Renewable Energy and Heat

Find out the best ways to heat and power your home without contributing to climate change. We’ll even help you save money on your utility bills!

Warmer Homes delivers grant funded schemes to improve the energy performance and heating systems to homes, as a part of the Government’s sustainable warmth strategy.

The Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG) scheme is now open for applications

If your home does not have a mains gas connection, or you only have a gas cooker and another energy source for heating you may be eligible to apply for energy-saving improvements to your home. 

Elibility 

To apply for the scheme applicants must:  

  • Live in Northumberland and 
  • Own or live in a home with an energy rating of D, E, F, or G and 
  • Have savings or capital, including second homes of less than £50,000 
  • A: Someone living permanently in your home receives a means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit, Income based ESA, income support or tax credits or 
  • B: Have a total annual gross (including tax) household income of below £36,000 for one or two person households.(Households with a larger occupancy the Government’s equivalisation factor can be applied, increasing the threshold for household income by £4,000 per person up to £44,000. (If you are a household size of three persons the income is £40,000 and for four or more £44,000). Personal Independence payments (PIP) and Attendance Allowance is disregarded but all other benefit income and all household members income are considered unless you qualify by another route listed or  
  • C: Your annual gross (include tax) household income after deducting mortgage payments is below £20,000 or 
  • D: If your postcode falls in one of the automatically eligible areas as defined by the Government then you will qualify regardless or income or savings and a means-test is not required. Please check if your postcode falls in one of the automatically eligible areas as defined by the Government. 

Priority will be given to homes that have the worst Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings. Upgrades to properties with an EPC rating of D will be limited. If you do not have a valid EPC, we can provide this assessment as a part of the scheme. Check your home's EPC rating. 

If the property is privately rented a mutual agreement will have to be made between the landlord and tenant to register for this scheme. The eligibility requirements will depend on the occupants of the household and of the landlord which will be assessed which includes having a maximum property portfolio of four properties.  

If you are a landlord or tenant and have any questions, please email warmerhomes@northumberland.gov.uk  

How to apply

The scheme is accessed only by completing the application form or by emailing warmerhomes@northumberland.gov.uk. The application only takes a few minutes and is completely obligation free. For assistance please call our Customer Services team on 0345 600 6400. To speed up your application, please email income evidence either with or immediately after you have made your application. Due to high demand, there may be a delay of several weeks before we can respond to you.  


What to expect 

You may receive a screening call from the Warmer Homes team to confirm your eligibility. They will ask you questions about your income, benefits status and household. You will be required to provide evidence of household income by email to warmerhomes@northumberland.gov.uk.  Personal information required for evidence should only be sent by email to the warmer homes email or to a member of staff whose email ends with @northumberland.gov.uk. 

A certified retrofit assessor will visit your property to undertake an in-depth assessment of your home looking at the building construction, condition, current energy use and people living in the property. They will then create an energy-saving plan that is specific to your property which will include recommended improvements. All recommendations will be tailored to individual homes so that the most appropriate energy saving measures are installed.  

Measures may include:  
  • Floor, loft and wall insulation (internal or external)  
  • Low carbon heat systems, such as air source heat pumps and heating controls  
  • Solar panels  

Applications and eligibility checks will be dealt with by Northumberland County Council only. Once eligibility is confirmed, your application will be passed to our retrofit coordination providers who are either part of our in-house team or a company called Greener Solutions. Read the FAQs here

Providing evidence of income 

For us to assess your eligibility, each adult resident living at the address will need to provide evidence:

Example evidence of household income:

  • A full copy of current means-tested benefit or tax credits award letter showing all applicants name(s) and address(s) including council tax reduction (benefit); universal credit; tax credits; pension credit or
  • For evidence of wages: 2 months or 5 weeks of payslips (issued within the last 3 months)
  • For occupational pensions: 2 months’ payslips (issued within the last 3 months) or most recent current annual award letter
  • For self-employed: Most recent HMRC tax return showing annual income
  • Current non-means-tested benefit award letter (such as state retirement pension, PIP or Attendance Allowance) and/or
  • Full months bank statement of each adult resident issued within last 3 months that clearly shows income.

If you have income that does not fall into these categories, or does not show on a bank statement, please contact us for further clarification.

When making an application you must provide all relevant information requested so that a correct and fair decision can be made. If any of the information you provide is found to be incorrect or misleading the Council will fully investigate and take appropriate action, including criminal prosecution, against anyone dishonestly making a false application.

The Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme has now ended

Please note: The Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme has now ended. This was for homes that have main gas heating. For more information and advice, please contact our Community Retrofit Advisors as other schemes are available such as ECO4, The Great British Insulation Scheme, Boiler Upgrade Grants. Otherwise other advice and information is availble from Community Action Northumberland and Energy Saving Trust. 

