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)

The Warm Homes Local Grant (WH:LG) is a government-funded scheme that helps low-income households in England improve energy efficiency and switch to low-carbon heating.

To qualify, residents must reside at a property in the Ashford Borough and meet the eligibility criteria outlined in this guidance.

The grant began on the 1 September 2025 and plans to run for 3 years ending on 31 March 2028.

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

What is funded

This is a fully government funded grant. Owner occupiers are not expected to make any contributions to the cost. The grant allows eligible residents to receive a range of retrofitting measures with whole project averages estimated up to £12,500 per household.

Energy performance upgrades includes

• Loft insulation, Cavity Wall insulation, External Wall insulation, Park home insulation, Underfloor insulation, Internal wall insulation , Windows and Doors upgrades, Solar PV , Solar Thermal and battery storage.

Low carbon heating includes:

•  Air Source Heat Pump and High Retention Storage Heaters.

Funding allocated is dependent on survey results, viability of installation and value for money, and is at the discretion of Ashford Borough Council. Properties are not automatically entitled to a specific funding amount.

It is entirely dependent on the works that are viable and the associated costs. 

Who is eligible

Applications are open to residents who physically occupy the property in the Ashford Borough. Residents must meet the eligibility criteria outlined below.

Private rented sector can also apply but the Landlord will be subject to additional checks as explained further down.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) reserves the right to withdraw applications that are not aligned with the "spirit of the grant".

This funding has been allocated by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero for the purposes of supporting vulnerable residents genuinely suffering fuel poverty and thus the council retains the right to evaluate savings and housing archetypes such as Park Homes and Private rented properties.

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

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.

Rental properties eligibility

For privately rented properties, tenants must meet the low-income criteria outlined in any of the eligible pathways and make the application.

Landlords can receive full funding for one property, but for any additional properties, they must contribute minimum of 50% of the upgrade costs, with no limit on the number of properties that can be upgraded.

Tenants are not required to contribute to the cost of any upgrades.

Privately rented properties rated EPC's F and G must have registered exemptions under the Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015 to be deemed eligible.

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