The Green Deal Scheme UK

The Green Deal was a government scheme that gave loans for energy-efficient home improvements closed in 2015. But you can still apply for it through private companies. Read on to find out more.

Purpose:

1. Make energy-saving improvements
2. Find the best way to pay for them: 3 main ways (see below)

Typical Improvement Examples Include (not exhaustive):

1. insulation, such as solid wall, cavity wall or loft insulation
2. heating
3. draught-proofing
4. double glazing
5. renewable energy generation, such as solar panels or heat pumps

Ways to Check Eligibility:

1. through Govt. online assessment questionnaire here.
2. through an authorised Green Deal assessor or provider.
3. through contacting Govt. Endorsed Energy Providers. 

General Criteria for Initial Eligibility Self-check

1. Household has an electricity meter.
2. For rented properties: landlord & tenant (s) must be in agreement for the improvement.
3. Getting improvement recommendations after the assessment.

Steps:

1. Self-check eligibility or check with Govt. through the contacts above
2. Book an assessment
3. House gets assessed; improvements recommended; get quotes/costs & Grant Schemes informed
4. Make decision on whether to improve & what types of improvement
5. If 4 is yes, work with Green Deal Companies to make the agreed improvements
6. Payment: choose among the 3 ways
7. Complete.

Green Deal Advice Report:

1. Issued by an authorised Green Deal assessor or provider after visiting your house for enerygy assessment.
2. Contains an EPC report; an occupancy assessment; improvement recommendations, their cost estimate & the best way to pay for it. 
3. Valid for 10 years or until your improvements

Green Deal Organisations/Companies:

1. Must be authorised & licensed with a "Green Deal Mark". Check authenticity here.
2. Some provide an one-stop service, i.e., a Green Deal package: assessment, finance and installation

Payments (3 ways):

1. Pay by yourself in advance
2. Through a "Green Deal Loan" & pay back with interest rate through a charge added to your electricity bill
3. Through Govt. schemes to fund in part or full.

Green Deal Loans:

• From the Green Deal Finance Company- repay the Green Deal loan through your electricity bill payments.
• Loan repayments should never exceed the savings you made on your energy bills.
• Loan is attached to the property you live in, not you. If you sell your home, it passes to the new owner
• Interest rates range from 7.9% APR to 10.3% APR and lasted between 10 and 25 years.
• Originally a government loan scheme (set up in 2013; stopped in 2015); now run through private companies since 2017: Green Deal Organisations/Companies with "Green Deal Marks"
• You can get Grants with Private Companies through BUS scheme (BUS runs to 2025 in England & Wales)

Other Important Information:

1. Green Deal Loans stays with the property: no longer need to pay If you move as you will no longer benefit from the improvements.
2. Available in England, Wales & Scotland; Not available in Northern Ireland.
3. Suitable for properties with either poor energy ratings or using a large amount of heating and electricity each year

Useful Green Deal Contacts:

The Green Deal Advisor Association

• Website: https://www.gdaa.org.uk/
• Address: 7 Delaine Close, Bourne PE10 9LP
• Phone: 01778 394188
• E-mail: info@gdaa.org.uk



On Housebuild, we have a comprehensive list of resources you will need for each of the step. Click each of them to access the resources:

1. Latest official Building Regulations: UK & Ireland
2. Building Guidelines: UK & Ireland
3. Detailed Construction Drawings: UK & Ireland
4. Cost Estimation
5. Design/Decor Inspirations
6. Potential Grants & Support Available: UK & Ireland
7. Need Professional help? Find a local pro here: UK & Ireland

Information source: https://www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures