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Solar Panels

Solar PV (photovoltaic) panels capture the sun’s energy and convert it into usable electricity in the home.

There are many benefits of having Solar PV Panels installed on your property:

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  • They can help lower your electricity bills.

  • They help to cut your carbon footprint and help the environment.

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Prior to your homes insulation upgrade a home ventilation assessment is required to ensure adequate ventilation is present in the property. The funding includes the cost for the ventilation requirements.


Ventilating your home will improve health

 
Day-to-day household activities like cooking, showering, drying clothes indoors and even breathing, all create moisture in the air. 


Moisture in the air will travel throughout the house and condense on the coldest surface. This can lead to common issues such as condensation and mould, which in turn can damage the building fabric (e.g. insulation). 


Controlled ventilation can improve indoor air quality through reducing the build-up of carbon monoxide, dust mites, and other pollutants. Poor indoor air quality can exacerbate existing health conditions (primarily respiratory) and cause new ones. 


New extractor fans may need to be installed into any wet room, such as Kitchens, Bathrooms/Shower rooms. This provides a great opportunity for us to help you ensure that your property remains dry and well ventilated, and to give you the tools to maintain good indoor air quality all year round. 


These extractor fans will either be fitted in place of existing units (if they are not sufficient) or if new, to the ceiling or through the walls by a fully qualified electrician. The final decision as to the exact location of each vent will be made on the day, and as part of the installation or warranty an installer will remediate and make good where necessary.


Regarding other habitable rooms, such as Living/Dining rooms and Bedrooms, it is also important that there is sufficient ventilation within these rooms. From the ventilation survey, this may identify the need for further background ventilation, this can be by way of trickle vents in windows, extractor grids in walls or ceilings, room vents located in external walls, or small door undercuts.

