ECO Scheme Heating and Insulation Grants

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards regulations come into force for privately rented properties on 1st April 2018

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for rental properties to be introduced in April 2018 may make it unlawful to let domestic and commercial properties in England and Wales which do not achieve a minimum EPC rating of E

Landlords, will you still be able to let your property after April 2018? If your tenant receives certain State Benefits they may qualify for an ECO Grant to replace the central heating boiler or electric storage heaters

Affordable Warmth Scheme Qualifying Criteria

Your tenant must receive one of the following State Benefits to qualify:

  • Guaranteed Pension Credit (Savings Credit and ordinary State Pension do NOT qualify on their own).
  • Child Tax Credit*
  • Working Tax Credit*
  • Universal Credit*
  • Income Support
  • Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income-Based Job Seeker’s Allowance

*Maximum household income thresholds apply to these benefits

Storage Heater Grants

Government ECO Grants are available to replace faulty or inefficient electric night storage heaters in privately rented properties.

The householder must receive certain state benefits to qualify.

To prepare for the minimum energy efficiency standards regulations and to apply for a storage heater grant on behalf of your tenant, please CLICK HERE.

Affordable Warmth Scheme provides funding for STORAGE HEATER GRANTS

Boiler Grants

Government ECO Grants are available to replace faulty or inefficient:

  • Gas boilers,
  • Oil boilers,
  • LPG boilers and
  • Solid fuel boilers.

The householder must receive certain state benefits to qualify.  

To prepare for the minimum energy efficiency standards regulations and to apply for a boiler grant on behalf of your tenant, please CLICK HERE.

AFFORDABLE WARMTH SCHEME PROVIDES FUNDING FOR BOILER GRANTS

Cavity Wall Insulation Grants

Government Grants are available to install cavity wall insulation in homes which do not have any.

The householder MAY NOT need to receive state benefits to qualify but a small contribution to the cost of cavity wall insulation may be required.

To prepare for the minimum energy efficiency standards regulations and to apply for a cavity wall insulation grant on behalf of your tenant, please CLICK HERE.

Free Cavity Wall Insulation Grants from the Affordable Warmth Scheme

Loft Insulation Grants

Government Grants are available to install loft insulation in homes which have less than 75 mm of loft insulation.

The householder MAY NOT need to receive state benefits to qualify but a small contribution to the cost of loft insulation may be required in some cases.

To prepare for the minimum energy efficiency standards regulations and to apply for a loft insulation grant on behalf of your tenant, please CLICK HERE.

Free Loft Insulation Grants from the Affordable Warmth Scheme

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Regulations

Minimum energy efficiency standards regulations will require that privately rented properties have an EPC energy efficiency rating of no worse than E.

MEES regulations come into force for new tenancies and renewed tenancies on 1st April 2018 and for all existing tenancies on 1st April 2020. This may seem some time away but Government grants are available to upgrade heating systems and insulation in privately rented properties where the tenant receives certain state benefits.

Notably, it will become unlawful to let a property which does not satisfy MEES regulations and fines of up to £4,000 can be imposed in respect of domestic homes. Some exemptions to to MEES regulations exist but they are very limited in scope.

Which domestic properties fall under minimum energy efficiency standards regulations?

MEES regulations apply to privately rented domestic properties in England and Wales, which includes:

  • Properties let under a shorthold tenancy or an assured tenancy
  • Properties let under a regulated tenancy for the purposes of the Rent Acts.
  • Properties let on an assured agricultural occupancy tenancy
  • Properties let on a tenancy protected under the Rent Act 1976 or a statutory tenancy under that Act.

The Government reserves the right to extend the types of privately rented property and types of tenancy which will fall under the minimum energy efficiency standards regulations.