Homeowners urged to get Green Deal assessment ahead of next GDHIF installment

Published:  16 January, 2015

With under four weeks to go until the next instalment of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF), homeowners are being encouraged to make sure they arrange their Green Deal home assessment in advance if they are to benefit from the next round of cash.

The warning comes after the latest lot of solid wall insulation funding sold out in a record time of just 30 hours.

The first instalment of the second phase of the GDHIF, launched on 10 December, made available £30 million of funding, which was split into two categories:

• Up to £24 million for solid wall insulation;
• Up to £6 million for two measures from a list of home improvements available under the scheme.

The second instalment is expected in February, offering homeowners the opportunity to claim up to £1,000 towards the cost of installing any of the following two measures:

• A condensing gas boiler on mains gas
• Double or triple glazing as a replacement for single glazing
• Secondary glazing
• Energy efficient replacement external doors
• Cavity wall insulation
• Floor insulation
• Flat-roof insulation
• Insulation for a room in the roof
• A replacement warm air unit
• Fan-assisted storage heaters
• A waste water heat recovery system

However, when it comes to applying for the government funding, each applicant must have previously received a Green Deal property assessment, carried out by a Green Deal assessor or provider, within the last two years.

Once a Green Deal assessment or an EPC has been carried out, customers need to agree a quote from a Green Deal installation company that’s registered with the GDHIF and apply for a voucher before the work commences. Once the work is complete, and the Green Deal provider or installer has filled in the necessary information on the voucher, then customers can make their claim.

An extra £500 is available if consumers apply within 12 months of buying a home, and up to £100 can be claimed towards the cost of the Green Deal assessment if energy-saving improvements are installed through the GDHIF.

Chris Hopkins, managing director of Ploughcroft, said: “The popularity of the scheme is extremely encouraging, and indicates that UK homeowners are becoming increasingly educated towards the benefits of energy efficient home improvements. However, this increased popularity means that homeowners need to move fast if they want to secure the funding.

“With only weeks to go until the next tranche of funding – which is likely to get used up even quicker – we would urge homeowners to arrange a Green Deal assessment prior to February, ready for the next application period.”