Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan – Scheme rules

The Scottish Government provides funding to eligible owner-occupiers in Scotland to help with the cost of installing energy efficiency improvements, low and zero emission heating, other home renewables systems, energy storage systems (heat or electric batteries) and heat network connections.

Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding is reserved for householders when they receive a written funding offer, not on application to the scheme.

We aim to process applications within ten working days of receiving a fully complete application. Funding offers may be delayed if any required supporting documentation is missing or incomplete or where we need to request clarification around any of the application information.

You must not start work before receiving a written funding offer from us.

Rural Uplift

To provide additional support for rural and island homes which can face increased costs associated with home improvements, we have introduced an uplift of £1,500 to both the heat pump and energy efficiency grants. This uplift increases the heat pump grant flat rate and the maximum limit of the energy efficiency grant to £9,000.

The rural uplift will be available to households in Remote Rural and Island areas, as well as off-gas Accessible Rural areas, as defined by the Urban Rural Classification.

Home Energy Scotland should have informed you of your eligibility for this however if not, our application form will assess this based on your postcode. If you would like to query your eligibility for this uplift, please contact us at servicesdeliveryscotland@est.org.uk.

Funding details

You can combine funding for energy efficiency improvements, low and zero emission heat, other renewable technologies, energy storage systems and heat network connections. The minimum funding amount that can be applied for under the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan schemes is £500 in total.

The available funding for each improvement constitutes up to 100% of the quoted installation cost of any improvement but cannot exceed the maximum available funding amount for an individual improvement. The maximum funding for each improvement covers both grant funding and loan funding.

Grant Funding

Grant funding for energy efficiency improvements is not available if you are receiving grant support from another source for the same improvement, such as Area Based Schemes funding through your local authority and ECO funding.

Grant funding for energy efficiency improvements is up to 75% of the combined cost of the improvements up to the maximum grant amount of £7,500 or £9,000 for households which qualify for the rural uplift.

Grant funding for heat pumps is up to £7,500 or £9,000 if the household qualifies for the rural uplift. The remainder of funding requested can be taken up as an optional interest-free loan.

Grant funding for replacement heat pumps is not available.

Grant funding is subject to availability while funds last within the financial year.

Loan Funding

If your application includes the interest-free loan element, you can choose the period over which you wish to repay the loan. For loan amounts up to £4,999, you will have up to 5 years to repay the loan. For loan amounts between £5,000 and £9,999, the repayment period is up to 10 years. For loan amounts over £10,000, you will have up to 12 years to repay the loan.

Additional repayments can be made. The loan can be repaid in full at any time with no penalties or fees.

If your application receives loan funding, this loan will include an administrative fee which will be covered by your monthly repayments. The fee will be 1.5% of the total loan value, up to a maximum of £150. Applicants are not required to pay this fee upfront.

You can use the interest-free loan to cover the cost of a pre and/or post installation Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), up to a maximum of £150 per EPC. This is only available if the cost is not already covered by a government-funded scheme.

Loan funding is available at a level of £7,500 for replacement renewables. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis and is only available on the condition that you have not used Scottish Government funding for the original renewable installation and have not been in receipt of Renewable Heat Incentive payments for the original renewable system.

Scheme rules

We reserve the right to reject any application and our decision as to whether an applicant is eligible for funding shall be final.

Applications must be completed and submitted personally by the owner of the property applied for and not by any third parties, such as installers or letting agencies.

You must own or jointly own the property as a “natural person” (not a business), and it must either be your only or principal private residence. You must not be applying on behalf of a business and the property must not be owned by a business or listed as a business asset.

For the purposes of this application, a property will be owned by a “business” if it is owned:

1. by an individual in his or her capacity as a sole trader.
2. by some or all the members of an unincorporated association in trust for the association.
3. by a limited company; a limited liability partnership; a trust; a partnership; a registered society under the Co–operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014; or a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

or

1. in any other capacity which Energy Saving Trust or Scottish Government considers constitutes a business.

The work must be carried out to a residential building in Scotland. The property must not be used as a holiday home or second home. The property must be registered with the Scottish Assessors Association as paying domestic council tax rates.

You must not start work before receiving a written funding offer from us.

There should be some carbon and/or financial savings associated with the installation of the applied for improvement(s).

If applying for loan funding, you must pass our credit and affordability checks in order to be offered a loan.

You must be the person who will own the equipment, materials and the property at the time we pay the loan.

You must have an energy report which recommends the improvements you are applying for.

