watermoor |
| St Michael's |
| Chesterton |
| The Beeches |
| New Mills |
| Four Acres |
| Siddington & Cerney Rural |
| Abbey |
| Stratton |
| Lechlade, Kempsford & Fairford South |
| Fairford North |
| The Ampneys & Hampton |
| South Cerney Village |
| Kemble |
| Tetbury East & Rural |
| Tetbury Town |
| Tetbury with Upton |
Eligibility does not guarantee funding. For full details see the full Statement of Intent.
5. How much could you get?
The government installation program is an excellent way to get heating and insulation for your home. It can be complex, but don’t worry – professionals will explain everything from start to finish during their consultation at no extra charge!
The grants are currently available as follows (subject to survey and meeting eligibility rules):
- Boiler grants - this could give you 25% - 75% off the RRP of installing a new boiler
- Cavity wall insulation grants - up to 100% of the installation cost
- External wall insulation grants - up to 100% of the installation cost (only available where electric is the main heating source)
- First time central heating grants - 50-100% of the installation cost (propeties must not have previously had central heating)
- Internal wall insulation grants- up to 100% of the installation cost (only available where electric is the main heating source)
- Loft Insulation - up to 100% of the installation cost (usually only available where electric is the main heating source but in some areas loft insulation is available for gas properties)
- Roof Insulation - up to 100% of the installation cost (usually only available where electric is the main heating source but in some areas roof insulation is available for gas properties where it is installed alongside a new boiler)
- Smart thermostat grants - up to 100% of the cost but only available through some installers
- Underfloor insulation grants - up to 100% of the installation cost but usually only installed alongside another measure like a boiler upgrade
The grant is a one-time payment and can be used in any way you like. The installer will help with the installation process, but it’s not required for them to do so! You’ll receive an explanation of costs before moving forward so there isn’t anything left wondering when we get started on the free survey and installations.
Apply for a grant
Check eligibility for grants
Fill in the short form to see if you are eligible for Government grants.