We’re delighted to announce the return of the LEAP Boiler Scheme, which is an annual scheme, supporting vulnerable homeowners to access a free repair or replacement of central heating boilers they rely on as their primary source of heating.

We expect the scheme to run to the end of March 2024, or until funds are exhausted, whichever is sooner.

The eligibility and referral process is as follows:

LEAP Boiler Criteria

Homeowners with a broken boiler and in a “no heat situation” must meet the following criteria:

Claiming a means tested benefits

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Support
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Child Tax Credit / Working Tax Credit
• Universal credit
• Housing Benefit

Or – Total annual household income less than £31,000

And

There must be someone in the household who is:

• Aged 65 or over, or
• Aged under 5, or
• Suffering from one of the following health conditions,
• Cancer / Terminal illness
• Cardiovascular condition
• Respiratory condition
• Disability (affecting mobility)
• Mental Health Condition

Referral Process

• Refer your clients/tenants to us using the “General Referral Form”, found here: www.epplus.org.uk/referrals
• Please make sure on your referral that you select the option confirming the client is in a no heat situation.
• Upon receipt of your referral we will check client eligibility for a LEAP home visit. It is only during the home visit that the LEAP assessor will register the client as being eligible for support through the LEAP Boiler Scheme. This cannot be actioned outside a home visit.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority launches second round of group-buying scheme for solar panels to help residents and small businesses cut energy bills and carbon emissions

• More homeowners to see the benefits of solar panels and battery storage
• First round of group-buying scheme saw 585 homes fitted with solar panels
• Solar Together 2022 reduced installation costs by up to 33%
• £5m investment across city region to deliver 10,300 tonnes of carbon reduction over 25 years

Many more homes across the Liverpool City Region are set to be fitted with energy-saving solar panels and battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging points with the repeat of a successful money-saving, group-buying scheme.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, launched Solar Together last year to enable residents to cut their energy costs while also reducing their carbon emissions

It is part of a raft of measures to enable the city region to reach the ambitious target to be Net Zero by 2040 or sooner.

A total of 585 installations were completed during the first round of the scheme, which reduced installation costs by up to 33% for a typical 14-panel layout.

The £5m invested by residents is predicted to deliver 10,300 tonnes of carbon reduction over 25 years – equivalent to taking 5,700 cars off the roads for a year.

Councillor David Baines, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Net Zero and Air Quality, said:

“There is clearly a demand for solar panels to cut energy bills and to help the environment but for many people the process can seem complicated and finding a trustworthy contractor daunting.

“Solar Together helps to address those concerns by offering a simpler way to make the leap – last year’s scheme was popular and hopefully that success will encourage and reassure others.

“We know that we will need to halve our total energy use as a city region to hit our target of being net zero carbon by 2040 or sooner and every house and business that can produce its own energy takes it that much closer to our target.”

Once registrations have closed, pre-approved solar installation specialists will bid to complete the work in a reverse-auction. Purchasing at scale in this way offers residents better value than buying as an individual.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has already fitted energy-saving features free-of-charge to more than 2,500 properties occupied by low-income households across the city region, as part of a £105million programme to retrofit 10,000 homes.

Anyone who want to register for the scheme should visit: www.solartogether.co.uk/lcr

How does Solar Together work?

• From 28 August until 27 October: Householders can register online to become part of the group for free and without obligation.

• Pre-approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in an auction. They are able to offer competitive pricing as the volume and geographic concentration makes it possible for them to realise greater efficiencies, which they pass on with lower prices for installations.

• After the auction, registered households will be emailed a personal recommendation which is specific to the details they submitted in their registration.

• If they choose to accept their recommendation, the specifics of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey after which a date can be set for the installation of their solar PV system.

• All installations will be completed by 15 June 2024

• Telephone and email helpdesks are on-hand throughout the whole process which, together with information sessions, will allow households to make an informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment.