Loft Insulation & Cavity Wall Insulation

Home insulation is one of the best ways of making your property more Energy Efficient. Loft Insulation can be installed in an hour or two and Cavity Wall Insulation takes around half a day. With the help of a Government-backed grant, installing insulation costs very little and any outlay is typically recovered in a year or two. You may even qualify to have it installed free of charge!

The majority of Insulation grant funding is provided by the six main utility companies operating in the UK. The scheme is known as CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) whereby the Government have set the Utilities targets to reduce carbon emissions from domestic properties by 2012. A poorly insulated home can lose up to 60% of it's heat, therefore more fossil fuel is burned and more carbon dioxide is produced.

Insulation Grant Criteria

Home insulation grants are available to fit insulation retrospectively to private domestic households. They are not generally available for new-build projects. The main criteria to qualify for an insulation grant is that you own your own property or rent from a private landlord. It is the occupier who qualifies for the grant, so they must be living at the property or have a utility bill in their name if it is being renovated. The insulation must be fitted by professional installers so DIY projects do not qualify.

EnergyLink Ltd. can put you in touch with an approved installer in your local area who has access to grant funding and who can offer a free, no-obligation survey. Whilst grants are available in Northern Ireland, the schemes are set up differently so EnergyLink only operate across England, Scotland and Wales.

Free Insulation Grants

To qualify for a 100% free insulation grant, someone living in the property must be aged 70 or above. Alternatively, someone must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit, tax credit or allowance. There is no catch. Providing you meet the criteria, you will not have to pay anything towards the cost. Note that there are restrictions on property size and levels of loft insulation currently installed (see below).

Partial Insulation Grants Of Up To 70%

If you are under 70 years of age and you do not receive any of the qualifying benefits, you can still claim a partial insulation grant that can cover up to 70% of the cost of having insulation fitted. The only criteria is that you own the property or rent it from a private landlord. If you do have to make a contribution towards the cost, it is typically between £99 and £199. This cost is normally recovered within a year or two from savings made on your heating bills.

Claiming Your Insulation Grant

To claim your free or partial insulation grant, complete our short application form. This will tell you which grant you are likely to qualify for. One of our approved installers will then contact you to arrange a free, no-obligation survey. If your home is suitable and you would like to proceed, the work will be arranged. The installer completes the work and then invoices a utility company or managing agent for the grant amount. If you qualify for a partial grant, you will need to pay your contribution by cash or cheque on the day the work is carried out.
N.B. Some installers may take a deposit at survey.

Insulation Grant Restrictions

The grants provide for average sized properties. For example, if you live in a larger than average three bedroom semi, you will have to pay an additional charge regardless of whether you qualify for a free or partial grant. This is calculated by charging a small amount for every square metre over the allowable limit. There are also restrictions on the depth of loft insulation that can already be installed. For the free grant, this is normally 2.5" or 60mm and on the partial grant it is normally 4" or 100mm. If special access equipment such as scaffolding is required, this will also be chargeable. The surveyor will advise you of any such additional costs.

Home Insulation Advantages

Installing loft insulation and cavity wall insulation can save you up to £265 per. year on your fuel bills. Carbon Dioxide emissions will also be reduced by up to 1.4 tonnes. You will feel more comfortable in your home, not only warmer in the Winter but also cooler in the Summer. The value of your home will increase and so will it's energy efficiency rating. As all homes sold in the UK require an Energy Performance Certificate as part of the Home Information Pack, having adequate home insulation will make it easier to sell your property. Insulation also helps to reduce the build-up of condensation on ceilings and walls.