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FAQs

Please note the ECO funding is constantly evolving as is the available funding along with insulation & heating measures and the eligibility criteria. periodical changes are common and reflect the demands of customers and Government Targets. Please continue to check the eligibility criteria and the insulation measures available from time to time, as ineligible customers may become eligible along with new insulation priorities further on in time.
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Is This Scheme Legit?
Yes the ECO scheme is Government backed and supported by Trustmark & Ofgem. The Government wants to reduce carbon emissions in domestic dwellings and has provided a funding mechanism for eligible people to achieve this by insulating their homes.
Who Qualifies For A Gas Boiler Upgrade?

Gas Boilers are available to homeowners who LIVE at the property they own. The boiler MUST be a non-condensing combi or a non-condensing system boiler (boiler with hot water tank in a cupboard). These are typically back boilers and floor mounted boilers. However some wall mounted boilers are still eligible if non-condensing, e.g. modern and energy efficient.

Gas Boilers can only be installed in tenanted properties (people who rent but do not own) if the property currently has no gas central heating system. They can apply for a First Time Central Heating Grant but only if the gas meter was installed before APRIL 2022. Typically these are for properties that currently have gas fires but no wet system or an electric heating system installed like electric boiler, Electric storage heaters or electric panel heaters.

The good news is that tenanted properties and homeowner properties are eligible for an air source heat pump, subject to Occupancy Eligibility and Property Eligibility. However a Fabric First policy must be adopted if you are seeking heating measures under the ECO 4 Grant Framework.

What Does Insulation First Mean Under The Eco 4 Framework?
All of the walls & roofs must be insulated under the grant scheme prior to any installation of heating systems (including solar) irrespective of whether the application is for air source heat pump, gas boiler upgrade or heating controls for existing heating systems.The good news is the grant covers the fabric first approach and would look to insulate cavity or solid walls and roofs, prior to the installation of heating measures, completely free of charge.
Can I Get Solar Without Any Other Insulation Measures?
No! Solar PV is only available in connection with an air source heat pump installation under the ECO 4 Funding Criteria. Air Source & Solar, however, are available for both gas and off gas properties, subject to occupancy eligibility & Property eligibility.
Does Internal Wall Insulation (IWI) Cause Damp?

No! Damp is either rising or penetrating and is caused by an existing defect at the property. A fully qualified retrofit assessor checks the walls to be insulated prior to any install, to see if any serious damp exists.

The SWIP (IWI) System has a breathable membrane, which is applied to the wall along with the insulation which allows the wall to breathe. Also the Internal wall insulation comes with a free ventilation package which includes trickle vents and upgraded extractors so as to avoid moisture, condensation and mould build up

What Happens After The Internal Wall Insulation Is Complete?
The radiator pipes are extended and re-attached to the walls (if on treated walls). The skirting boards are re-attached, sometimes they need replacing like for like, if they break on removal, sometimes this happens in old houses. The window sills are replaced, the curtain rails and blinds are reattached, the walls are left as we found them prior to entry.
What About The Coving On The Internal Walls Where Internal Wall Insulation is being installed?
The coving must be removed all the way to the ceiling of the wall which is being treated. If the internal wall is only installed to the coving it will create thermal bridging (cold spot) where the coving covers the heat loss wall.

In most cases standard coving can be replaced after the internal wall insulation, but old intricate coving cannot. In most cases if the coving cannot be replaced it doesn’t really affect the aesthetics of the room once painted, in the same way designer wall paper on the chimney breast of a room doesn’t affect the aesthetics of the rest of the room which is often painted a different colour to the designer paper on the chimney breast.

What Is A Retrofit Assessment?
A Fully qualified, accredited assessor must attend the property to assess the suitability of the desired or proposed insulation works to ensure that the property is in a suitable condition. All insulation works come with industry approved warranty backed guarantees, so the assessor needs to make sure that they are suitable for the building and the building is in a suitable enough state to receive the insulation measures, without causing damage to the building, where, for example, there maybe existing structural or fabric defects that may need fixing before the installation can go ahead.

This is a free service typically taking around an hour and is designed to give customers the peace of mind that the right insulation is being selected for the property and that these insulation measures are going to enhance the property.

What Types Of Funding Are Available?

ECO 4 (Energy Company Obligation) Funding, generally operates on a whole house approach to insulation. The free grant will generally attempt to insulate the whole of the building. This may mean the walls would be insulated, as would the roof elements, be it loft insulation in the loft, flat roof insulation for any flat roof extensions and roof room insulation for insulation in the room in the attic. The grant would also look to replace the heating system for the property where eligible, if necessary and if there is a demand. This is subject to Property Eligibility & Occupancy Eligibility and is completely free of charge.

Great British Insulation Funding (GBIS)
Funding generally targets individual insulation measures, such as wall insulation or loft insulation, including heating controls where necessary. Qualifying households must have a council tax band rating A-G. It is usually free but a contribution maybe needed for large single insulation measures such as internal wall insulation where the property has a large gable end to insulate.