Are you worried about paying your energy bills?

The Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2) 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.

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

Eligibility Criteria

HUG2 is open to homeowners and private tenants that meet all the following criteria:

• Homes that are off the gas grid, i.e., they are not heated by mains gas. This includes homes heated by oil, coal, LPG or only electric heating.
• 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.
• Households with a combined annual income of less than £36,000 or receiving certain income-related means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit or you live in an Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) area.

Not sure if you live in an IMD area? Input your postcode in the search bar below to find out.

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.

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

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. Please see the attached documents below to find out more about the customer journey.

HUG2 funding is now open to private tenants, landlords and homeowners and will be available until March 2025.

Applications for HUG2 funding should be submitted by the 30 September 2024 to allow measures to be installed by the end of the scheme in March 2025.

Homeowners may be able to register their interest after September, but residents doing so may be at risk of not receiving free improvements before the scheme ends.  

To find out more information, or to apply for the funding, please use the link below to visit the hugapply website, or call the Energy Savings Trust on 0808 1968255. All queries and concerns relating to data privacy and processing should be directed to the hug apply website. Privacy Notices can be viewed on the 'apply now' section of the site, before you submit your application.