Any changes to your dwelling may have implications for your mortgage or home insurance and may require planning permission. You should ensure that all terms, conditions and requirements relating to your property are checked prior to any installation.

The choice of heating, energy efficiency or other measures are the sole choice of the applicant and should be researched thoroughly before installation.

Liability for choice of measure does not rest with Scottish Government.

Credit check – Loan applications only

To complete the application process for a loan, we will conduct searches about you at credit reference agencies, who will supply us with credit information. We will also check information from the Electoral Register. The agencies will record details of the search, whether this application goes ahead or not, this is commonly referred to as a “hard search”. We may use credit scoring methods to assess this application and to confirm your identity.

Credit searches and other information which is provided to us and/or the credit reference agencies, about you and those with whom you are linked financially may be used by Energy Saving Trust and other companies if credit decisions are made about you or other members of your household.

This information may also be used for tracing debts and to prevent money laundering as well as managing your loan account.

Information held about you by the credit reference agencies may already be linked to records relating to one or more of your partners.

For the purposes of this application, we may treat you as financially linked to another person and assess your application by referring to any ‘associated’ records.

If you borrow or may borrow from us, we may give details of your account and how you manage it to credit reference agencies.

If you borrow and do not repay in full and on time, we may tell credit reference agencies, who will record the outstanding debt.

To prevent or detect fraud, or to help us confirm your identity, we may make searches at fraud prevention agencies.

We may pass information to financial and other organisations involved in preventing fraud to protect ourselves and others from theft and fraud. If you give us false or inaccurate information and we suspect fraud, we will record this.

We and other companies may use this information if decisions are made about you or others at your address (or addresses) on credit or credit related services or motor, household, credit, life or any other insurance facilities. It may also be used for tracing you and assessing claims.

Energy report requirements

To be successful in your application, all the improvements you are applying for must have been recommended in one of the qualifying energy reports outlined below.

If your property’s current energy report does not contain recommendations for the improvements you intend to make, you should contact Home Energy Scotland to see whether a report can be produced which makes the necessary recommendation.

If your property’s current energy report recommends loft and/or cavity wall insulation, this must be installed before funding can be claimed for other improvements. Funding will not be released until a post-installation EPC is supplied which does not include a recommendation for either loft or cavity wall insulation. If loft and/or cavity wall insulation are not technically suitable for the property, then the application must include information from a qualified professional explaining the reasoning for this. An example of a qualified person would be an installer who holds the required certification for the unsuitable measure. Eligibility for an exemption will then be assessed during application processing.

Energy efficiency, low and zero emission heat and renewable technology improvements need to have been recommended in an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Home Energy Improvement report (HEIR) provided by a Home Energy Scotland energy advisor or in a Home Renewables Selector report (issued by a Home Energy Scotland specialist advisor).

Energy storage systems need to have been recommended in a Home Renewables Selector report (issued by a Home Energy Scotland specialist advisor).

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are issued by accredited Domestic Energy Assessors. To check whether a property already has an EPC or to search for an accredited assessor, visit www.scottishepcregister.org.uk.

Home Renewables Selector Reports are issued by a Home Energy Scotland specialist advisor following a telephone call.

Application requirements

Neither we nor any of our officers, employees, agents or subcontractors will be legally responsible for any losses, damages or costs you suffer which arise out of or in connection with the application process, whether these are caused by our negligence or that of any of our officers, employees, agents or subcontractors or otherwise.

You must tell us as soon as possible if at any time a change to any of the details you have provided occurs, or to anything else which could affect your eligibility to receive a loan or grant, or to repay the loan. Depending on the nature of the change, your loan or grant offer may be withdrawn or amended or other appropriate action may be taken.

Applications are processed on a first-come first-served basis subject to the overall availability of grant and loan funds. We reserve the right, in consultation with the Scottish Government, to suspend or reject applications on the grounds that there are insufficient funds available.

We may ask for further information to determine eligibility and you must provide this information within the specified timeframe if you wish to continue with the application.

If applying for funding for low and zero emission heating and renewable energy improvements, you can request to draw down a portion of the funding after you have received and accepted your funding offer and before work is completed. This is to help with the cost of a deposit or staged payment should you need it. You must make your request in writing and this request will be considered based on your circumstances. We reserve the right to reject requests for part payment. Drawdowns on funding prior to work starting are not available for energy efficiency improvements.

Applicants will be eligible to receive a drawdown payment of 60% of the funding offer amount for low and zero emission heat and/or renewable technologies.

