Free Heating & Insulation for Wales

The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES)
Freephone: 0800 316 2815

What is the home energy efficiency scheme?

The National Assembly for Wales funds the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES). It provides a grant of up to £2,700 to make your home warmer, more energy efficient and more secure.

HEES will focus on households with the greatest health risks - older people, people with children under 16 and people who are disabled or chronically sick.

The Eaga partnership manages the scheme on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales.

Who qualifies for a grant?

The scheme has been specifically targeted towards households on certain benefits who may need help to keep warm and secure.

The scheme has been split into two:

HEES is aimed at families with children under 16.

HEES Plus is aimed at lone parent families with children under 16, people who are 60 or over and those who are disabled or chronically sick.

The National Assembly has recognised that those 60 or over, lone parent families and people who are disabled or chronically sick and on a low income face particular difficulties, so they are providing extra help in the form of HEES Plus.

The scheme is particularly aimed at owner-occupiers and people who rent their homes from private landlords, as it is this sector that contains the largest number of households in difficulty.

What will it cost me?

You will not have to pay anything as long as the cost of the work falls within the amount of the grant you are entitled to.

Who will carry out the work?

We will arrange for experienced and qualified companies who are registered with us to do the work.

What happens next?

Our surveyor will visit your property to explain the scheme, help you complete the forms and decide what measures you can have installed in your home.

General information

Always ask for proof of identity when we, or our representatives, arrive at your home. We will ask you for proof that you claim benefit or some proof of your age. You will have to sign an application form saying that you want us to carry out the work. When we visit our home, we will answer any questions you have about the HEES scheme.

We use a password system to give you extra security. Always use the password we agree with you.

We like to make sure that the quality of the work carried out is of the highest possible standard. We carry out a quality check on some of the work we do.

HEES Grant

The following may be able to claim a grant of up to £1500 under HEES:

• Householders on Working Families Tax Credit (household income of £11250 before tax)
• Householders with a child under 16 and who are receiving one or more of the following benefits:
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

What does the grant provide?

HEES will provide a package of insulation and heating tailored to each property, drawn from the measures listed below:

• Insulation Measures
• Loft insulation
• Draughtproofing
• Cavity-wall insulation
• Hot water tank insulation

Heating Systems

• Gas room heaters with thermostatic controls
• Electric storage heaters
• Converting a solid-fuel open fire to a modern glass-fronted fire

Extra Measures

• Energy advice
• Two low-energy light bulbs

Please call The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme on Freephone 0800 316 2815 for an application form.

HEES Plus Grant

As well as the measures provided by HEES, HEES Plus may also offer gas or electric central heating systems.

The following people may be able to claim a grant of up to £2700 under HEES Plus:

• Householders who are 60 or over or lone parent families with a child under 16 and on one of the following benefits:
  • Income Support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Benefit
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Householders who are disabled or chronically sick and on one of the following benefits:
• • Income Support (which must include a disability premium)
  • Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
  • Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
  • Disabled Person's Tax Credit
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance)
  • War Disablement Pension (which must include the mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance or Attendance Allowance)
• Householders with a child under 16 claiming Child Benefit and where the child receives one of the following:
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance

What does the grant provide?

As well as the measures provided by HEES, HEES Plus may also offer gas or electric central-heating systems.

If you are 60 or over, an owner-occupier and not on any benefit, then you may be eligible for a 25% grant towards the cost of installation measures up to £375.

If you are a householder ages 60 or over and you live in an identified area you may also be offered security measures such as door and window locks (funded by the Home Office and the National Assembly for Wales). We will be able to tell you whether you live in an identified area and will work out the best package for you.

Please call The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme on Freephone 0800 316 2815 for an application form.