ÖйúPÕ¾

Page contents

• What is the Warm Homes Local Grant
• Who is eligible for the Warm Homes Local Grant
• How to apply for the Warm Homes Local grant
• What is the process for the Warm Homes Local Grant
• Additional advice and contact

What is the Warm Homes Local Grant

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 ÖйúPÕ¾ and meet the eligibility criteria outlined in this guidance. The grant will begin on the 1 September 2025 and plans to run for 3 years ending on 31 March 2028.

Building on previous grants, WH:LG supports England’s statutory fuel poverty target and contributes to the UK’s goal of reaching Net Zero by 2050 by phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to low-carbon heating systems.

The scheme is managed by ÖйúPÕ¾ on behalf of 11 boroughs and districts across ÖйúPÕ¾, with funding provided by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

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 £12,400 per household.

Energy performance upgrades include 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.

We recommend visiting the for a general understanding of what these energy improvements are.

Funding allocated is dependent on survey results, viability of installation and value for money, and is at the discretion of ÖйúPÕ¾. Properties are not automatically entitled to a specific funding amount.

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

What measures will be installed

A qualified retrofit assessor will perform an initial survey of the property and produce a plan of recommended works . Residents can discuss preferred measures with the surveyor, but we cannot guarantee that specific measures will be viable.

All work must be done with the resident’s permission and adhere to any local planning, freeholder or block manager permission or conservation restrictions. It is responsibility of the resident to check and secure this permission.

Installing low carbon heat. air source heat pumps and storage heating

Eligible households can install low carbon heating provided that the property has appropriate levels of insulation. If the required levels of insulation do not exist, funding will first be used ideally to insulate the home.

This is mandatory for all funding applications to meet the conditions of the grant. The viability of low carbon heating will be considered following a survey as to whether it is an appropriate replacement for the current heating system.

Upgrading existing measures

Any proposed improvement stated by the retrofit coordinator in lines with the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure can be considered. Existing Solar PV or Solar Thermal arrays cannot be repaired or replaced. Existing loft insulation can be topped up, if possible, but existing cavity wall or underfloor insulation cannot be extracted under the grant.

Who is eligible

Applications are open to residents of ÖйúPÕ¾ who physically occupy the property. 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.

ÖйúPÕ¾ (SCC) 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.

Pathway 1: Auto-eligible postcode

If your property falls into an auto eligible postcode, you are financially eligible automatically but still need to satisfy the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements of D or below. You will have to provide proof of address: recent council tax bill or a recent energy bill.

Auto eligible postcodes can be found on but we will determine if you are located in one of these postcode areas.

Pathway 2: Means tested benefit

This is regardless of income, and number of occupants. You will need to provide us with evidence of one of the following:

• Housing Benefit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Council Tax Support

Also one of the following for proof of address: Recent Council Tax bill will be mandatory if single occupier or a recent energy bill.

Pathway 3: Household income threshold

If your total annual gross household income, including the incomes of all other occupants over 18, is £36,000 or below, then you are financially eligible for the Household Income Threshold Pathway 3.

From the evidence you provide, our advisors need to be able to calculate an annual gross income. You (and every occupier over the age of 18) will need to provide us with evidence of one of the following but not limited to:

• Previous 3 months of pay slips
• Previous 3 months of bank statements (if no income received)
• Most recent SA302 / tax computation and Tax Overview (if self-employed)
• State pension letter and any Private Pension P60’s
• Statement showing any dividends from shares or ISA draw downs.

Also for proof of address: Most recent Council Tax Bill or Energy Bill

We reserve the right to request further evidence and is empowered to do so by Warm Homes Local grant guidance from DESNZ.

Pathway 4: After housing costs

Where your gross annual household income falls above £36,000, we may be able to financially verify you via Pathway 4.

We can take into account the deduction of rent or mortgage payments only to calculate your After Housing Costs (AHC) gross annual income. If then your household is left with an income below your corresponding threshold, you will be financially eligible for WH: LG.

Pathway 5: ECO flex route 2 eligibility

This last route aligns with the energy company obligation eligibility route. It will only apply for EPCs that are E to G.