To meet installer requirements while minimising demand on loan administration, applicants will be limited to receiving a maximum of two payments per improvement, up to a total of six payments per application. You must make your request in writing and this request will be considered based on your circumstances. We reserve the right to reject requests for part payment for low and zero emission heat and/or renewable technologies.

You may be required to provide feedback as part of the funding process. For funding for low and zero emission heating and renewable energy improvements you may be required, at the point of claiming, to leave an installer rating and review on the Renewables Installer Finder tool on the Energy Saving Trust website.

Installation requirements

The improvements you install must be adequate, proportionate and appropriately designed, bearing in mind the energy needs of the property, and must represent good value for money.

Quotes must be provided on headed paper, contain a breakdown of the work including costs, be addressed to the applicant, and show the address of the installation and be dated.

Quotes for energy storage systems must also confirm all loan conditions for energy storage will be met by including the statement: “Work will be carried out in accordance with the Home Energy Scotland loan conditions for energy storage.”

Quotes for hybrid heat pumps must show the costs of the fossil fuelled and low and zero emission heat elements of the system separately. Applications for hybrid heat pumps will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

You must have all necessary planning, building, District Network Operator (DNO) and any other required permissions before starting work and, if applying for funding for external wall insulation, must provide a copy of your building warrant with your claim. For certain improvements you will also be asked to supply a copy of your warranty for your technology/system installed when you claim.

Funding towards energy storage systems is available for heat and electric batteries only, not thermal stores.

Funding for energy efficiency improvements is available for existing Scottish homes only.

Funding for low and zero emission heat, other renewables systems, energy storage systems or connections to a heat network scheme is available for existing Scottish homes and for self-build new Scottish homes which are intended to be lived in by the applicant and not sold.

For the following improvements you must use a certified installer:

• If installing external wall, internal wall, flat roof, room-in-roof or floor insulation then your chosen contractor must be TrustMark registered. If you are unable to locate a TrustMark installer in your local area you may use a Green Deal certified installer.
• If installing low and zero emission heating and/or renewable energy improvements, you must use both a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) installer and a MCS or Solar-Keymark certified product, except for micro-hydro systems which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We would recommend seeking advice from SEPA and using an installer recommended by the British Hydro Association that is also a member of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or equivalent.
• If a connection to a heat network scheme is being made, the installation must be carried out by an installer approved by the heat network scheme’s owner or operator and the scheme must be approved for funding support.
• If installing an energy storage system, the installer must provide a statement on their quote to confirm that they will meet all loan conditions for energy storage. This should read “Work will be carried out in accordance with the Home Energy Scotland loan conditions for energy storage.” These conditions are that they must: be MCS accredited for the low and zero emission heating and/or renewable energy system which will work alongside the battery; be a member of a Trading Standards Institute-accredited consumer code which covers energy storage; meet all manufacturer guidelines for the system being installed and have undertaken all relevant manufacturer training available in the UK; and meet the Institute for Engineering and Technology’s (IET) code of practice (for electric batteries only).
• If installing a biomass boiler or stove, you must provide evidence that a heat pump is not suitable for your property this can be in the form of a Home Energy Renewable Report from a Home Energy Scotland specialist advisor.
• If installing high heat retention storage heaters, you must provide evidence that a heat pump is not suitable for your property this can be in the form of a Home Energy Renewable Report from a Home Energy Scotland specialist advisor.

For funding towards a heat network connection, the district heat scheme must be approved by Scottish Government which requires the scheme operator to complete an application form and to meet certain criteria. You should obtain confirmation from us that the heat network scheme is approved for funding under this scheme before you apply for funding.

Please note that the information made available by Energy Saving Trust on its website and elsewhere in relation to this scheme and more generally in relation to energy saving home improvements, technologies and systems is intended to act as a guide only.

Energy Saving Trust and its representatives cannot and do not accept any liability for any loss or damage that you may suffer as a result of using that information.

Additional requirements

You must have a post-installation Energy Performance Certificate produced and must submit this with your claim for funding to confirm the work has been completed. The only exceptions to this requirement are if the installation address is a self-build property or if only an energy storage system was installed and the current EPC for the property meets the following criteria:

1. The EPC is less than 3 years old.
2. the EPC shows that the low and zero emission heat or renewables system the energy storage system is to be attached to has been installed.
3. the EPC does not recommend the installation of any of the energy efficiency improvements required by the grant and loan.
4. you provide a written self-declaration to confirm that you have not installed any other improvements since your last EPC was produced.

