Frequently asked questions about eligibility

The programme provides funding for a range of energy efficiency measures to improve your home's comfort and sustainability. Please note that the availability of each upgrade is dependent on the results of a survey. The upgrades that may be funded under the programme include the following: · Solid Wall Insulation · Cavity Wall Insulation · Loft Insulation · Room-in-Roof Insulation · Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) · Solar PV Panels · High Heat Retention Storage Heaters · Heating Controls Any other home upgrades cannot be installed via the Warmer Homes programme.

The following upgrades are not provided under the scheme: · Underfloor insulation · Double glazing windows · Ground Source Heat Pump · Gas boiler · Electric boiler · Warm Air Units · Energy Saving Lightbulbs · Draught proofing · Wind turbines · Insulating tanks, pipes and radiators. · Solar batteries

Boilers and hot water tanks are not available via the Warmer Homes scheme. However, you may be eligible for an Air Source Heat Pump or High Heat Retention Storage Heaters through the scheme.

The Warmer Homes programme is funded by the Government’s Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) scheme. Portsmouth City Council, in partnership with the local authorities shown here as secured funding from these schemes to offer grant funding to improve the energy efficiency of eligible homes. Please note that private rental properties will require a landlord contribution.

You may qualify for the funding if the following statements apply: Your home must have/be: · An EPC rating of D, E, F or G or No EPC* (you can check your home’s EPC rating here) · Your tenure is either Privately Rented or Owner Occupied · Your homes main heating system is not fuelled by mains gas. And You have a total gross** household annual income of £36,000 or less (before Tax, NI, housing costs/bills) Or: You have a total household annual income of £20,000 or less after housing costs (mortgage/rent and council tax) Or: You receive a means-tested benefit (as listed in the question below) ​​ Or: Your home is within an LSOA (Lower Super Output Area) 1-3 postcode area. We will verify this for you once you have made your application). To find out more about our eligibility criteria please visit our eligibility FAQ page. *Please note that even if you don't currently have an EPC rating or have an expired EPC rating between D and G, you may still qualify for the programme. However, we will need to conduct an EPC assessment before any work can begin.​ ** Total gross annual household income will be income from each household member aged 18+ before any tax and national insurance deductions have been made.

The following means-tested benefits are eligible for the programme: · Child Tax Credits (CTC) · Housing Benefit · Income based Jobseekers allowance (JSA) · Income related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) · Income Support (IS) · Pension Credit Guarantee Credit · Working Tax Credit (WTC) · Pension Credit Savings Credit · Universal Credit (UC) To find out more about our eligibility criteria please visit our eligibility FAQ page.

Once you register your interest in the scheme, one of our friendly team will give you a call. They will discuss your application details with you and have an application submitted on your behalf. Alternatively, you can submit an application online here.

After you submit your application, we will conduct a desktop assessment to determine whether you and your property qualify for the scheme. If you appear to be eligible, we will send you a welcome pack along with eligibility verification documents. These documents are essential for us to confirm your eligibility, enabling our team to conduct a thorough assessment. To prevent any delays, please ensure that you provide accurate information when submitting your application. For more details on how to prove your eligibility and to learn about the required documentation, please visit our eligibility FAQ page.

General enquiries—If you have any questions before you apply, or if you'd like to escalate a matter or make a complaint, please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 0385737 or email retrofit@warmerhomes.org.uk. You can speak to our team Monday through Friday, 8.45am-5.30pm. Applications—If you've started your application and have any queries regarding the declaration, evidence, or eligibility, please contact our Applications Team on 0800 107 8886 or email applications.team@agilityeco.co.uk. The team is available Monday to Friday, 9am-5.30pm. Installation—If you have any questions about your upcoming survey or installation (if approved), please speak with your assigned installer first, who will be able to provide you with more details. If they are unavailable, our Customer Service Team will be able to assist you. Please call 0800 0385737. Our team is available Monday to Friday, 8.45am—5.30pm. Please note that all our phone lines are free to phone.

You must be occupying the property to qualify for the scheme. Therefore, if you do not currently live in the property or will not be living there by the time the works are completed, your application will not be successful.

If you have any questions about your upcoming survey or installation (if approved), please reach out to your assigned installer, who can provide you with more details. However, we're still here to support you. If your installer doesn't respond or if you need to escalate any concerns, please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 0385737 or email retrofit@warmerhomes.org.uk.

Your assigned installer will be able to provide you with more information about the measure you are interested in and will also provide you with a factsheet related to the measure(s) you are interested in. You can also find our explainer videos here or you can find further information on other websites such as the Energy Saving Trust.

If you are a private rental tenant: You will need permission from your landlord before any upgrades can be installed in your property. A landlord contribution will be required so please do ensure they are aware of you making an application. For more information regarding Landlord consent please visit our eligibility FAQ page. If you are a homeowner/owner occupier: If your upgrade will affect the external appearance of your property (e.g. solid wall insulation or solar panels), we recommended contacting your local council to see if you need to apply for planning permission. We also recommend that you inform your home insurer to check that you have sufficient cover in place. If you have a leasehold property/ shared ownership: You may also need to check that you have authorisation to make external changes to your property.

It can take four to eight weeks between the property's survey and the start of the installation work. For certain properties, this can be longer, for example, if planning permission is needed.

For owner occupied properties, the homeowner/owner-occupier of the property will own the energy efficiency measure(s) once installed. For Private Rental properties, the ownership will be with the landlord.

For owner occupied properties, the homeowner/owner-occupier will be responsible for any future maintenance and costs. For private rental properties, the private rental landlord will be responsible for any future maintenance and costs. Please note, details of your warranty cover will be provided by your installer following your installation.

We’ll call you to make sure that you’re happy with the service and the installation. Some properties will also be chosen for in-person Quality Assurance checks.