If residents satisfy two different proxies (some combinations will not be valid) it may be possible to become eligible. The proxies are the following: Living in listed lower layer super output (LSOA) , eligible for council tax reduction, vulnerable to cold, eligible for free school meals, supported by local authority scheme, citizens advice or energy supplier referral, energy supplier debt data.

Evidence of these proxies will be needed. For more information on this Pathway please visit

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.

Funding cannot be used to make these properties compliant with existing regulations. Landlords will have to fill out an additional form to comply with the subsidy control act and confirm they are fine to proceed with surveys and works.

Upon tenant’s eligibility verification, we request landlords to get in touch via energy@surreycc.gov.uk for further checks.

Social housing eligibility

Social housing is not eligible- except for in-fill purposes only, capped at 10% of a project’s total homes treated, with a 50% cost contribution required from social housing landlords. We recommend visiting the warm homes social housing fund.

Charity owned rented properties

Charity owned properties are eligible under private rented and must not be registered as a social housing provider.

Shared ownership properties

Shared ownership will be considered as part of private rented sector if the resident is paying any rent. The scheme provider is responsible for the upgrades.

Park homes

Park homes are eligible for support under WH:LG given the resident meets the eligibility criteria. Permission may be required from site owners.

Applying if already received upgrades through previous grants

Properties that received upgrades through the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) or Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme may qualify for WH:LG funding if they meet the eligibility criteria outlined in this document.

Additionally, funding is only available if the upgrades:

• Bring the property up to EPC Band C, or
• Include low-carbon heating as part of the installed measures.

Properties upgraded through other DESNZ energy efficiency schemes (e.g., Energy Company Obligation (ECO)) are not subject to these specific requirements.

Important: The same individual measure cannot be funded twice in all cases unless it is a top up.

The £36,000 income threshold

This is the total gross income for all adults over 18 years of age living at the property.

Where lodgers are present, rent paid is counted towards household income and the lodger must be listed on the application, but the income they receive is not counted.

Other discounted adults whose income does not count include full time university students, adult dependents residing in a property for care, and those in prison.

The following disability benefits will not be counted towards income but may still be part of the provided evidence if in the case that you exceed the £36k threshold: Attendance Allowance, disability living allowance, personal independence payment, armed forces independent payment, exceptionally severe disablement allowance, constant attendance allowance, industrial injuries disablement benefit.

Documents that Landlords need to provide

Landlords will be required to fill out a separate form to declare:

• Permissions for landlord details to be shared and stored on a central database of landlords participating in the WH:LG
• Agreement to support DESNZ-led surveys or evaluations regarding Private Rented Sector uptake in the WH:LG
• Confirmation that the Minimum Financial Assistance threshold will not be exceeded by the landlord receiving the proposed assistance

Upon tenant’s verification, landlords can request the form by sending an email to energy@surrreycc.gov.uk

Providing the relevant documentation

When filling in your application, you will have the opportunity to attach the relevant documents. To get your application processed fast, you must attach all necessary documents at this stage.

If you are not able to attach documentation at this stage, the Advisors or a team member will follow up after they receive your application by email. If you cannot use a computer to attach these documents yourself, you are advised to ask a family member or friend for help.

Alternatively, you can send postal copies to:

ÖйúPÕ¾, Greener Futures Team (To the attention of JH), Warm Homes Local Grant. Victoria Gate, Chobham Road. Woking GU21 6JD

• We cannot accept liability for any documents lost or damaged in the post.
• For sole occupiers: applications must be supported by a Council Tax Bill
• Utility bills can be used as proof of address where there is more than one adult residing in the property, or the property is situated in an auto-eligible postcode area.
• If you are found to have withheld information or found to have committed fraud you will be liable for the install and could be prosecuted.
• Land registry information must also match the application to prove owner-occupier status for landlords or owner occupiers. By signing the resident agreement form, the resident is stating they are either a tenant or the named owner of the property and consent to a land registry check at any stage .

How to apply

To improve your application process please ensure to attach all necessary documentation outlined and make sure to read the Privacy notice and all of this current guidance for householders.

If you do not have a computer

We encourage residents to seek help from a family member or friend when submitting documentation online.

