THOUSANDS of households could be eligible for free upgrades to make their homes more energy-efficient, but you’ll need to be quick if you want to apply.
The help is part of the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2), a government grant that funds energy-saving upgrades for those impacted by the high cost of energy bills.
Making your home more energy efficient should reduce your energy bills.
You can get cash towards energy-efficiency improvements including:
- Insulation and ventilation
- Low carbon heating systems
- Heating controls
- Energy efficient hot water systems
- Solar panels (PV)
- Energy efficient lighting
- Air source heat pumps
- Boiler upgrades
- Storage heaters
To qualify for the help, a household must have a combined annual income of less than £36,000, receive certain income-related means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, live in a Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) area, or only have electric heating.
HUG2 also has cost caps for energy efficiency and low carbon heat measures, based on the property’s characteristics.
The cost of insulation and clean heat installations varies by the property type and wall structure.
How much do the upgrades cost and how much can I get covered?
For cavity wall insulation, the cost cap on flats is typically around £3,000, mid-terrace houses £8,000, and end-of-terrace or semi-detached homes £12,000.
For solid wall insulation, this increases, with the cap on flats rising to £9,000, mid-terrace homes £15,000, and end-of-terrace or semi-detached properties up to £24,000.
In terms of clean heat installations, flats are estimated at £5,000, while mid-terrace, end-terrace, and semi-detached homes are capped at £14,000.
The quickest way to find out what type of walls you have is by checking your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC rating).
But don’t worry, you can work it out yourself if you do not have the certificate.
If your exterior brickwork has small holes that are evenly spaced along the mortar lines, your walls likely have cavity wall insulation.
If your external walls aren’t covered, you can also check the brick pattern to determine the type of wall.
Solid walls have a more varied brick style, using both full-length and half-length bricks.
If your external walls are covered, you can measure the distance between the inside and outside walls at a door or window.
A wall that’s more than 260 mm thick is likely a cavity wall, while a thinner wall is probably solid.
Overall, the combined cost cap for insulation and clean heat measures range from £3,000 to £38,000, depending on the property type and specifications.
The scheme targets specific locations where there are likely to be the most eligible residents.
Someone from your Local Authority can inform you which areas are being targeted, as well as how much you could get if you’re eligible.
You can find your local council’s contact information here.
All the councils offering grants
Check out the full list of local authorities awarded funding:
- Basildon Council
- Blackpool Council
- Bristol City Council
- Broadland District Council
- Calderdale Council
- Cambridge City Council
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
- Cheshire East Council
- City of York Council
- Cornwall Council and Council of the Isles of Scilly
- Darlington Borough Council
- Dartford Borough Council
- Devon County Council
- Dorset Council
- Durham County Council
- Eden District Council
- Greater London Authority
- Great Yarmouth Borough Council
- Leeds City Council
- Leicester City Council
- Lewes District Council
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- Manchester City Council
- Midlands Net Zero Hub
- Newcastle City Council
- North Tyneside Council
- Northumberland County Council
- North Yorkshire County Council
- Oxfordshire County Council
- Plymouth City Council
- Portsmouth City Council
- Rochdale Borough Council
- Sedgemoor District Council
- Sevenoaks District Council
- Sheffield City Council
- Shropshire County Council
- Stroud District Council
- Suffolk County Council
- Surrey County Council
- Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
- Wakefield Council
- Walsall Council
- Wealden District Council
- West Devon Borough Council
- Wiltshire Council
You can look to see the amount of funding each council has received here.
The scheme ends nationally in March 2025, but local authorities are warning that people must apply before the end of September to ensure work is completed before the deadline.
HUG2 is also run on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure you’re quick to sign up.
If you’re interested, you can apply here, or call delivery partners Agility Eco on 0800 107 8883.
You should also know that if the work you need exceeds the cap the grant will cover, you will be expected to make up the difference.
Councillor Rose Moore, cabinet member for a Greener Chelmsford, Chelmsford City Council, said: “The home-efficiency improvements available via HUG2 make it possible to heat homes for less, meaning residents can cut their carbon footprint and reduce their energy bills.
“Our Sustainable Warmth team has contacted those within the district’s Index of Multiple Deprivation area, but there are still many eligible Chelmsford residents who could miss out on these free energy-saving upgrades.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to upgrade your home’s heating systems, and I urge residents to check their eligibility and apply.”
How to get extra help on energy bills
Warm Home Discount
While you will have to wait for this scheme to reopen in October 2024, it will provide a one-off payment of £150 to help with winter energy costs.
Unfortunately, for those in Northern Ireland, this scheme will not be available.
Household Support Fund
Another consideration is the Household Support Fund, which is available from local councils to help households pay for energy bills and other essentials.
It is a one-off payment that does not affect debt solutions.
Energy supplier support
It is also worth noting that energy suppliers may be able to help with payment breaks, reductions, or more time to pay bills.
Winter Fuel Payments
Pensioners in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland may be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments of between £100 and £300 to help with heating bills.
Cold Weather Payments
With the cold weather already upon us, you’ll be able to get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.
This is available to people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland who receive certain benefits.
Energy-saving improvements
There are also a number of programs available to help with home energy-saving improvements, including the Energy Company Obligation, the Great British Insulation Scheme, and the Home Upgrade Grant.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice can provide information on grants and support to help pay energy bills.
