Warm Homes Local Grant (WHLG)
The Warm Homes Local Grant is a government-funded scheme delivered by Sefton Council. It provides grants for energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating to eligible privately owned homes in Sefton, aiming to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions.
If you are eligible, the property is deemed suitable and the funds are available, an assessment on your home will determine the measures that may be available through the grant. These may include:
- wall, loft and underfloor insulation
- air source heat pumps
- smart controls
- solar panels
As a condition of the grant the necessary ventilation will also be installed. This will help prevent any condensation or damp issues.
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible,
- Your home must:
- be in Sefton Council’s area
- be privately owned
- have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of D or below – if you do not know your home’s EPC, you can find it out when you apply
- You must qualify via:
- Pathway 1: The household must live in a postcode that falls within Income Deciles 1-2 of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD:ID 1-2).
- Pathway 2: The household must either receive specific means-tested benefits or qualify under Route 2 of ECO4 Flex criteria.
- Pathway 3: The household’s gross annual income must be below £36,000 or meet the ‘After Housing Costs’ threshold, which is adjusted for their household size
How much will it cost?
Owner occupiers will not be required to make a financial contribution.
What are the benefits?
The scheme is intended to help make homes more energy efficient. The benefits may include:
- Reducing the amount of energy needed to heat or power your home
- Potentially reducing your energy bills, which may save you money
- Helping to tackle the climate emergency
How do I apply?
If you would like to register an interest for the scheme, please complete the form in the link below:
Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant to improve a home
If you are unable to complete the form online, please contact the Retrofit Team (details further down the page). We can post out a paper version of the form and/or go through it on the telephone.
Please note the scheme is already oversubscribed. Expressing and interest does not guarantee you will be contacted.
What if I live in a home owned by a landlord?
The Council have decided not to take applications from private landlord properties currently, while we await further assurances on scheme compliance.
If you live in a property owned by a Housing Association, please contact them directly, as you are not eligible for this scheme. However, Housing Associations have access to the Warm Homes Social Housing fund which offers similar works.
What will happen once I apply?
Please note the scheme is already oversubscribed. Expressing and interest does not guarantee you will be contacted.
If your application is progressed further the Retrofit team will be in touch with you. We may ask you for some personal ID, financial information (to verify your household income), property deeds etc.
If progressed to the next stage a Retrofit Survey will be arranged for your property to establish its current energy rating and the most appropriate improvements for your property.
If the survey indicates that works can be completed within budget and funding available then, you may then progress to works being completed at your property or be placed on a waiting list until funding is approved/available.
If my application is approved, does this mean I will get work done to my home?
No. The Council expect the demand for this project to be extremely high and to be heavily oversubscribed. Some residents may not get past the application stage, not because they are ineligible, but because funds are limited and demand is high.
Even after a Retrofit Survey has been carried out in your home, you may not receive funding – either because your property is not suitable for any measures or because the funding is not available. We understand that this will leave some residents disappointed.
The grant is discretionary, and an expression of interest in the scheme, completing and application or a survey being completed on your property does not guarantee you will receive works.
We will follow our Delivery Policy which will help ensure that the limited funding is distributed in the fairest and most cost-effective way.
Alternative support
There are alternative funding routes for energy efficient measures, which some residents may be eligible for. These include;
- ECO4 Flex. Please see our ECO4 Flex page for more details
- Energy Projects Plus. May be able to offer home energy assessments, access to alternative grants and help with fuel payments/ debt Referring Clients to Energy Projects Plus | Energy Projects Plus
- Healthy Green Homes Team. Help with broken heating systems, energy efficiency advice. Tel: 0151 934 2222 or email energy@sefton.gov.uk for further information.
Contact Us
Telephone:
0151-934-2848 (answerphone service – please leave 1 message (your name and contact number) and someone will return your call )
Email:
We expect the Retrofit Team to be very busy when the scheme goes live and therefore team response times will reflect this.
Office:
Magdalen House, Trinity Road, Bootle, L20 3NJ
(Please note - the Council has a hybrid working model, which means that there may not be anyone from the Retrofit Team available in person if you turn up without an appointment.)
Feedback
We appreciate any feedback you may have about the scheme. Please see the link below to the Council’s Complements, Comments and Complaints page - which includes information for reporting should you suspect an applicant or employee of fraud.
Compliments, Comments and Complaints