If you cannot find any direct help, ÖйúPÕ¾ Climate Comission may be able to provide support on : 07801233582 or info@surreyclimate.org.uk

Alternatively, paper copies of the application can be sent to the Resident’s address for completion and return by post, along with photocopies of the required evidence. Postal applications must be returned within 14 days and posted to the specific address provided.

Please note that ÖйúPÕ¾ is not responsible for any documents lost or damaged in the mail. Once any sensitive documents are scanned and uploaded to our secure system, all physical copies will be shredded within 7 days. The post is collected only once a week, so any postal applications will take longer time to process.

Getting in touch with questions

We encourage residents to send over inquiries to energy@surreycc.gov.uk since responses will take less time and will be the most effective way of communication.

In addition, you are welcome to call the Warm Homes Local Grant team at the following number 01483 404 505, we cannot guarantee availability to answer but a voice mail can be left and a member of our team will get in touch as soon as possible.

Documents to be provided

Before any installation of measures and surveys, applicants need to provide:

• Application form completed by the owner occupier or tenant (ideally online) in full and signed the Resident Agreement and scheme expectations document.
• Proof of income/benefits as evidence of eligibility to be attached to the application form. Screenshots and PDFs are accepted.
• Proof of Address
• After installation: Signed customer completion form

What is the process

1. Eligibility check

Before completing a WH:LG application, take the time to find your Eligibility Pathway. All eligibility pathways require the EPC to be D, E, F, or G.

If you do not have an energy performance certificate

If a property does not have a valid EPC (e.g. non-existent, expired, or inaccurate), you will need to have a pre-installation EPC carried out. This will be carried out during the Retrofit Assessment and will be covered by the grant. The property will only be progressed further if the EPC comes back D, E, F, or G.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Your EPC is a legally valid document that measures your properties energy efficiency rating. It provides a rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It includes potential energy costs and environmental impacts as well as suggested improvements you can make to increase the rating.

2. Home retrofit survey

Once a resident’s eligibility for the scheme is confirmed, the resident will be referred to a trusted surveyor for a Retrofit Assessment. The Surveyor will contact the resident to arrange the assessment. The survey will be carried out by a qualified Retrofit Assessor, who will discuss with the resident on the day the types of measures that may be possible and of interest to the resident.

The installer is required to attempt contact with the resident a minimum of three times. If this is unsuccessful, the application may be cancelled. Following the retrofit assessment, a retrofit co-ordinator will produce a plan of works for the property and present it to us. We will then make referrals to relevant installers (dependent on the viable works) to generate quotes.

Depending on the type of work proposed, further technical surveys may need to be carried out. Following surveys, all quotations will be shared with us and with the resident if requested so. We will then gain funding approval from DESNZ. Essential works will be detailed on the quote(s) and will be included in the funding.

What is a Retrofit Assessment

A Retrofit Assessment is a detailed evaluation of a property to identify improvements needed to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions. It follows a whole-house, 'Fabric First' approach, prioritising upgrades to insulation and ventilation systems. It is part of the PAS 2035/2023 standards that we must follow.

What will the surveyor do during the Retrofit Assessment

The Retrofit Assessor will require access to the entire inside of the property and any outside space available. The key components of a Retrofit Assessment are: Occupant Assessment (evaluating the needs of the building’s occupants to ensure that the retrofit measures will be suitable and beneficial), Condition Survey (this involves a detailed inspection of the building’s existing structure, including its heating, ventilation, and insulation systems), and Energy Report (this report provides an analysis of the building’s current energy performance and areas where improvements can be made).

• Surveyors require photographic evidence of the property during the survey.
• Cavity wall insulation analysis may require a borescope inspection
• Please communicate to the surveyor any specific requirements you may need during the visit.
• Retrofit Assessments can take 1 to 3 hours on site.

3. Funding approval

Once the quotes are provided by the installers, we will confirm agreement of the quotes and request approval from DESNZ. Upon approval, the installer is notified to arrange an installation date with the resident.

