Sefton Council is urging eligible Sefton residents to apply for a heating retrofit scheme before it ends in August.

Cheaper bills

For eligible households, the £3 million scheme will cover the entire cost of insulating their home and may include measures such as insulation for external walls, cavity walls and lofts. Properties that are retro-fitted will benefit from cheaper bills as well as being warmer in winter and cooler during the summer.

Funded by the Department of Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the scheme to retrofit poorly insulated homes in Sefton is in line with the Council’s ongoing work towards net zero carbon across its own operations and its work to to cut emissions across the Borough.

Fantastic opportunity

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said: “This scheme is a fantastic opportunity for households in Sefton to get free energy efficiency measures to save on their bills by keeping them warmer in winter, as well as cooler during the hot weather we now increasingly experience. Plus its greener for the planet.

“The Council is working to make Sefton net zero carbon by 2030 in response to the climate emergency. We are working on our own emissions and taking advantage of this scheme will help our residents to join us in making this a Borough-wide initiative by cutting their own domestic emissions.

“I would urge anyone who meets the eligibility criteria to apply for this retrofit scheme. It’s open to homeowners and tenants, it’s free and there are benefits for us all.”

Criteria

Eligible households are those which meet all three of the criteria below:

• Low levels of insulation – this is shown by the EPC property rating being E,F or G. If you do not know this, Sefton officers can access this.
• Gross household income must not exceed £30,000 per annum.  You will be asked to provide evidence.
• No gas central heating (either no gas connection or only have a gas fire/electric, oil, heated)

Any approved works will be fully funded for eligible owner occupier properties. Eligible private rented properties will require a contribution from the landlord.

To be considered for the scheme, people need to complete the online form at: https://forms.sefton.gov.uk/greenhomesform/

Call the Sefton Council Retrofit Team

Residents who do not have internet access, can call the Sefton Council Retrofit Team on 0151 934 2848. This phone line will sometimes be on answer machine, and it will take longer to process applications via this route. people calling are asked to leave their name and telephone number.

Once the Council has received a webform application, a member of our team be in touch to provide further details.

The Sustainable Warmth Fund is intended to make homes warmer and greener as well as creating local jobs, tackle fuel poverty and population health benefits.

People can find out more about the retrofit scheme and check if their home could benefit, by visiting www.sefton.gov.uk/retrofit