As the pressure increases for us all to be carbon neutral and save heat in our homes one question on a lot of people’s lips is; will the government give me a grant to install double glazing? There are grants to insulate your loft and cavity wall insulation but is there something similar for double glazing?
Double glazing can cut heat loss through windows by 50%. It works by trapping air between two panes of glass creating an insulating barrier that reduces heat loss, noise and condensation. Fitting double glazing can save around £110 a year on your heating bills.
The government does indeed provide grants for home improvements but your eligibility for a grant will depend on a number of factors, such as your age, local authority, whether you claim benefits and so on. These grants are available through your local authority and so vary from region to region. In general though if you are on benefits you are probably eligible for a degree of help towards costs.
You can also apply for a Home Repair Assistance grant, which you can apply for through your local council, gives funding towards the cost of materials required to carry out repairs, improvements or adaptations to your home. This won’t cover the full cost of installing double glazing but it will go some way towards helping you to pay for it. It can also be difficult to get hold of this money as there are often long council waiting lists for these grants and you may have to be persistent in pursuing your application.
If you are over 60 or have a disability you can approach Care and Repair. Care and Repair is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation which can help you apply for grants in various local areas. Care & Repair gives you guidance, can help you with the grant paperwork and can also organise installation quotes, as well as oversee the work to ensure it is done properly and to ensure that you are not being taken for a ride.
Some of the larger double glazing companies are also offering a scrappage scheme to save thousands on new double glazing.