HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Tees Valley)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Tees Valley) HUG (Home Upgrade Grant) Scheme?
The scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ), which allocated funds to local authorities under a competition-based bid. Hartlepoo Borough Councill teamed up with Darlington Borough Council which will be leading the project. Administered by Hartlepool Borough Council, the project also involves Stockton-on-Tees Borough Coluncil and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council. We are delighted to have won a share of the funding, having been awarded more than £6 million to help upgrade the energy efficiency of homes in each borough.
How much is available per qualifying household?
Homes that are heated by means other than gas, such as electricity, LPG and oil, for example, could qualify for up to an average of £18,000 per household.
How long is the scheme running?
All works must be completed by the end of March 2025.
What is an EPC?
This is a rating of the energy efficiency performance of your home – Energy Performance Certificate. If you’ve bought or sold a house recently, you’ll probably have one already. The rating is from A to G, A being the best and G representing the worst performing homes.
How can I check what my EPC rating is or see if I have one?
Go to https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
How do I get an EPC?
Our contractor may be able to help. If you apply for the scheme, you will need surveys of your house for energy efficiency saving recommendations and they will know at that stage whether your house is likely to be a D, E, F or G-rated property. If so, our contractor can carry out an EPC for you, free of charge under the scheme.
What EPC ratings are included in the scheme?
Only properties rated D, E, F & G are accepted on the scheme.
Do I have to pay a contribution towards the cost of the works being carried out?
If you are a homeowner, living in your property, and qualify under the eligibility rules then the cost will be 100% covered by the scheme. Landlords are expected to contribute one third of the total cost.
What happens after I apply?
Once you apply and all of the eligibility criteria has been checked along with a land registry check, if we are happy that you qualify your application details will be sent onto our Retrofit Assessment contractor who will contact you and carry out a full house survey. The survey will take around an hour to complete. Once a survey has been carried out, we will be notified by the Retrofit team on the best suitable measures to improve your home – always with a fabric-first approach, making sure your home has sufficient insulation.
All measures will be assessed and then discussed with a resident before seeking approval from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ). Once we have your funding approved, we can then pass the details onto our installation team which will contact you to arrange a date. The Retrofit team may want to carry out a further survey after works are complete to make sure that the installation has been done to a high standard.
Can I have my boiler or current heating system replaced?
Only properties heated by means other than gas can have a new air source heating system installed. However, we must focus on insulation first and make sure that your home has the right amount of insulation to reduce heat loss for a new heating system to be considered.
Are air source heat pumps expensive to run?
Heat pumps can be four times more efficient than gas boilers. As long as your home is well insulated, and the heat pump is used correctly, you should reduce your energy usage and carbon emissions.
How do air source heat pumps work?
Outside air is drawn in over a network of tubes filled with refrigerant gas, which circulates at -28°c to extract heat energy from the air outside. The gas passes through a compressor which increases the pressure and temperature causing it to change from a cold gas to a hot liquid which then heats water in your water tank and radiators.
Installation should take around two days.
Will you replace or provide new radiators?
Some of your current radiators may need replacing. However, this will be discussed with you before any work takes place. If a new water tank is required, this will also be replaced/installed at the same time – all funded under the scheme.
Should I get my air source heat pump serviced?
You should have your heat pump serviced every year as you would with other boilers. This will keep your warranty valid.
Is double-glazing available?
Yes, we can offer some double-glazing. However, we can only replace single-glazed windows with double-glazing under the current scheme rules.
Do I own the solar panels or does the council?
If solar panels are fitted you own them. They are paid for by this scheme – no-one owns part of your roof as was the case on some previous schemes. You should try and get solar panels cleaned once a year to make sure they are operating as efficiently as possible – some window cleaning companies offer this service.
Can I have a solar battery along with solar panels?
The Government is aiming to include battery storage into the scheme in spring 2024. Anyone who has solar panels fitted before this time should be allowed to get the battery installed retrospectively in 2024.
Does the £36,000 limit include the whole household?
This figure includes the gross annual earnings of every adult in the household, including any benefits or pension payments. However, if a permanent member of the house receives a means-tested benefit you will qualify under that eligibly criteria.
Qualifying by postcode
We have been provided with a list of postcodes from the Government’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) which will automatically allow residents in those areas to qualify for funding, irrespective of the household income.
Are savings included in household income?
Savings are not included and will not be taken into account as part of the household income.
What benefits make you eligible for help?
All means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Working and Child Tax Credits, Income Support, Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Carers Allowance and Pension Credit Guarantee.