If your energy report recommends loft and/or cavity wall insulation you must complete these improvements either before, or at the same time as, any work you are applying for funding towards. You can apply for funding towards loft and/or cavity wall insulation if they are recommended on an eligible energy report for your property. Funding will not be released until a post-installation EPC is supplied which does not include a recommendation for either loft or cavity wall insulation.

If loft and/or cavity wall insulation are not technically suitable for the property, then the application must include information from a qualified professional explaining the reasoning for this for example an installer with the required certifications for the unsuitable measure. Eligibility for an exemption will then be assessed during application processing.

For low and zero emission heating and/or renewable energy systems you must submit Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate(s) with your claim.

If you are applying for energy storage system(s) only, you must provide MCS certificate(s) for the low and zero emission heat or renewables system already in place to which the battery will be connected. If you install an energy storage system, you should notify the provider of your building and contents insurance as they will need to know.

Funding towards energy storage systems is available for heat and electric batteries only, not thermal stores.

For funding towards a heat network connection, you must have confirmation from us that the heat network scheme is approved for funding under this scheme.

Further Guidance

Neither the Scottish Government nor Energy Saving Trust condone cold calling. You are not obligated to choose the first installer that approaches you and we strongly recommend you obtain at least three quotes from different installers to ensure good value for money. You only need to send us a copy of the quote you choose. If you would like to report any instances of cold calling, please contact the Information Commissioners Office on 0303 123 1113.

We recommend you ask if your chosen installer is fully qualified and accredited with a relevant industry body or trade federation as this may provide additional reassurances and consumer protections. We always recommend you ask which guarantees and warranties are provided for the product installed and for the workmanship provided as we may ask for evidence of this when you come to claim your funding.

The HES funding schemes are not linked to other schemes, eligibility for funding is not indicative of eligibility for any other incentives and eligibility criteria may differ.

See Ofgem’s and the Energy Saving Trust’s Smart Export Guarantee web page for more information about eligibility for this scheme.

If installing a domestic energy storage system you should refer to the Renewable Energy Consumer Code’s (RECC) website for further guidance, including questions to ask your installer, recc.org.uk/storage.

Energy efficiency improvements eligible costs

Refer to the below information regarding maximum funding for making energy efficiency improvements to your property. For all energy efficiency improvements, the maximum grant is 75% of the cost of the improvement or the maximum funding limit whichever is the lowest, up to a combined total of £7,500 or £9,000 if the household qualifies for the rural uplift. The remainder of funding requested can be taken up as an optional interest-free loan. Secondary Improvements can only be applied for alongside a Primary Improvement.

Primary energy efficiency improvements:

• Solid wall insulation. Maximum funding available: £10,000. Maximum grant: £7,500.
• Flat roof or room-in-roof insulation. Maximum funding available: £4,000. Maximum grant: £3,000.
• Loft insulation. Maximum funding available: £2,000. Maximum grant: £1,500.
• Floor insulation. Maximum funding available: £2,000. Maximum grant: £1,500.
• Cavity wall insulation. Maximum funding available: £2,000. Maximum grant: £1,500.
• Double or secondary glazing. Maximum funding available: £8,000. No grant for this improvement.
• Warm air units (electricity fuelled only). Maximum funding available: £5,500. No grant for this improvement.
• Insulated doors. Maximum funding available: £4,500. No grant for this improvement.
• High heat retention electric storage heaters. Maximum funding available: £5,500. A grant up to £2,500 is available if taken as part of a package. Please see more detail on packages below. Must evidence that a heat pump is not suitable for the property.

Secondary energy efficiency improvements:

• Cylinder thermostat. Maximum funding available: £500. Maximum grant: £375.
• Draught proofing. Maximum funding available: £500. Maximum grant: £375.
• Wastewater heat recovery system. Maximum funding available: £500. Maximum grant: £375.
• Hot water tank jacket. Maximum funding available: £500. Maximum grant: £375.
• Heating controls. Maximum funding available: £600. Maximum grant: £450.

Low and zero emission heating, renewable energy systems and heat network scheme connection eligible costs

You cannot apply for two whole-house heating systems, for example an air source heat pump and a biomass boiler. You can only apply for one energy storage system, for example a heat battery or an electric battery.

If you apply for an energy storage system, then you must also apply for a low and zero emission heating and/or renewable energy system or have an existing system that it will be connected to.

