Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund: Wave 2.2
Application Guidelines
Funding provision
Funding is provided in line with the UK’s obligations and commitments to subsidy control, both internationally and under the Subsidy Control Act. Further information can be found within the Subsidy Control Act and the government’s Statutory Guidance for the United Kingdom Subsidy Control Regime.
Single applicant
Local authority or combined authority for use on their own social housing stock - this will not be considered a subsidy.
Private registered providers of social housing, for example, housing associations - will be considered a subsidy in accordance with the task of provision of affordable, energy-efficient social housing under services of public economic interest.
Private registered provider of social housing that receives state support – If less than £725,000 across three financial years for the above-mentioned task - you should declare this on your application. You will be exempt from subsidy control; however, the award will need to be declared on the subsidy transparency database if over £100,000.
Private registered provider of social housing that receives state support – If more than £725,000 across three financial years for the above-mentioned task, you should declare this on your application. Your application will be assessed in accordance with the principles set out in the Subsidy Control Act, as they apply to a body tasked with the provision of affordable, energy-efficient social housing.
Registered charity that owns social housing your application will be assessed in accordance with the subsidy control principles set out in Schedule 1 of the Subsidy Control Act.
Consortium applications
Consortium with members who are all local authorities or combined authorities for use on their own social housing stock - this will not be considered a subsidy.
Local authorities, combined authorities that include a private registered provider of social housing or registered charity - we will assume you receive more than £725,000 in state support over three financial years for the above-mentioned task. Your application will be assessed in accordance with the principles set out in the Subsidy Control Act, as they apply to a body tasked with the provision of affordable, energy-efficient social housing. If your consortium cumulatively does not receive more than £725,000 in state support over three financial years for the above-mentioned task, then this should be declared on your application.
Consortium contains a body that is a non-registered provider of social housing or a registered charity - your application will be assessed in accordance with the subsidy principles set out in the Subsidy Control Act. Applicants are again advised to declare the level of state support supplied to each consortium member, if any, on application. The minimal financial assistance exemption can also apply to consortia. Consortium Applicants should also declare the amount of funding to be allocated to each consortium member, and the purposes for which it will be used.
Minimal financial assistance exemption
To receive funding under this exemption, Applicants should declare that the state support they are receiving does not exceed the threshold of £315,000 across three financial years. Subsidies below this amount are exempt from the subsidy provisions of the Subsidy Control Act.
This could include applications where leaseholder or freeholder (right to buy) properties, including those that are privately rented, are included in the proposal. Any awards made that are over £100,000 will be declared on the subsidy transparency database.
Infill properties
These are properties outside the threshold for upgrade that form part of a larger block or terrace.
The focus of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2 applications will be on social homes with an EPC rating of band D, E, F or G.
Where a small number of properties within a block or terrace have undergone individual home upgrades, raising them to a band C or above, they can be included in an application where they enable effective works to social housing below EPC band C.
Applicants should justify the reason for inclusion of these properties, including the percentage of properties band C or above to be considered.
Retrofitting of infill properties should be kept to an absolute minimum to ensure that Wave 2.2 supports the retrofitting of as many below EPC C social homes as possible, and strong justification will be required.
Please refer to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.2 competition guidance for further information.
Additional guidance
All Applicants should avoid using subsidies to improve non-social homes. If you intend to do so, this should be declared on any application along with the rationale for doing so. Please note, if you are relying on the minimal financial assistance exemption in your application, then the subsidy control principles do not apply. Please refer to the eligibility guidance.
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund 2.2