The Warm Homes Local Grant: A Guide for Local Authorities

The Warm Homes Local Grant (WHLG) represents a significant opportunity for local authorities to deliver energy efficiency improvements across their housing stock. This guide explains how the scheme operates, the practical requirements for delivery, and how to navigate the regulatory landscape.

What is the Warm Homes Local Grant?

The Warm Homes Local Grant is a government-funded programme designed to improve energy efficiency in residential properties across the UK. It provides funding for local authorities to deliver retrofitting work that reduces energy bills, improves thermal comfort, and lowers carbon emissions.

The scheme targets properties that fall outside other major government programmes, filling a crucial gap in retrofit funding availability. Local authorities act as the primary delivery mechanism, working with registered installers and contractors to ensure quality standards are met.

Funding Allocation and Application

Local authorities receive funding allocations based on factors including housing stock size, fuel poverty levels, and regional priorities. The application process typically involves:

1. Confirming local authority participation and establishing governance structures
2. Identifying eligible properties and creating delivery plans
3. Appointing competent retrofit coordinators and installers
4. Submitting detailed delivery proposals aligned with scheme requirements
5. Securing funding release following approval

Eligibility Criteria for Properties

Properties must meet specific criteria to qualify for WHLG support:

• Located within the local authority's administrative area
• Owner-occupied or privately rented residential dwellings
• Not previously improved under other government schemes to the same standard
• In fuel poverty or at risk of fuel poverty
• Meeting minimum energy efficiency requirements (typically EPC rating D or worse)

Local authorities must conduct robust eligibility assessment and maintain comprehensive records of all properties supported. Verification is typically required before work commences.

PAS2035 Compliance and Technical Standards

Retrofit work must comply with PAS2035:2021, the UK standard for retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency. This standard ensures:

• Thorough pre-retrofit assessment and scoping
• Risk evaluation of potential retrofit interventions
• Quality of workmanship and product specification
• Appropriate commissioning and handover procedures
• Long-term performance monitoring

All retrofit coordinators must hold appropriate PAS2035 training. Installers and contractors must be appropriately registered (FENSA, MCS, or equivalent) and demonstrate competence in the specific technologies being deployed.

Installer and Coordinator Requirements

Local authorities must work with qualified professionals. Key requirements include:

Retrofit Coordinators:

• PAS2035 qualified and registered
• Understanding of building physics and retrofit risk assessment
• Ability to produce detailed technical specifications
• Experience managing retrofit delivery to standard

Installers and Contractors:

• Appropriate certification for specific measures (heating, insulation, ventilation)
• PAS2035 compliance training
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance
• Quality assurance and customer service procedures

Common Retrofit Measures

WHLG funding typically supports a range of complementary measures:

• Loft and cavity wall insulation
• External wall insulation and solid wall treatments
• Heating system upgrades (heat pumps, boiler replacements)
• Window and door replacement
• Ventilation improvements and air tightness measures
• Renewable energy technologies (solar PV, solar thermal)

The specific package of measures for each property depends on PAS2035 assessment findings and individual circumstances.

Quality Assurance and Inspection

Robust quality assurance is essential. Local authorities should implement:

• Pre-work site inspections to verify baseline conditions
• Progress inspections during installation
• Completion inspections before final certification
• Photographic documentation throughout delivery
• Technical sign-off from PAS2035 qualified coordinators
• Post-completion performance monitoring where specified

Defects must be addressed promptly, and corrective work completed before scheme sign-off.

Reporting and Compliance

Local authorities must maintain detailed records and reporting to demonstrate:

• Eligible property identification and verification
• Measure specifications and technical compliance
• Installation quality and certification
• Financial expenditure against approved budgets
• Carbon savings and fuel poverty impact
• Completion timescales and programme delivery

Regular reporting to scheme administrators is typically required, with formal end-of-programme evaluation and impact assessment.

Managing Delivery Risks

Practical challenges in WHLG delivery include:

• Extended timescales for property access and surveys
• Identifying sufficient installer capacity
• Managing customer expectations around measure selection
• Addressing unexpected defects discovered during works
• Maintaining quality standards under delivery pressure

Early planning, clear communication with householders, and maintaining adequate contractor resources help mitigate these risks.

Key Takeaways

Successful WHLG delivery requires local authorities to establish clear governance, appoint competent professionals, maintain rigorous quality standards, and ensure full PAS2035 compliance. Early engagement with scheme administrators, comprehensive property assessment, and robust contractor management are essential for delivering high-quality retrofit improvements within budget and timescale.