Free Local Insulation Grants

Free insulation grants to be slashed in pre-budget report

The Government is planning to slash grants available for cavity wall and loft insulation from April 2010, according to the BBC.

A wait of 6 months for free insulation

Those applying for 100% grant are being told they face a wait of up to 6 months for work to be done, as the amount of funding is due to be halved in 2010. The Warm Front scheme has made 2 million UK home more energy efficient since its launch in 2000, cutting the amount of wasted energy emitted and saving millions of pounds off the cost of energy bills across the country.

The Government has pumped just shy 0f £1 billion into the scheme in the last 3 years, but according to reports, the Chancellor is due to announce that money available in 2010 is to be cut to £195 million. The result? Waiting times for those looking for 100% insulation grants will rise from the current 50 days to 6 months.

Those who are able to pay shouldn’t be affected.

It’s not clear whether funding for those who not on benefits will face similar waiting times. Currently, if a homeowner, tenant or landlord is not on benefits, or are under 70, they are classed as Able To Pay (ATP). This group still receives some funding from the government, but can usually expect to see insulation installed and fitted within days, rather than months. Why? Because they lengthy process of applying for the relevant grant is bypassed, and insulation contractor can receive payment immediately.

The future of insulation grants

So what does this mean for the future of free insulation grants? It’s not yet clear whether the amount of funding available will be reviewed again before next years budget. Energy Minister David Kidney is lobbying the government to increase the funding available for the Warm Front scheme, but it seems likely that a) funding will be cut b) waiting times for those applying for 100% grant will increase and c) those able to pay for part of the cost shouldn’t be affected.