Energy grant schemes can help save energy and money for your home. Many of these schemes are free of charge to residents which meet the qualification criteria.
Where there are genuine energy grants, there are also, sadly, some scams. Rogue traders will take any opportunity to:
- carry out poor work
- leave jobs incomplete
- ask for additional payments which were not agreed in writing before work started
Before you sign up to any grant scheme, use our energy grant checklist to ensure the company you’re dealing with is a genuine company and not a scam or a rogue trader.
1. Avoid signing up to any grant scheme on the doorstep
Regardless of how genuine the person may appear, ask for a leaflet with the company details. Always do a check online, and on the TrustMark website, to ensure the details you’ve been provided with are genuine and the company says who they are. Leaflets without any of the company’s contact details are not genuine.
2. Check the Luton Council website to see if the grant scheme is legitimate
All current grant schemes are listed on the council’s website. If it’s not on there, it’s a dud.
3. Check our website to see if the installer is verified
For grant schemes such as ECO 4, we have a verified list of installers listed. If the installer company isn’t listed, they may not be a genuine company, or they may be a company who has not met our due diligence checks.
4. Obtain contact details from the installer company
All installer companies should provide you with their company details – usually including a registered company number you can check with Companies House. If they are unwilling to provide one, it’s a dud.
5. Check reviews
Before signing up to any installer company, always check their reviews online or with the council.
6. Check any company which advertises on social media
Be cautious of any company advertising on social media. Always check the company details, Trustmark status and whether they are verified by Luton Council.
7. Get all the improvements to your home in writing before work starts
The installer company should provide a list of measures they will be installing in your property in writing. The majority of these improvements are free of charge. If there are any associated costs, make sure you have this in writing in advance to protect yourself from any installer who attempts to impose further costs after work is complete.
If they haven’t informed you of any costs in writing, do not pay them and report them to CiTa (their contact details are below).
Be extra vigilant if they request money to paid in cash only or into an individual’s bank account, and not into the companies registered bank account.
Do not hand over cash before work has started.
8. Check the qualifications of the installers
It is important to check and ask for the qualifications of any persons that will be carrying out works at your property. If they to do not provide any qualification that matches with their photo ID, then do not let allow them to carry out any work. Unskilled installers can cause more damage to your property. If your unsure, always check with the council in the first instance.
- Boiler engineers: check they have a gas safe identification and also check on the gas safe register
- Insulation teams (loft, cavity wall, external wall, underfloor insulation): they must provide a NVQ level 2 and 3 (NVQ Level 3 only for external wall insulation)
9. Check for planning permission
Before any works, please check whether planning permission is required and ensure your installer is following any requirements for planning permission – information available here.
10. Check the building permissions
Separately from planning permission, all this work is controllable under Building Regulations, therefore you will need to check the installer you use is registered with the Competent Persons Scheme.
If the installer is registered through the Competent Persons Scheme, they will issue you a certificate of compliance with building regulations. You will need to keep for your records (for future sale of your property) and they will notify the local authority of the work being carried.
If they are not registered, then you will need to complete and submit a building regulation application to Luton Council before the works are undertaken. They will then inspect the works to ensure they are correctly installed and meet the legal requirements. You can contact for further advice and assistance
Email: build.control@luton.gov.uk
If the works are carried out without prior notification to the local authority, this is considered as unauthorised building works and you may face legal proceedings for not following the Building Act 1984.
11. Complaints
The installer should be the first port of call for any complaints you have. If:
- you are unable to obtain a suitable response? Contact TrustMark
- any unexpected costs that were not in writing? Contact CiTa 0808 2231133
12. Check to see if a party wall agreement is required
Works which will infringe onto a neighbouring property boundary line, require a party wall agreement in place before any works can begin.
Further information
Check which schemes you can apply for on our Energy advice and grants page.
Check for EC04 registered installers
Citizens Advice on finding a trader.
Energy grants - do's and dont's with guidance
Energy grants - do's and dont's with guidance on applying for an energy grant scheme.