Grant funding is not available for solar PV or energy storage systems installed using this loan unless applied for as part of a package of improvements.

Only particular costs are eligible for funding support low and zero emission heating, renewable energy systems, energy storage systems and heat network scheme connections. A list of these eligible costs is set out below.

Grant funding for heat pumps is up to a maximum of £7,500. Should the funding requested for a heat pump be £7,500 or less the full funding will be as a grant. If the funding requested is more than £7,500 the remainder of funding requested will be available as an interest free loan. All other heating and renewable energy systems will be offered interest free loan funding only, which can be offered for up to 100% of the quoted installation costs or the maximum amount, whichever is lowest.

Details on the eligible funding amounts and maximum available grant are listed below.

• Heat pump (air, hybrid air, ground, or water source heat pump). Maximum funding available: £15,000. Maximum grant: £7,500. If rural uplift applies: Maximum funding available is £16,500 and maximum grant is £9,000.
• Replacement heat pump (air, hybrid air, ground, or water source heat pump). Maximum funding available: £7,500. No grant available for replacement heat pumps.
• Biomass boiler or stove. Maximum funding available: £15,000. Maximum grant: £7,500, upon evidence that a heat pump is not suitable. If rural uplift applies: Maximum funding available is £15,000 and maximum grant is £9,000.
• Wind turbine. Maximum funding available: £2,500. No grant for this improvement.
• Hydro turbine. Maximum funding available: £2,500. No grant for this improvement.
• Solar water heating. Maximum funding available: £5,000. No grant for this improvement.
• Hybrid solar PV / water heating. Maximum funding available: £5,000. No grant for this improvement.
• Solar PV. Maximum funding available: £6,000. A grant up to £1,250 available if taken as part of a package.
• Energy storage system (heat or electric battery). Maximum funding available: £6,000. A grant up to £1,250 is available if taken as part of a package.
• Heat network connection (fully or partially renewably powered). Maximum funding available: £7,500. No grant for this improvement.

Packages of improvements

In addition to the grants for heat pumps and energy efficiency improvements, two additional support funding packages are available to drive uptake of low and low and zero emission heating by incentivising complementary improvements. For both packages grant funding is only available for solar PV and energy storage systems if taken out as part of a package of improvements.

The first support pack is specifically for low and zero emission heating and renewable power (heat pump, solar PV and energy storage system):

• Heat pump (air, hybrid air, ground, or water source heat pump).
• Solar PV. Additional grant available up to £1,250.
• Energy storage system (electric or heat battery). Additional grant available up to £1,250.

The second support package centres around support for electric heat and power (electric storage heating, solar PV and energy storage battery). To be eligible for high heat retention storage heaters this must be a recommendation on your Energy Performance Certificate and you must be able to provide evidence that a heat pump is not suitable for your property.

• High heat retention electric storage heating. Additional grant available up to £2,500.
• Solar PV. Additional grant available up to £1,250.
• Energy storage system (electric or heat battery). Additional grant available up to £1,250.

Please note that the rural uplift does not apply to this package of improvements and only applies to the package containing a heat pump.

Please note, if the full package is not installed we reserve the right to request any grant funding already paid to be returned in full.

Both electric and heat batteries will be eligible for the energy storage systems grant in both support packages.

Applicants who have already installed one or more of the improvements within a package can apply for the remainder of the package. This is subject to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate(s) being provided for the existing heat pump and/or solar PV and an Energy Performance Certificate for the property which shows the high heat retention storage heaters and/or energy storage system is in place.

Eligible costs

Only particular costs are eligible for funding support for low and zero emission heating, renewable energy systems, energy storage systems and heat network scheme connections. A list of these eligible costs is set out below.

Solar photovoltaic (PV)

We will cover the cost of the solar module and the inverter and the direct cost of mounting them on a roof or the ground. We will cover the cost of a diverter if the system is to be connected to a hot water cylinder. We will also cover the costs of connecting them to the electricity supply (or energy storage system and inverters for off-grid system) and the non-recoverable VAT costs on all items. We will not cover:

1. the cost of any extended warranty beyond the one-year warranty all certified installers must offer free of charge; and
2. the cost of any other materials, work or other items such as, but not limited to, any cost of general rewiring at the property.

