Energy Efficiency Flex: How Lancashire Councils Are Using Discretionary Funding

government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions is a mechanism that allows local authorities to identify households as eligible for energy efficiency improvements even when they do not meet the standard government energy efficiency schemes criteria. Across Lancashire, councils have been using this discretionary power to extend energy grants to thousands of additional households that would otherwise miss out. If you have been told you do not qualify for government energy efficiency schemes, your council’s Flex criteria might still get you funded.

What Is government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions and How Does It Work?

The standard government energy efficiency scheme targets households on specific benefits (Universal Credit, pension top-up benefits, Child Tax Credit, and others) living in properties rated EPC D, E, F, or G. But the government recognised that many fuel-poor households fall outside these strict criteria – perhaps because they earn just above the threshold, receive a different type of support, or have a health condition exacerbated by cold housing.

government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions empowers local councils to issue declarations confirming that a household meets locally defined vulnerability criteria. Once a council issues this declaration, energy suppliers are obligated to treat the household as eligible for government energy efficiency schemes funding. The council does not pay for the measures – the funding still comes from the energy suppliers’ government energy efficiency schemes obligation – but the council acts as the gateway.

Each Lancashire council sets its own Flex criteria within a framework published by the government energy department (the government energy department). These criteria typically cover four routes: households on means-tested benefits in specified properties, households with low income and high energy costs, households identified through the NHS or health services as vulnerable to cold, and households referred by other statutory agencies.

Lancashire County Council Area: government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions Criteria

The twelve district councils within the Lancashire County Council area each administer their own government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions schemes, though many follow similar criteria. Here is what the main districts are offering.

Preston City Council operates a particularly active Flex scheme. Their criteria include households with a combined income below £31,000 where the property has an EPC of D or below, households where any member receives Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment regardless of income, and households referred by the NHS or social services as vulnerable to cold-related illness. Properties in the PR1-PR5 postcodes with solid walls or no loft insulation are prioritised.

Lancaster City Council includes similar income thresholds but has added a specific criterion for households in off-gas-grid properties heated by oil or LPG. This captures many rural homes in the Lune Valley and Forest of Bowland that face particularly high heating costs. They also include households where the main occupier is aged over 60, regardless of benefit status.

Burnley Borough Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, and Pendle Borough Council have aligned their criteria closely and include a route specifically for households in the most deprived Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) within their boundaries. Given that parts of Burnley, Accrington, and Nelson rank among the most deprived areas nationally, this route captures a significant number of additional households.

Greater Manchester Councils: government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions Approaches

The ten Greater Manchester councils each set their own Flex criteria, coordinated to some extent through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Manchester City Council’s Flex scheme is one of the most comprehensive in the region, covering households with a gross income below £36,000 in EPC D-G properties, anyone with a long-term health condition worsened by cold housing, and families with children under 5.

Salford City Council has taken an area-based approach, automatically qualifying households in specific neighbourhoods identified through the council’s fuel poverty mapping. Parts of Broughton, Langworthy, and Irlam have been designated as priority areas where simplified Flex declarations can be issued.

Bolton Council and Wigan Council both include a route for households where the annual energy bill exceeds 10% of household income – a direct measure of fuel poverty. This is particularly relevant for households in older properties around the BL and WN postcode areas, where poor insulation drives up heating costs significantly.

Oldham Council and Rochdale Borough Council have included routes for private rented sector tenants whose landlords are willing to allow government energy efficiency schemes work. This is important because tenants in the private rented sector are disproportionately likely to live in fuel poverty but have historically been harder to reach through energy efficiency schemes.

What Measures Can You Get Through government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions?

The measures available through government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions are the same as the standard government energy efficiency scheme. The key difference is only in the eligibility criteria, not in what you receive. Typical measures include cavity wall insulation (worth £500-1,500), loft insulation (£300-800), solid wall insulation – both internal and external (£4,000-14,000), floor insulation (£500-1,500), room-in-roof insulation (£1,500-3,500), replacement boilers for broken or inefficient systems (£2,000-3,500), and in some cases, solar panels with battery storage (£5,000-8,000).

government energy efficiency schemes takes a whole-house approach, meaning your property will be assessed and a package of measures recommended to bring it up to at least EPC band C. You might receive multiple measures in a single project, all fully funded.

How to Apply Through Your Council

The application process varies by council but generally follows a similar pattern. Contact your local council’s housing or energy team – many have a dedicated phone line or online form for government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions enquiries. You will need to provide basic information about your household including income, benefit status, any health conditions, and your property’s EPC rating (if you have one).

The council will assess your application against their Flex criteria. If you qualify, they issue a declaration letter that you or your chosen installer can use to access government energy efficiency schemes funding. The declaration is typically valid for 12 months, giving you time to arrange the installation.

Processing times vary. Some Lancashire councils process Flex applications within 2-3 weeks, while others take 6-8 weeks during busy periods. Preston and Lancaster have been particularly responsive, while some Greater Manchester councils have faced backlogs due to high demand. Apply as early as possible, especially if you want work completed before winter.

Common Reasons Applications Are Rejected – and What to Do

The most common reason for Flex rejection is that the household’s income exceeds the council’s threshold. If you are just above the limit, ask about other routes – the health condition pathway or the high energy cost pathway might still qualify you. Some councils also have hardship exceptions for households facing temporary financial difficulty.

If your property has a current EPC of C or above, you will typically not qualify for government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions regardless of your personal circumstances. However, if you believe your EPC is inaccurate (perhaps completed before recent changes to the property), you can commission a new assessment. An EPC costs £60-100 and is valid for 10 years.

Some households are rejected because the measures needed would not improve their EPC by enough to justify the cost under government energy efficiency schemes rules. In these cases, the government insulation scheme may be a better route, as it funds single measures without the whole-house requirement.

Working with government energy efficiency schemes Installers

Once you have your Flex declaration, you can approach any government energy efficiency schemes-qualified installer to carry out the work. You do not have to use a specific contractor. It is worth getting quotes from multiple installers because while the measures are funded by the energy suppliers, different installers may offer slightly different packages or timelines.

Look for qualified installers with PAS 2035 accreditation – this is a requirement for government energy efficiency schemes work and ensures the installation meets appropriate quality standards. Several Lancashire-based companies specialise in government energy efficiency schemes work, and your council may provide a list of qualified installers operating in your area.

Be wary of cold callers claiming to offer free insulation or boiler replacements through government energy efficiency schemes. While the scheme is genuine, the approach should always start with your council’s Flex declaration, not with an installer knocking on your door. Legitimate government energy efficiency schemes installers will ask to see your declaration or help you obtain one through the proper channels.

Can private tenants apply for government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions?

Yes, but you need your landlord’s written consent for any work to be carried out. Some Lancashire councils actively encourage private landlords to participate because government energy efficiency schemes improvements come at no cost to the landlord while improving the property’s EPC rating – increasingly important as minimum energy efficiency standards tighten. If your landlord is reluctant, your council may be willing to write to them explaining the benefits.

Is there a deadline for government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions?

government energy efficiency schemes runs until March 2026, and Flex declarations can be issued until the scheme closes. However, funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and some Lancashire councils have already used a significant proportion of their allocation. Applying sooner rather than later maximises your chances of receiving funding before the budget runs out.

My council rejected my government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions application. Can I appeal?

Most councils have an informal review process, though not a formal appeal mechanism. If you have been rejected, contact the council to understand the specific reason and ask whether any other pathway might qualify you. Circumstances change – a new health diagnosis, a change in income, or an updated EPC could make you eligible on reapplication. You can also contact your local councillor for assistance with your case.