Funding for Homeowners and Landlords

Are you looking for solar panel grants in Sefton, Southport, Formby, Bootle or the surrounding area?

Homeowners and private landlords in Sefton may be eligible for government-backed funding towards solar panels and other energy-efficiency improvements through the Warm Homes: Local Grant and, in some circumstances, ECO4.

The main funding currently available through Sefton Council is the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WHLG). The scheme is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is due to operate in Sefton until April 2028.

Importantly, this is not simply a “free solar panel scheme”. Your household and property must first qualify for funding, and a professional retrofit assessment will determine which energy-saving measures are suitable for your home.

Online applications and links are at the bottome of this page.

What Is the Warm Homes: Local Grant in Sefton?

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is designed to improve lower-income households and homes with poorer energy-efficiency ratings.

Depending on the property, improvements funded through the scheme can include:

• Solar PV panels
• Loft insulation
• Wall insulation
• Underfloor insulation
• Air source heat pumps
• Smart heating controls
• Ventilation improvements

Solar panels are therefore one of the measures that may be provided, but they are subject to assessment, property suitability and available funding.

Who Qualifies for a Solar Panel Grant in Sefton?

There are two main parts to eligibility: the property and the household.

Property eligibility

For the Sefton Warm Homes: Local Grant, the property must generally:

• Be located within the Sefton Council borough
• Be privately owned, either owner-occupied or privately rented
• Have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G

This means homes already rated EPC A, B or C will not normally qualify under this particular scheme.

Areas within Sefton include Southport, Ainsdale, Birkdale, Formby, Crosby, Maghull, Bootle, Litherland, Netherton and surrounding Sefton communities.

Income and Household Eligibility

In addition to the property’s EPC rating, the household must meet one of Sefton Council’s eligibility pathways.

Route 1 – Eligible postcode

You may qualify if your home is within a postcode classified in Income Deciles 1 or 2 of the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

This means some households can potentially qualify because of where they live rather than solely through their individual household income.

Route 2 – Benefits or vulnerability criteria

Households may qualify if someone receives certain means-tested benefits or qualifies through specified ECO4 Flex criteria.

Route 3 – Household income

You may also qualify where the household’s gross annual income is below £36,000.

Some households earning more than £36,000 may still qualify using the scheme’s After Housing Costs calculation, which takes household size and housing costs into consideration.

Are Solar Panel Grants Free for Homeowners in Sefton?

For qualifying owner-occupiers, Sefton Council states that there is no financial contribution required under the Warm Homes: Local Grant.

If your application is approved and solar PV is identified as a suitable measure following assessment, the approved work can therefore potentially be fully funded.

Funding is limited, however, and qualifying for the scheme does not automatically guarantee that work will be carried out.

Sefton Council warns that demand is expected to exceed the available funding.

Can Landlords Get Solar Panel Grants in Sefton?

Yes. This is particularly relevant for private landlords with lower-rated rental properties.

Privately rented properties can qualify for the Warm Homes: Local Grant, but eligibility is primarily based on the circumstances of the tenant living in the property, rather than the landlord’s personal income.

Landlords should therefore speak to their tenants before making an enquiry.

Under Sefton’s current rules:

• The first eligible property belonging to a landlord can receive the approved works without a landlord contribution, subject to survey and available funding.
• For additional properties, the landlord is required to contribute 50% towards the cost of the retrofit works.

Private landlords must also comply with the scheme’s subsidy rules and declare relevant financial assistance previously received.

This could make the scheme particularly valuable for landlords looking to improve older EPC D, E, F or G properties.

Do Landlords Apply Online?

Sefton Council asks private landlords to contact its Retrofit Team directly rather than simply submitting an application without first discussing the tenant’s circumstances.

Sefton Council Retrofit Team

Telephone: 0151 934 2848

Email: retrofit@sefton.gov.uk

Landlords should have discussed the application with their tenant before contacting the team.

What Happens After You Apply?

Submitting an application or expression of interest does not mean solar panels will automatically be installed.

If your application progresses, Sefton Council may request information including:

• Proof of identity
• Household income information
• Property ownership information
• Relevant benefit or eligibility evidence

An approved Retrofit Assessment may then be arranged.

The Retrofit Assessor considers the whole property, including its construction, insulation, heating, ventilation and existing energy performance.

The assessment is then used to determine which improvements are appropriate.

For some properties this could include solar PV. For others, improving insulation or heating may take priority.

This whole-house approach is an important part of government-funded retrofit programmes.

ECO4 Funding and Solar Panels in Sefton

Another potential source of help is the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4).

ECO4 is slightly different because technically it is an obligation placed on energy suppliers rather than a conventional government grant. It runs until 31 December 2026.

Sefton residents may qualify through either standard ECO4 eligibility or ECO4 Flex.

Under Sefton Council’s ECO4 Flex criteria, one route includes households with:

• Gross annual household income below £31,000
• EPC D–G for homeowners
• EPC E–G for privately rented homes

There is also a health-related route for households where a resident has certain conditions that can make living in a cold home particularly harmful.

Solar PV is an eligible ECO4 measure in certain circumstances, although there are additional technical requirements relating to the property’s heating system, insulation and overall retrofit package. It should therefore not be assumed that qualifying for ECO4 automatically means solar panels will be offered.

Applications for Sefton ECO4 Flex are made through one of Sefton Council’s approved installers rather than directly through the Council.

Do You Need an EPC Before Applying for Solar Funding?

Your property’s EPC rating plays an important role in determining eligibility for these schemes.

For the Sefton Warm Homes: Local Grant, eligible properties generally need an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.

If you do not currently have a valid EPC, or you are unsure of your property’s current energy rating, having an EPC assessment carried out can provide a useful starting point.

An Energy Performance Certificate shows:

• Your current energy-efficiency rating
• Your potential energy rating
• Estimated energy use
• Recommended improvements
• The potential impact of measures such as insulation, heating improvements and solar PV

EPC Assessments in Sefton from Eden Energy

Eden Energy Solutions provides professional Domestic Energy Performance Certificates throughout Sefton, Southport, Formby, West Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region.

We can assess the existing energy efficiency of your home or rental property and provide the registered EPC required for property sales, lettings and many energy-efficiency funding applications.

Our domestic EPCs are available at a fixed price of £60 for properties up to four bedrooms.

If you are considering solar panels or applying for energy-efficiency funding and need to establish your property’s current EPC rating, contact Eden Energy to arrange an assessment.

How to Apply for the Sefton Warm Homes: Local Grant

Homeowners can register their interest through the official GOV.UK Warm Homes: Local Grant application service.

Private landlords should contact the Sefton Council Retrofit Team directly:

Telephone: 0151 934 2848
Email: retrofit@sefton.gov.uk

If you are unable to complete the application online, Sefton Council advises that its Retrofit Team can assist by telephone or provide a paper application.

Don’t Assume You Are Not Eligible

Eligibility for current energy-efficiency funding is broader than many homeowners realise.

A household that does not receive benefits may still qualify because of:

• Household income
• The property’s postcode
• After-housing-cost income
• Certain health or vulnerability circumstances
• ECO4 Flex eligibility

It can therefore be worth checking your eligibility even if you have previously assumed you would not qualify for a government energy-efficiency scheme.

Need an EPC in Sefton?

If you’re a homeowner, landlord or letting agent and need an EPC in Southport or Sefton, Eden Energy Solutions can help.

Eden Energy Solutions Ltd
Domestic Energy Assessments | EPCs | Retrofit Assessments
Serving Southport, Sefton, Formby, Liverpool, Merseyside and West Lancashire

Fixed-price EPC: £60 for properties up to four bedrooms

Contact Eden Energy to arrange your EPC or to discuss the energy performance of your property.

Funding schemes, eligibility rules and available budgets can change. Grant approval is determined by the relevant council, energy supplier or scheme administrator and is subject to household eligibility, property assessment and available funding.

Links and Resources For Solar Panel Funding in Sefton, Insulation and Heating Grants

Apply for the Warm Homes Grant in Sefton

Read Sefton Council’s Grant Information

For people who may qualify under ECO4/ECO4 Flex

For the national ECO4 information

Sefton Retrofit Team: 0151 934 2848 · retrofit@sefton.gov.uk. Sefton’s appointed Warm Homes Local Grant installer is currently EcoGee; the Council lists 0151 521 4520 and info@ecogee.co.uk for EcoGee.