The Department of Energy and Climate Control (DECC) is extending vouchers from the first release of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) until March 31, 2015, allowing more time for millions of pounds worth of installations to be carried out.
The one-off voucher extension applies to GDHIF vouchers that have an expiry date before March 31 and have not yet been redeemed – affecting around 3,900 voucher holders – including vouchers that have already expired. For the first release of GDHIF, which was open to applications from June 9 to July 24, 2014, vouchers worth up to a maximum of £7,600 were on offer.
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey, said:
“The GDHIF has been going like hotcakes – winter can be a difficult time to get installations done so by giving more time to voucher holders they can join over one million homes already benefitting from a warmer, cheaper winter thanks to our energy efficiency schemes.”
Energy and Climate Change Minister, Amber Rudd, said:
“We know the best way to lower bills – permanently – is to make homes warmer and greener.
“We’ve helped one million homes install measures like insulation and boilers so it makes sense to extend GDHIF vouchers for even more families to reap the benefits.”
Up to the end of December 2014, 11,061 vouchers have been paid and 13,613 measures installed through GDHIF, with £54.3 million claimed.
The extension is effective immediately and will apply automatically to eligible voucher holders -a new voucher will not be issued. To claim, eligible householders should carry out the work and submit their voucher for redemption to the GDHIF scheme administrator by March 31– vouchers that have been extended will not be accepted after this time. All other terms and conditions for the first release of GDHIF continue to apply to customers and installers.
Vouchers from the second release of GDHIF which opened to applications on December 10, 2014, will not be affected and will be valid for six months as per the expiry date on the voucher.
Details of further releases of funding for GDHIF will be announced on a quarterly basis with the next release and announcement expected in late February/early March 2015.
GDHIF voucher holders whose vouchers were due to expire before 31 March:
- will receive an email to advise they are eligible for an extension, however they do not need to wait for this email to be sent, the extension is effective immediately
- who made a phone application will receive a phone call however they do not need to wait for this phone call, the extension is effective immediately
- should follow the instructions on their voucher to claim money back
- will not be able to submit a claim after 31 March and will not receive payment
- can change their installer by calling the scheme administrator
- who have previously had their claim rejected due to voucher expiry can contact the GDHIF administrator to have their claim processed again
Those who have an expiry date on or after March 31 will not receive an extension and should submit their claim as per the expiry date on the voucher: the GDHIF voucher extension is a once only offer for voucher holders from the first release of the scheme.
There is no guarantee that voucher redemption will be successful, if a claim was/is non-compliant with the scheme terms and conditions in any other respect. It’s advisable for people to refer to the terms and conditions before they submit their claim.
GDHIF registered installers and providers can help their customers by completing the installation and handing the required documents over to the customer in time for the customer to submit their claim by the March 31 deadline.
DECC may vary the terms of GDHIF (including the incentive rates) or suspend or close the scheme, with immediate effect, without notice and at any time.