Energy Efficiency Grant Schemes

If your home has inadequate heating or is lacking insulation, the Council may be able to assist through grant funded schemes. These schemes are focused on helping residents on a low income with a vulnerability to living in a cold home due to age/health conditions or in receipt of certain benefits.

For more information, please email warmhomesteam@ashford.gov.uk

The type of measure and the amount of financial assistance available for qualifying households is dependent on the results of surveys of your property.

Warm Homes Local Grant (WHLG)

Ashford Borough Council are delivering the Warm Home Local Grant (WHLG) funding to owner occupied/private rented households in the district, to provide energy efficiency upgrades and low-carbon heating systems.

The Warm Homes Local Grant is available for households in receipt of certain benefits or on a low-income.

To be eligible both of the following criteria must be met and evidenced: -

1.The property’s Energy Performance Certificate must be D, E, F, G rated. Check your EPC rating here. If your property does not have an EPC, this can be carried out as part of the scheme, providing the household meets the income criteria below.

2.The household must meet one of the following:

• The property is located in an economically deprived postcode area (based on data drawn from the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2019 and set out by government for the scheme) or,
• In receipt of means- tested benefits (including all benefits except Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance) or,
• Have an annual gross income below £36,000

Some of the eligible measures include:

• Cavity Wall Insulation
• Loft Insulation including top ups
• Windows and doors
• Solar Photovoltaics
• Air Source Heat Pumps

Please note that grant conditions require a fabric first approach to be adopted, which means insulation measures will be prioritised before renewables. Any funding and the type of measure is subject to survey of the property and Government authorisation.

Further information is available through the Government’s Eligibility Checker, Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant to improve a home - GOV.UK, or by email warmhomesteam@ashford.gov.uk

 This scheme opened for applications on April 1 2025 and will run for 3 years.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) 

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a Government funded scheme that will provide grants to encourage property owners to install low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps. These grants will help overcome the upfront cost of low carbon heating technologies.

Current grants are available for:

• £7,500 towards an air source heat pump
• £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump (including water source heat pumps and those on shared ground loops)
• £5,000 towards a biomass boiler.

The scheme is open to domestic and small non-domestic properties in England and Wales. It will run from 2022 to 2025.

Please click here for more information about the scheme.

Priority Services Register 

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free UK wide service which provides extra advice and support, including when there’s an interruption to your electricity, gas or water supply.

What Help is Available?

Joining their Priority Services Register means you’ll be able to get a range of extra help when you need it. This could be all the time, or for a short period due to something that’s happened in your life.

Some of the help you can get includes:

• priority support in an emergency
• wherever possible 
• advanced notice of scheduled power cuts
• an identification and password scheme if someone needs to visit or contact you helping you feel confident they are genuine
• the ability to nominate someone to receive communications and bills from your supplier, for example a family member, carer or someone you trust
• the chance to move your prepayment meter if you can’t safely get to it to top up
• regular meter reading services
• account info and bills in large print or braille
• assistance reconnecting your gas supply, if you need it

Who can join

You can ask to join your supplier or network operator’s Priority Services Register if you

• have reached state pension age
• are pregnant, or have young children
• struggle with speaking or reading English

You can also join if you’re living with a disability or a long-term medical condition, including:

• mental health conditions
• conditions affecting your sight, hearing or sense of smell
• conditions that mean you need to use medical equipment that requires a power supply

Get in touch with your supplier or network operator directly and give them as much information as you can about your needs

Help is also available if your circumstances have recently changed, for example if you:

• are recovering from an injury, or need support after a stay in hospital
• have been bereaved
• have lost your job

How to Join

Get in touch with your supplier or network operator directly and give them as much information as you can about your needs.

You can contact them online, in writing or by phone. Details on how to do this should be on their website or on your energy bills.

To be added to the Priority Services Register click here or contact your energy supplier/ network provider or contact us at warmhomesteam@ashford.gov.uk