End to Green Homes Grant scheme is ‘fiasco’ says leading landlord

Landlords hoping to use their Green Homes Grant vouchers could be disappointed as some builders are warning they won’t be able to do the work in time to meet the scheme’s expiry deadline.

The government scrapped the scheme in March, just over six months after its launch, and vouchers are only valid for three months from the date they are issued – the last date being 30^th April – and need to be redeemed before then.

Nottingham landlord Tricia Urquhart tells LandlordZONE that despite holding vouchers to fit external wall insulation in her three Victorian properties, the work won’t be done because the builder can’t schedule it before October.

She says: “The scheme has been a complete fiasco and the chances of these houses making EPC C has just been slashed.

“In the same week as it was announced that a new oil drilling station is to go ahead off Shetland, with all the carbon emissions associated with that, it seems inconceivable that the government should close down a scheme aimed at reducing emissions in the PRS.”

Landlords can request an extension until 31st July and vouchers will be extended for 90 days or until 31st October, whichever is soonest.

Limited circumstances

Requests received after 31st July will only be granted in more limited circumstances – usually if work has started – although if they have a voucher for solid wall insulation (internal or external), park home insulation, air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, hybrid heat pump, or a biomass boiler issued after 30th April, they may still be granted an extension even if work hasn’t started.

In these circumstances, vouchers will be extended for 90 days or to 30th November, whichever is sooner.

The government says: “We recognise that occasionally, once work has started, circumstances may arise that are fully beyond your control. In such a situation please contact the scheme administrator as soon as possible to assess if a short extension until 30th November at the latest could be considered – subject to circumstances.”

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