Are There Free Solar Panels For Council Houses?
By
HuutiMoney
With a set of solar panels costing between £4,716 and £11,005, one may wonder whether or not there are free solar panels available for residents of council houses. If you are keen to learn about availing of free solar panels, you will find the answer to your question in the following blog post. In addition to this, we will also explore ways to apply for free solar panels; either through the local council or other potential sources of funding.
Are There Free Solar Panels For Council Houses?
Yes, in some cases, free solar panels are available for council houses. There is a government initiative that is providing free solar panels for council housing; which is a great way to save money on your energy bill, as well as help the environment.
To make sure that everyone has access to solar panels, the UK government has set up a few eligibility criteria that must be met in order to get them for free. To be eligible for this program, you must:
- live in council housing
- have a rainy day fund of over £500
- have been living in your current home for the past 5 years
- be able to provide proof that you are the homeowner
- have a good credit history
To apply for free solar panels in council houses in the UK, tenants can contact their local council or social housing provider to find out about the available schemes. They may need to fill out an application form and provide information about their income, credit rating, and housing situation. Some schemes may also require a survey of the property to assess its suitability for solar panel installation.
Free solar panels are being provided through local councils under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO); a government energy efficiency scheme in the UK designed to help lower-income households and those living in fuel poverty to reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions.
With funding of £4 billion, the current phase of the scheme, ECO4, runs from 2022 to 2026 and includes provisions for the installation of free solar panels for eligible households. These eligibility criteria are primarily based on the points listed above and can further be narrowed down by local council authorities.
However, in most cases, if you claim any of the below-listed benefits while living in a council house, you may be eligible for the ECO4 scheme for free solar panels:
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credits
How Can You Get Free Solar Panels For Council Houses?
Once you have confirmed that you are an eligible applicant for free solar panels, you can start the simple application process. The best way to get started is to search for ‘free solar panel installation’ in your local area. This should bring up a list of approved installers in your local area who are approved to install free solar panels in council houses.
You should then contact the installer to discuss the installation and set a date for the installation. You should be sure to provide proof of your eligibility for free installation, as well as any other necessary documents such as insurance or proof of residency.
The installation process itself should be relatively straightforward, and shouldn’t take more than two days. Once the installer has finished the job, your free solar panels should be ready and functioning to start saving you money on energy bills.
To get free solar panels under the ECO4 scheme in the UK, you would need to meet certain eligibility criteria, including being a homeowner or private tenant, receiving certain benefits, and having a suitable roof for solar panel installation. For this, you should contact your local council authority.
How Can You Get Free Solar Panels For Council Houses Under The ECO4 Scheme?
The UK government’s ECO4 scheme provides free solar panels to homeowners in council housing. If you live in council housing and are interested in getting solar panels, you can contact your local housing authority to see if they are participating in the scheme. If they are, they will be able to help you get solar panels installed on your property at no cost to you.
To apply for the free solar panel installation, you can contact your energy supplier or a registered ECO4 installer to arrange a survey of your property. The survey will assess your eligibility and determine the suitability of your roof for solar panel installation. If you are approved for the scheme, the installer will arrange for the installation of the solar panels and any necessary upgrades to your electrical system.
It’s worth noting that the availability of free solar panels under the ECO4 scheme may vary depending on the energy supplier and the region you live in. You should check with your energy supplier or a registered ECO4 installer to find out more about the specific eligibility criteria and available options in your area.
Are There Any Other Funding Options To Get Free Solar Panels For Council Houses?
In addition to applying for free solar panels through an approved installer, there are other methods to access free solar panel installation in council houses in the UK.
One is to access Community-Led Local Energy Scheme (CLLES) funding, a government-backed scheme for councils and community groups in the UK. Funded by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), CLLES has designated £10 million of funding for renewable energy projects in 2021.
These funds can be used to finance the installation of free solar panels in council houses in the UK. This is a great way for councils and community energy groups to access renewable energy technology without having to use their own money.
Another way to access free solar panel installation in the UK is through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a government scheme which encourages households to use renewable forms of heat. The RHI provides homeowners with a sum of money for installing renewable energy technology such as solar thermal, biomass, heat pumps, and more. These payments can then be used to help finance the installation of free solar panels in council houses in the UK.
Conclusion:
If you are looking for free solar panels for the council house you live in, you might be eligible for them if you meet the qualifying criteria discussed in the above article. However, if that is not the case, you may seek funding for solar panels through alternative sources of funding such as grants and charities to get a set of solar panels for your council house.
References:
Solar Panels For Council Houses 2023 | The Eco Experts
Solar Panels Grants and Funding in 2023 in the UK | GreenMatch