Energy Efficient Homes

Energy Efficiency Grants and Discounts

Swale Borough Council also provide details on a variety of discount offers on energy efficiency measures, such as loft and wall insulation and the installation of new boilers and central heating in the Boroughs houses.

Swale Borough Council currently provides information regarding a wide range of energy efficiency grants and measures that have been designed to improve the awareness and energy efficiency of local households. This helps reduce your energy consumption with the result of reducing your energy bills. Therefore both you and the environment benefit.

In addition to this, Swale Borough Council has negotiated discounted rates with local firms, to carry out selected energy conservation work, such as the installation of loft and wall insulation, and the renovation of old central heating boilers. The grants aim to improve the quality of life for local residents by increasing the energy efficiency and comfort of local homes. Details are provided below.

Discounted rates for energy efficiency improvements to your home.

The Energy Saving Trust, working on behalf of all Kent Local Authorities, has negotiated special offers on cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, boilers and heating systems and solar water heating installations. These offers are open to all householders in the borough. A reduction of up to 50% on the cost of loft and cavity wall insulation is available.

To find out more visit the Energy Saving Trust website or call them on 0800 512 012. Additionally you can contact Brian George, Energy Officer for Swale Borough Council. 

Grants available to make energy efficiency improvements to your home.

Warm Front Scheme

The Warm Front scheme provides heating and insulation improvements to households on certain income-related benefits living in properties that are poorly insulated and/or do not have a working central heating system.

Qualifying households can get improvements worth up to £3,500 (£6,000 where oil central heating and other alternative technologies are recommended).

Eligibility for the Scheme

The scheme is now targeted at people on certain income-related benefits and living in properties that are poorly insulated and/or do not have a working central heating system. You must own your home or rent it from a private landlord.

The Warm Front scheme is only available in England.

Benefits and financial support

Eligible customers are all those awarded:

• Pension Credit or;
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance that includes a work-related activity or support component (this includes contribution based ESA customers in the support group who get an income related top up because they automatically qualify for the enhanced disability premium payable with income related ESA)

And those awarded:

• Income Support or;
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or;
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance in the assessment phase (first 13 weeks of the claim)

Who must also have one of the following:

• a pensioner premium. or;
• a disability or severe disability premium, or;
• an award of child tax credit that also includes an element for a disabled, or severely disabled child or young person, or;
• a child under the age of five living with you

In addition to the qualifying benefits listed above, the property you live in must also be poorly insulated and/or not have a working central heating system.

If your application continues, you will then be visited by a Warm Front surveyor, who will measure the energy efficiency of your home using a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). The surveyor will then make recommendations on which energy efficiency improvements are most appropriate for your property.

You should be aware that the surveyor may find that the energy efficiency of your home is above the threshold required to benefit from the scheme. If this is the case you will not be provided with any recommendations and you will be left with details of where else you may be able to get energy advice and help.

The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), is the government's recommended system for measuring the energy rating of residential properties. To be eligible for Warm Front your home must have a SAP rating of 55 or below. This is equivalent to the start of a Band D Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

How do I apply for a grant?

Apply Online: Apply for a Warm Front grant

You can also email your contact details to enquiry@carillionplc.com. An advisor will then call you back.

Apply by Phone: Call 0800 316 2805 (or textphone 0800 072 0156). An advisor will then take you through the application form.

Lines are open Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 6.00 pm and Saturday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Find out about the scheme and how it works from the DirectGov - Warm Front website.

More Information

Energy Saving Trust - Call 0800 512 012 or visit the website: Energy Savings Trust

Energy Saving Trust (Kent, Surrey and Sussex) website: Energy Savings Trust KSS

Warm Front - Call 0800 316 2814, Monday to Friday 8am until 6pm. Please have your benefit details to hand. The Warm Front minicom number is (0800) 072 0156.

Met Office / DECC publication which is a short booklet giving the basic facts on climate change: Met Office Climate Change Quick Guide

You can also contact Swale's Energy Officer  for advise and/or to arrange a visit by an Energy Home Visitor (Contact details at the top of this page).

Before contacting the council, please have all relevant details to hand, as this will speed up our inquiries and allow us to find the services that best suit your needs.