How are the installers chosen

The installers on the ÖйúPÕ¾ network are TrustMark Registered and MCS accredited for renewable technologies. They are all certified to PAS2035:2023 as per the conditions of the grant. All the installers have undergone a rigorous due diligence process prior to onboarding. This network of installers has been working on similar type of grants for a long time and are deeply experienced in the sector.

To be eligible for the funding, one of the installers on the ÖйúPÕ¾ network must be used and reserves the right to select installers for referral based on measures offered, performance and capacity.

What essential works are required

Ventilation such as mechanical extractors, trickle vents, door under cuts and roof tile vents may be required. These are a requirement of the installers’ accreditation and are necessary for installations to comply with grant conditions. Such ventilation measures are mandatory and refusal of these will result in the progress of the works being halted, and the resident may be liable for the cost of any works already installed.

Remedial works may also be required to support the install of measures; these are determined by the retrofit coordinator and are also funded under the grant.

What access is required for installation

The installers will need to be able to access the loft space to install loft insulation and solar PV. The loft space will need to be sufficiently cleared prior to the installation. Where this is difficult for the homeowner, the installer may offer to assist at their discretion, however they will not be liable for any damage to items during this process.

Loft boarding may need to be raised and re-laid. The loft will need to be entirely cleared. Failure or refusal to clear a loft to enable loft insulation may result in subsequent measures being cancelled (e.g. renewables). New loft boarding cannot be funded if it was not there previously.

If installing Solar Thermal or an Air Source Heat Pump, space for a hot water tank is also required as an outside space to place the heat pump unit.

The roof must be in a safe and satisfactory condition for solar installations. The installer reserves the right to terminate installation at any point if the roof is deemed unsafe for installation. Residents can pull out of the scheme at any time as long as the works have not yet started.

4. Installation and completion

After the installation of all measures is complete; the residents must fill out a customer completion form. This form will be sent to the resident via email. Postal residents should have their own copy.

If the form is not returned, the resident must inform of the reason why within the given time frame. Installer will also request their own sign off for any works undertaken, please be aware that once a measure is installed and functioning, the installer’s declaration of conformity must be signed regardless of any other issues.

This is a pure administrative process to comply with scheme process, it does not influence payment to installer or resolution of complaints or any outstanding issues. This will be evaluated with confirmation of customer satisfaction. Residents are not responsible for any quoted costs, unless they have requested additional private work beyond the funded installation.

What happens if I am not happy with the work that has been done

If there are any concerns regarding the works, residents should raise them directly with the installer and inform of the dispute. It is the installer’s responsibility to resolve any complaints received, in line with their complaints policy. We ask that you do not return the completion form until all issues have been resolved. Notify us via energy@surreycc.gov.uk

If a concern or complaint cannot be resolved between the resident and the installer, we will attempt to mediate a resolution. Under certain cases, if still no resolution has been achieved, we may choose to appoint an independent surveyor to help resolve a dispute if necessary. Payment to the installer may be withheld during this process and the decision of the surveyor will be binding.

The timeline between initial application and completion of works can take anything from 3 weeks to several months since it depends on installers schedule and capacity. We do aim to finish the process as soon as possible.

What happens next

1. A post-installation EPC (funded by the scheme) is required once all works on a property are completed. This is required to assess the achieved savings from the scheme.
2. Guarantees will be provided by the installer for all measure installations. Where applicable, the resident will receive instructions, handover, maintenance information, workmanship and manufacturer warranties, and an MCS certificate for renewables.

As part of the auditing and due diligence requirement for the project, a random selection of properties may be independently surveyed after/during installation of the works by DESNZ. Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. Residents may be asked to be a case study, allowing us to quote the resident’s feedback and allow/provide photographs to be taken of the installation process and finished installation.

We reserve the right to use this case study for promotional purposes or internal reporting subject to obligations imposed by the GDPR and DPA 2018.

Additional advice and contact

We will be available to answer resident questions throughout the process. We recommend using the email below for queries.

If you prefer you can also call the WH:LG phone line below, although you may need to leave a voicemail and someone from the team will then get in touch.

Email : energy@surreycc.gov.uk

Phone line : 01483 404 505

More information on the .

Residents can also contact their , or DESNZ, for reassurance of the project’s legitimacy as consult the privacy notice.