The Rate Relief (Energy Efficiency Homes Scheme) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010

PART 2 Energy Efficiency Rate Reduction

Rate reduction

4.—(1) Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, the amount which, apart from these Regulations, would be payable in the relevant year on account of a rate in respect of a dwelling-house to which these Regulations apply shall be reduced by the prescribed sum.

(2) In these Regulations, “relevant year” means—

(a) in a case where the amount which would be payable on account of a rate in respect of a dwelling-house is less than the prescribed sum, the year in which the application is made under regulation 6 and such subsequent years until such time as the prescribed sum is exhausted; and

(b) in all other cases the year in which the application is made under regulation 6.

(3) These Regulations apply to a dwelling-house if—

(a) prescribed measures to improve its energy efficiency (to be known as “energy efficiency measures”) have been taken to prescribed standards; and

(b) prescribed conditions are satisfied.

(4) In these Regulations—

(a) “energy efficiency measures” means any measure prescribed by paragraph (5);

(b) “prescribed standards” means those standards as to materials and installation prescribed by paragraph (6); and

(c) “prescribed conditions” means those conditions prescribed by paragraph (7).

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a) of Article 30D of the 1977 Order the prescribed measures are—

(a) cavity wall insulation; or

(b) loft insulation.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a) of Article 30D of the 1977 Order the prescribed standards are—

(a) in respect of cavity wall insulation, the standards as to materials and installation for each material specified in column 1 of Table 1 in Schedule 1 specified in the corresponding entry in column 2 of Table 1 in Schedule 1; and

(b) in respect of loft insulation, the standards as to materials and installation for each material specified in column 1 of Table 2 in Schedule 1 specified in the corresponding entry in column 2 of Table 2 in Schedule 1.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b) of Article 30D of the 1977 Order the prescribed conditions are—

(a) a suitability assessment must be carried out by a registered installer before any works connected with the installation of an energy efficiency measure begin;

(b) the installation of an energy efficiency measure must be undertaken by a registered installer;

(c) the applicant must occupy the dwelling-house at the time the application is made;

(d) in relation to the dwelling-house in respect of which an application is made, no other grant or assistance from whatever source for the provision or installation of an energy efficiency measure, the subject matter of the application, has been applied for or received; and

(e) at the time at which an application form is requested from the agent, an energy efficiency measure is not already installed on or in the dwelling-house to the prescribed standard.

Amount of rate relief

5.  The sum prescribed for the purposes of paragraph (1) of Article 30D of the 1977 Order shall be determined—

(a) in the case of cavity wall insulation, in accordance with Table 1 of Schedule 2; and

(b) in the case of loft insulation, in accordance with Table 2 of Schedule 2.

Applications

6.  A reduction shall be made only if an application in such form and containing such information as the Department may reasonably require is made to the agent by the occupier of the dwelling-house in question before 1st April 2015.

Inspections

7.—(1) A reduction shall not be made unless the applicant consents to the inspection of the dwelling-house in question.

(2) Inspections under paragraph (1) may be carried out by an agent.

(3) If, for the purposes of inspection, access is not made available to the dwelling-house in question, a reduction shall not be made or, if made, shall be withdrawn.