Wind turbines

We will cover the cost of wind-turbine generation equipment and the inverter and the direct cost of mounting it on a roof or the ground. We will cover the cost of a diverter if the system is to be connected to a hot water cylinder. We will also cover the costs of connecting it to the electricity supply (or energy storage system and inverters for off-grid system) and the non-recoverable VAT costs on all items. We will not cover:

1. the cost of any extended warranty beyond the one-year warranty all certified installers must offer free of charge; and
2. the cost of any other materials, work or other items such as, but not limited to, any cost of general rewiring at the property.

Micro-hydro turbines

We will cover the cost of hydrogeneration equipment and the inverter, the direct costs of water works and connecting it to the electricity supply (or energy storage system and inverters for off-grid system) and the non-recoverable VAT costs on all items. We will cover the cost of a diverter if the system is to be connected to a hot water cylinder. We will not cover:

1. the cost of any extended warranty beyond the one-year warranty all certified installers must offer free of charge; and
2. the cost of any other materials, work or other items such as, but not limited to, any cost of general rewiring at the property.

Solar water heating

We will cover the cost of solar panels, plus the direct cost of fixing the panels to the roof or ground, replacing the hot-water cylinder needed for the solar water heating system and connecting to the distribution system within the property and the non-recoverable VAT on those items. We will not cover:

1. the cost of any extended warranty beyond the one-year warranty all certified installers must offer free of charge; and
2. the cost of any other materials, work or other items such as, but not limited to, plumbing and heating system upgrades.

Hybrid photovoltaic solar water heating

We will cover the cost of PV-T collector (panels) and the inverter, the direct costs of mounting them to a roof or the ground, and the replacement of the hot-water cylinder needed for the solar water heating system. We will also cover the costs of connecting them to the distribution system within the property, the costs of connecting them to the electricity supply (or energy storage system and inverters for off-grid system) and the non-recoverable VAT costs on all items. We will not cover:

1. the cost of any extended warranty beyond the one-year warranty all certified installers must offer free of charge; and
2. the cost of any other materials, work or other items such as, but not limited to, plumbing and heating-system upgrades, or general rewiring at the property.

Air to water, ground to water and water to water heat pumps

We will cover the cost of the heat pump and ground loops and other related equipment and the replacement hot-water cylinder needed for the renewable energy system. We will also cover the direct costs of ground work for vertical or horizontal pipework, connecting them to the electrical supply, connecting them to the heat-distribution system at the property and the cost of upgrading the heating distribution system if this is necessary to make sure the heat pump system works effectively, and all non-recoverable VAT on those items. We will not cover:

1. the cost of any extended warranty beyond the one-year warranty all certified installers must offer free of charge; and
2. the cost of any other materials, work or other items such as, but not limited to, upgrading radiators unless this is needed to make sure the heat pump or other elements of the central-heating system at the property work efficiently; and
3. air to air heat pumps; and
4. fossil fuelled elements of a hybrid heat pump system

Wood-fuelled heaters, stoves and boilers

We will cover the cost of relevant heater, stove or boiler equipment and the replacement hot-water cylinder needed for the renewables system. We will also cover the direct costs of connecting the unit to an automated fuel system and connecting it to the property’s heat-distribution system, the costs of the flue and building the boiler house or fuel-storage space and all non-recoverable VAT on those items. We will not cover:

1. the cost of any extended warranty beyond the one-year warranty all certified installers must offer free of charge; and
2. the cost of any other materials, work or other items such as, but not limited to, upgrading radiators or other elements of the central-heating system at the property; and
3. non-automated, non-pellet stoves or room heaters.

Connections to a heat network scheme

Where a district heating scheme is deemed eligible, we will cover the cost of the heat exchanger (including supply and installation and heat meter), the cost of hot-water storage (if this applies), and the cost of connecting the exchanger to the heat network. We will also cover the other plumbing costs, including plumbing materials, pipework, specialist controls and metering and all non-recoverable VAT on those items. We will not cover:

1. the cost of any extended warranty beyond a one-year warranty; and
2. the cost of any other materials, work or other items such as, but not limited to, upgrading radiators or other elements of the central-heating system at the property; and
3. costs covered by government grants or other subsidies.

Energy storage systems

We will cover the cost of the electric or heat battery, the direct cost of installing and connecting it to a renewable energy system and the cost of equipment required to make the unit operational. This can include the cost of a power diverter (or automatic power controller), an energy monitor, connection to the electricity supply, an inverter and the non-recoverable VAT costs on all items. We will not cover:

1. the cost of any extended warranty
2. the cost of any other materials, work or other items such as, but not limited to, any cost of general rewiring at the property.