Grant Advice - NI

The UK government and energy suppliers (via the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme) provide grants to help you implement energy-saving measures in your home, such as grants for energy-efficient boilers, heating, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. 

Government

Affordable Warmth grant scheme

If you live in Northern Ireland and you need help to pay for energy efficiency improvements you may be eligible for the government’s Affordable Warmth Scheme. The scheme provides a package of energy-efficiency and heating measures, tailored to each household.

You may be eligible if you are an owner occupier or householder of a privately rented property and your gross annual household income is less than £20,000.

In the case of a privately rented property you must be named on the Tenancy Agreement. Your landlord must also be registered with the Department for Social Development’s Landlord Registration scheme and give consent for any energy efficiency improvements to be done. Your landlord will also have to contribute towards the cost of the work.

What energy efficiency measures are available?

Here is a prioritised list of measures available under the Affordable Warmth scheme:

Priority rating	Conditions in existing property	Improvement measures available
Priority 1 - Insulation	No cavity wall insulation	Install cavity wall insulation
	Ineffective cavity wall insulation	Remove and replace cavity wall insulation
	No loft insulation or below minimum	Installation or top up of roof space insulation to 270mm
	No hot water jacket	Install hot water jacket
	Ineffective or no draught proofing	Draught proof windows/doors
Priority 2 - Heating	No heating system exists	Installation of natural gas or oil heating
	Conversion of existing LPG or solid fuel system	Installation of natural gas or oil heating
	Conversion of Economy 7	Conversion to natural gas (or oil where natural gas isn't available) or conversion to high efficiency storage system
	Householder 65 or over, or with child under 16, or receiving a disability benefit and with a boiler over 15 years old	Boiler replacement and new radiators where required
	Heating system exists without controls	Add heating controls
	Heating system exists but radiators defective	Replace radiators as needed
Priority 3 - Windows	Windows in disrepair	Repair/replace windows with double glazing if draught proofing is not possible
Priority 4 - Solid wall	Solid wall with no insulation	Internal/external insulation

How does the Affordable Warmth scheme work?

Council staff will:

• contact households they have identified as being most affected by fuel poverty and ask you to complete a short survey
• send completed surveys to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE)
• with your agreement request that the Social Security Agency’s ‘Make the Call’ team complete a benefit entitlement check to make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to

NIHE staff will then:

• complete a technical survey, usually within six weeks of the initial council survey being completed
• decide if you qualify for the scheme
• work with you to get energy efficiency improvement work done by local installers
• arrange payment of the grant

Once the Housing Executive has given written approval for the energy efficiency work to be done, you can either arrange for an installer of your choice or select one from a Housing Executive list to do the work. Please note that:

• the Housing Executive list is not an approved list
• installers should normally be accredited to a relevant trade body

When the council's Building Control department certifies the work has been completed to Building Control Regulation standards the Housing Executive will arrange for payment to be made.

Access to the Affordable Warmth scheme

All local councils across Northern Ireland will be targeting households identified as eligible for energy efficiency improvement work under this scheme. Areas considered most in need of energy efficiency measures will be contacted first.

Source: http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/
 

Local Agencies

There are two home improvement agencies in Northern Ireland who offer additional assistance to process applications for adaptations in privately owned or privately rented property. Advice and assistance from these agencies is free and confidential. The agencies are Gable (Shelter, Northern Ireland)and Fold Housing Trust.

This charity operates a service to assist elderly and disabled people with home improvements or repairs through the GABLEproject. They operate in Strabane, Derry, Limavady and Magherafelt council areas and offer the following services:

 

Tel: 028 7188 2147

Website address: www.shelterni.org

 

Fold Housing Trust is a non-profit making organisation dedicated to helping elderly and disabled people within the community. Fold offers practical assistance and support to repair, adapt or improve homes in all other areas of Northern Ireland that are not covered by Gable. Fold can act as an agent throughout the grant application relieving people of some of their responsibilities in completing the grant application. They offer the following services:

Tel: 028 9042 8314 Fax: 028 9042 8167