Surrey County Council

Warm Homes: Local Grant (Surrey)

A fully government-funded scheme, run by Surrey County Council for all 11 Surrey boroughs and districts, that improves energy efficiency and installs low-carbon heating in the homes of low-income households. Owner occupiers pay nothing, and works average up to an estimated £12,400 per home depending on survey results. The property must have an EPC rating of D to G, and households qualify through one of five routes: postcode, means-tested benefits, income, income after housing costs or ECO Flex. It runs until 31 March 2028.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £12,400
Deadline: 525 days left; 31 March
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Residents of Surrey who physically occupy the property, which must have an EPC rating of D to G (one is carried out during assessment if there is no valid EPC)
Households qualify through one of five pathways: an eligible postcode on the official list; receiving a means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support; total gross household income of £36,000 or less; income after housing costs within limits set by household size; or ECO Flex route 2 (EPC E to G, meeting two proxies)
Private tenants can apply, and landlords are fully funded for one property but must contribute at least 50% for each additional property; F and G rated rentals need registered exemptions
Charity-owned rented homes are eligible under the private rented rules unless the charity is a registered social housing provider
Shared ownership, park homes and homes previously upgraded under HUG or LAD can qualify under conditions
Social housing is not eligible apart from limited in-fill
The council can withdraw applications not aligned with the 'spirit of the grant'

What it funds

Energy performance upgrades:

Loft insulation
Cavity wall insulation
External wall insulation
Park home insulation
Underfloor insulation
Internal wall insulation
Windows and doors upgrades
Solar PV
Solar thermal
Battery storage
Low carbon heating: air source heat pumps and high retention storage heaters

low carbon heating is installed only once the property has adequate insulation; funding is used first to insulate.

What it will not fund

Repairing or replacing existing solar PV or solar thermal arrays
Extracting existing cavity wall or underfloor insulation
Social housing, except limited in-fill with a 50% landlord contribution
Works to bring a rented property up to existing legal minimum standards
The same measure twice for homes upgraded under HUG or LAD, unless a top-up

How to apply

Check your eligibility pathway and EPC rating
Submit the online application with all required documents (or request a paper application and return it by post within 14 days)
Once eligibility is confirmed, a qualified retrofit assessor surveys the property (usually 1-3 hours on site)
Installers on the council's network quote, and the council requests funding approval from DESNZ
The installer arranges an installation date once approved
Sign the customer completion form; a post-installation EPC follows, funded by the scheme

the installer must try to contact you at least three times, or the application may be cancelled.

you are responsible for any planning, freeholder, block manager or conservation permissions.

Have ready

Completed application form, signed with the Resident Agreement and scheme expectations document
Proof of income or benefits, such as payslips, P60s, SA302s or DWP or benefit letters
Proof of address, preferably a council tax bill (mandatory for single occupiers on the benefits route)
Photo ID, such as a driving licence or passport

landlords complete a separate form on data sharing, DESNZ surveys and subsidy limits.

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