More Rushmoor households can now apply for free energy-saving upgrades
RECENT changes to eligibility guidelines mean more households in Aldershot and Farnborough are now able to benefit from a grant that can be used to fund home energy-saving measures.
The maximum income threshold for the Home Upgrade Grant has now been raised to £36,000, increasing the eligible pool of households that can access the free energy-saving upgrades by nearly 20%.
Anyone with an annual household income of £36,000 or less, that does not use a gas boiler as their main heating system, can apply to the Warmer Homes programme to receive free energysaving upgrades for their home, including insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels and more.
Eligible households can have these energy-saving measures installed at no cost through funding secured from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero by a group of 23 local authorities, including Rushmoor Borough Council.
Up to £38,000 in funding is available per household, depending on the property type and what measures are suitable.
Residents can still apply for the scheme if they have a gas connection, as long as it is not used for heating – for example, anyone who has a gas cooker but their home uses electric storage heaters.
Homes are eligible for the scheme if they are mainly heated by any of these methods:
Electricity (storage heaters, electric boiler and panel heaters); Oil;
Coal;
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG); Solid fuel.
Anyone who is unsure if they qualify is encouraged to call the Warmer Homes freephone on 0800 038 5737 or go to www. warmerhomes.org.uk
Rushmoor’s executive head of operations, James Duggin, said: “The change in the maximum income threshold makes a big difference to the number of our residents who could be eligible for the grant.
“I would urge anyone who thinks they might fit the criteria to get in contact with Warmer Homes so they don’t miss out.”
Applications for the scheme are open until November, but funding is limited so applications will be dealt with on a first-come-firstserved basis.