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Warmer Homes, Greener Homes

The Warmer Homes, Greener Homes fund helps Leicester homeowners who are struggling to afford to replace their broken or faulty heating system.

Who is the fund aimed at?

The fund is aimed at helping those who are vulnerable to the cold due to having a long-term health condition or disability, such as:

  • Respiratory disease (for example COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or severe asthma). A letter from your doctor confirming the severity of your asthma will be required to support your application,
  • Cardiovascular disease (like heart disease and stroke)
  • Diabetes
  • Arthritis (osteo and rheumatoid, requiring regular treatment and review)
  • Reduced mobility/at risk of falls
  • Cancer Terminal illness
  • Mental illness (for example, depression and receiving treatment, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder). We might request you provide a letter from your doctor to confirm your health condition.

Examples of conditions that don’t qualify include: seasonal colds, flues and allergies, learning difficulties and injuries you will recover from. Please not that this is not an exhaustive list.

What can the fund help with?

  • Gas boilers (repairs or replacements),
  • Gas fires (repairs or replacements),
  • Storage heaters (repairs or replacements),
  • Full central heating systems (boiler and radiators),
  • Hot water tank (replacement or repair),
  • New radiators (replacements if leaking or additional radiators for unheated or underheated habitable rooms),
  • Renewable technologies where applicable.

Loft insulation might be available if heating works are also being provided.

We will source all quotes on behalf of applicants from our list of installers who have been through our procurement process. We have an agreed schedule of rates with these installers to ensure fair pricing. We will also spot check installations once completed.

The fund will also provide one off grants of up to £500 for Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Top-ups to help fund contributions clients have been asked to make.

Funding is limited and awards don’t cover 100% of the costs. Households will be required to contribute towards the costs, but where this is not possible, we will provide a list of some charitable organisations a household might be able to apply to for extra funds.

What are the conditions the household must meet?

  • Live in the city of Leicester
  • Own the home they live in (owner occupiers)
  • The heating system must be broken, faulty or non-existent, for example; a boiler that’s condemned, leaking, not serviceable or unsafe to use, a leaking radiator or no heating in one or more habitable rooms
  • Someone within the household is vulnerable due to suffering from a long-term health condition or disability
  • The household is on a low income
    • you don’t need to be in receipt of benefits to qualify
    • everyone living in the household must disclose their income
    • the entire household’s income will be assessed against our income thresholds
    • all benefits will be counted as income during the household’s assessment
  • The household has little or no savings (savings for all occupiers must be disclosed and will be assessed against our thresholds)

What we won't fund

  • Any heating works required as a result of home renovations or extensions
  • Replacing heating systems which still work, despite their age
  • Heating for uninhabitable rooms such as conservatories, sunrooms, or porches.

How do I apply?

You can apply by submitting an online form.

How can I refer someone to the scheme?

Referrers can either direct the applicant to the online form or complete the form on their behalf where permission has been given. If you have any questions about the scheme, please email energy-enquiries@leicester.gov.uk.

How long will the process take?

Timescales vary and on average an applicant will receive their heating measure within 4 to 5 weeks depending on installer availability. However some case can take longer if charitable funding is needed.

  • We aim to respond to applications within 5 working days.
  • If an application is successful a home visit by our technical officer will be arranged with the applicant to confirm what heating measure is needed.
  • Our technical officer will then ask one of our installers to visit the applicant to provide a quote within 5 working days.
  • The quote will be sent directly to us who will allocate funds accordingly.
  • The applicant will receive a funding offer letter via email or post within 5 working days of receipt of the quote. At this point the applicant will be advised of any shortfall of funds they will have to pay. The applicant will be given 10 working days to respond to the funding offer.
    • If the applicant responds to say they can’t pay, then the applicant will be advised of any suitable charities we have identified that the applicant could apply to for extra funding. Charities work according to their own timescales and it’s not uncommon to wait for up to 2 months for a response.
    • If the applicant can pay, they will be invoiced for their contribution which will be held together with the grant funds until the installation is complete. (Invoices can take up to 5 working days to reach an applicant)
  • An installation date is agreed between the installer and applicant. This date varies depending on installer availability.
  • After installation is complete the installer will invoice the us directly. Upon receipt of this, we will contact the applicant to arrange a visit to inspect the installation.
  • Upon successful inspection we will pay the installer’s invoice.