Be aware of scams 

We have been made aware of companies cold calling residents and offering low carbon measures as a part of various schemes - some of these companies are requesting bank details amongst other information. You should not provide personal information to any company other than the Northumberland County Council retrofit team and will we ever ask you for any monies. 

If you are unsure, please contact our Customer Services team on 0345 600 6400(Mon-Thurs 08:30am-5pm, Fri 8:30am-4:30pm) and give us the name of the person and company who has asked you for more details so we can verify if they are working on our behalf. 

Additional help and advice available

If you are not eligible for the Warmer Homes scheme there are still things that you can do at home to reduce heat loss and save money.  

Contact the Warmer Homes team 

Email: warmerhomes@northumberland.gov.uk 
Customer Services: 0345 600 6400 

The current scheme runs until the end of March 2025. Although further funding may allow an extension of time to deliver the measures. Those eligible can apply for free grants (depending on property and heating type) which can help: 
  • Help save money on energy bills.
  • Improve home comfort.  
  • Reduce carbon emissions. 
What is not included  
Improvements not part of the scheme include gas or oil boiler repairs or replacements as it is only for low carbon technologies.

Insulation is generally considered first as the schemes are delivered on a ‘fabric first’ approach.

We reserve the right to decline any application if it is not within the intended aim of the scheme, which is to assist those who are currently living with the financial and health effects of fuel poverty. 

New build or self-build homes which have not been previously occupied.

Social housing – homes are rented out by landlords who are registered with the Regulator of Social Housing.

Once the measures have been installed, the funding does not cover the cost of decoration and new flooring of the property.

Check the register to see if you are living in Social Housing
Click here for energy saving tips
Click here for more information on the Sustainable Warmth Scheme
Click here for more information on HUG Phase 2
Check if your home qualifies for Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding.

Use your Northumberland postcode to create a refurbishment plan for your property in our plan builder.

If you, or someone you know needs immediate energy advice or assistance please contact
Northumberland Communities Together.
 
Contact details:
Email: warmerhomes@northumberland.gov.uk
Contact Customer Services on 0345 600 6400
Privacy Notices
BEIS Privacy Notice
This notice sets out how the Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will use your personal data, and your rights. It is made under Articles 13 and/or 14 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).   
This notice relates to data collected under the Warmer Homes operated by Northumberland County Council, which is funded by the Sustainable Warmth Scheme (the Scheme) run by BEIS.  

Northumberland County Council Warmer Homes Privacy Notice
This Privacy Notice is designed to help you understand how Northumberland County Council which is a registered Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), will handle your personal information for the Warmer Homes Initiative. 
 
Roles and responsibilities 
There are many groups involved in the Warmer Homes project. They each have their own role to play and responsibilities to adhere to. Who they are and what is expected from them can be found in this document: roles and responsibilities document.
 
Agreement for homeowners 
You will need to agree to this document before works go ahead on your property: agreement for homeowners.  
This agreement may be signed with your application, during eligibility checks or via the assessors/installers. Please make sure to read this very carefully.  

Warmer Homes contractors

Northumberland County council is currently working with the following contractors to deliver the Warmer Homes project.

  • Vibrant: Energy performance certificates 
  • Northumberland County Council Retrofit Team: Retrofit assessments, coordination or design 
  • Greener Solutions: Retrofit assessments, coordination or design 
  • ECD Architects: Retrofit assessments, coordination or design 
  • Corelogic: Retrofit assessments, coordination or design 
  • Osmosis: Retrofit assessments, coordination or design 
  • Rothwell Plumbing Services Limited: Solar PV Panels 
  • PHS Home Solutions Limited/0800 Repair: Room in roof insulation, internal wall insulation, under floor insulation, air source heat pumps & heating controls 
  • Dyson Energy Services Limited: Cavity wall insulation & loft insulation 
  • NextEnergy: Managing Agent 
  • Everwarm: Managing Agent 
These companies are partners for the delivery of Warmer Homes only. 
Please see below the beta version of the domestic emissions dashboard.


Click here to view the dashboard
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund involves up to £160m available in funding and aims to support the installation of energy performance measures in social homes across England as well as upgrade a significant amount of social housing stock to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C.

The fund will help in the delivery of:
  • Warm and energy efficient homes
  • The Reduction of carbon emissions
  • The support of green jobs
  • Development of the retrofit sector
  • A Reduction of fuel poverty
  • Improvement in the comfort, health and wellbeing of social housing tenants

The funding is only available to Local authority’s and private registered providers of social housing who must apply as part of a consortium with a lead local authority in England.
BEIS Privacy Notice
This notice sets out how the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will use your personal data, and your rights. It is made under Articles 13 and/or 14 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

This notice relates to data collected under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Scheme delivered by Northumberland County Council, which is funded by BEIS.

Northumberland County Council Warmer Homes Privacy Notice
This Privacy Notice is designed to help you understand how Northumberland County Council which is a registered Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), will handle your personal information for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Scheme.