Home Upgrade Grant

Are you worried about paying your energy bills?

HUG2 (or Home Upgrade Grant) is a new Government grant scheme to fund energy-saving upgrades for residents with off-grid gas heating systems who are most likely to be impacted by the high cost of energy bills. If your home was cold last winter and you struggled to pay your bills, you might be eligible. Home Upgrade Grant logo

This could help you to use less energy, reduce your carbon footprint and spend less on your energy bills.

The scheme is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and Ashford Borough Council has signed up to support the delivery of the scheme across the district.

Eon logo

E.ON has been appointed as the approved installer in this area and they will be on hand to guide customers through the application journey, helping them understand and establish eligibility for the scheme. If eligible, E.ON will identify which improvements for the home will provide the greatest benefits and arrange any necessary surveys and installations.

Eligibility criteria

The Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2) is open to home-owners and private tenants in:

Homes not heated by mains gas which includes oil, coal, LPG or only electric heating.

AND

Households with a combined annual income of less than £31,000 (increasing on 2 April 2024 to less than £36,000) OR receiving certain income-related means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit OR you live in certain areas.

AND

Hard to heat homes – this is based on your home Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). You will be helped with this part of the assessment and receive a free EPC assessment if you do not have one already.

Landlords who have four or fewer properties will be able to apply and will be required to contribute at least one third of the cost of the upgrades in addition to the funding provided. This will be agreed before work begins.

Enter your postcode below and click on submit to see if your address is eligible.

How will it help?

You may be offered energy saving improvements to help cut your energy bills and reduce your carbon emissions. These could include:

Insulation and ventilation upgrades (to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer).
A low carbon heating system such as an air source heat pump (which will mean upgrading any existing heating system).
Heating controls which make sure you only use heat when you need it.
An energy efficient hot water solution to keep your water warm for longer.
Solar panels (PV) to generate electricity.
Energy efficient lighting which is cheaper to run.

A survey will identify what is suitable for your home and you’ll get a free updated EPC assessment.

HUG2 funding is now open to private tenants, landlords and home-owners in the borough of Ashford and will be available until March 2025.