  • What can the Warmer Homes programme fund?
    The programme provides funding for a range of energy efficiency measures to improve your home's comfort and sustainability. Please note that the availability of each upgrade is dependent on the results of a survey. The upgrades that may be funded under the programme include the following: · Solid Wall Insulation · Cavity Wall Insulation · Loft Insulation · Room-in-Roof Insulation · Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) · Solar PV Panels · High Heat Retention Storage Heaters · Heating Controls Any other home upgrades cannot be installed via the Warmer Homes programme.
  • What home upgrades are NOT provided under the scheme?
    The following upgrades are not provided under the scheme: · Underfloor insulation · Double glazing windows · Ground Source Heat Pump · Gas boiler · Electric boiler · Warm Air Units · Energy Saving Lightbulbs · Draught proofing · Wind turbines · Insulating tanks, pipes and radiators. · Solar batteries
  • Does Warmer Homes provide boilers and hot water tanks?
    Boilers and hot water tanks are not available via the Warmer Homes scheme. However, you may be eligible for an Air Source Heat Pump or High Heat Retention Storage Heaters through the scheme.
  • How is the Warmer Homes programme funded?
    The Warmer Homes programme is funded by the Government’s Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme. Portsmouth City Council, in partnership with the local authorities shown here as secured funding from these schemes to offer grant funding to improve the energy efficiency of eligible homes. Please note that private rental properties will require a landlord contribution.
  • My home doesn’t have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), can I still apply?
    Yes, if you’re eligible for the Warmer Homes scheme but your home doesn’t have an existing EPC or it has expired, the Warmer Homes team can arrange for an EPC to be undertaken, at no cost to yourself, to check if your EPC rating qualifies you for the scheme.
  • What means-tested benefits are eligible for the Warmer Homes Scheme?
    The following means-tested benefits are eligible for the programme: · Child Tax Credits (CTC) · Housing Benefit · Income based Jobseekers allowance (JSA) · Income related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) · Income Support (IS) · Pension Credit Guarantee Credit · Working Tax Credit (WTC) · Pension Credit Savings Credit · Universal Credit (UC) To find out more about our eligibility criteria please visit our eligibility FAQ page.
  • What happens after I register my interest in the scheme?
    Once you register your interest in the scheme, one of our friendly team will give you a call. They will discuss your application details with you and have an application submitted on your behalf. Alternatively, you can submit an application online here.
  • What happens after I’ve submitted my application?
    After you submit your application, we will conduct a desktop assessment to determine whether you and your property qualify for the scheme. If you appear to be eligible, we will send you a welcome pack along with eligibility verification documents. These documents are essential for us to confirm your eligibility, enabling our team to conduct a thorough assessment. To prevent any delays, please ensure that you provide accurate information when submitting your application. For more details on how to prove your eligibility and to learn about the required documentation, please visit our eligibility FAQ page.
  • Who do I contact if I have any questions?
    General enquiries—If you have any questions before you apply, or if you'd like to escalate a matter or make a complaint, please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 0385737 or email retrofit@warmerhomes.org.uk. You can speak to our team Monday through Friday, 8.45am-5.30pm. Applications—If you've started your application and have any queries regarding the declaration, evidence, or eligibility, please contact our Applications Team on 0800 107 8886 or email applications.team@agilityeco.co.uk. The team is available Monday to Friday, 9am-5.30pm. Installation—If you have any questions about your upcoming survey or installation (if approved), please speak with your assigned installer first, who will be able to provide you with more details. If they are unavailable, our Customer Service Team will be able to assist you. Please call 0800 0385737. Our team is available Monday to Friday, 8.45am—5.30pm. Please note that all our phone lines are free to phone.
  • I’m in the process of selling my house. Can I still apply?
    You must be occupying the property to qualify for the scheme. Therefore, if you do not currently live in the property or will not be living there by the time the works are completed, your application will not be successful.
  • Who do I contact about the survey or the installation?
    If you have any questions about your upcoming survey or installation (if approved), please reach out to your assigned installer, who can provide you with more details. However, we're still here to support you. If your installer doesn't respond or if you need to escalate any concerns, please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 0385737 or email retrofit@warmerhomes.org.uk.
  • Where can I find more information about the upgrade I’m interested in?
    Your assigned installer will be able to provide you with more information about the measure you are interested in and will also provide you with a factsheet related to the measure(s) you are interested in. You can also find our explainer videos here or you can find further information on other websites such as the Energy Saving Trust.
  • Do I need get any permissions?
    If you are a private rental tenant: You will need permission from your landlord before any upgrades can be installed in your property. A landlord contribution will be required so please do ensure they are aware of you making an application. For more information regarding Landlord consent please visit our eligibility FAQ page. If you are a homeowner/owner occupier: If your upgrade will affect the external appearance of your property (e.g. solid wall insulation or solar panels), we recommended contacting your local council to see if you need to apply for planning permission. We also recommend that you inform your home insurer to check that you have sufficient cover in place. If you have a leasehold property/ shared ownership: You may also need to check that you have authorisation to make external changes to your property.
  • How long will it take between the survey and the installation?
    It can take four to eight weeks between the property's survey and the start of the installation work. For certain properties, this can be longer, for example, if planning permission is needed.
  • Who will own the energy efficiency measures once installed?
    For owner occupied properties, the homeowner/owner-occupier of the property will own the energy efficiency measure(s) once installed. For Private Rental properties, the ownership will be with the landlord.
  • Who is responsible for any future maintenance after my upgrade(s) have been installed?
    For owner occupied properties, the homeowner/owner-occupier will be responsible for any future maintenance and costs. For private rental properties, the private rental landlord will be responsible for any future maintenance and costs. Please note, details of your warranty cover will be provided by your installer following your installation.
  • Are there any checks following the installation?
    We’ll call you to make sure that you’re happy with the service and the installation. Some properties will also be chosen for in-person Quality Assurance checks.
  • How long will I be on the waitlist for?
    The new Warm Homes: Local Grant funding available under the Warmer Homes scheme is due to start from April 2025. We are hoping to start progressing your application earlier in 2025, but we are unfortunately not yet able to confirm an exact date for this.
  • Will I be notified when my application can start being processed?
    Yes, we will be in contact with you (via email or phone) when we are able to start moving forward with your application.
  • What is Warm Homes: Local Grant funding?
    The Warm Homes: Local Grant funding was announced by the Government in September 2024 and is administered by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. This funding will begin delivery in 2025 and provides energy performance upgrades and low carbon heating to eligible homes. More information on the funding can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-local-grant.
  • Who can I speak to if I have any questions in the meantime?
    If you have any questions, please call the Warmer Homes team on 0800 038 5737 or email us at retrofit@warmerhomes.org.uk.
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