Hart residents in homes not heated by mains gas may be able to reduce their energy bills and fund energy-saving alternatives with the recently launched Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 scheme (HUG2).
The new scheme will deliver free energy-saving improvements worth an average of £18,000 to those on low household incomes in hard to heat houses not using gas heating.
Off-gas heating includes electricity, oil, liquid propane gas and solid fuels. Qualifying Hart residents will receive a home assessment to determine what energy-saving improvements can be installed. Following this, the recommended measures are agreed with the homeowner and arranged on their behalf by Agility Eco, who have been appointed to look after applicants in Hart.
The funding is provided by the Government and delivered by Agility Eco in partnership with Hart District Council.
Successful applicants could get free:
- insulation and ventilation upgrades (making homes more comfortable in the winter, helping prevent damp and mould as well as reducing heating bills)
- low carbon heating systems such as an air source heat pump (to cut carbon emissions)
- heating controls
- energy-efficient hot water systems
- solar panels (to help reduce electricity bills)
Who is eligible?
The Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2) is open to homeowners 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 gross OR receiving certain income-related means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit and
- hard to heat homes – based on your home Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). You’ll be helped with this part of the assessment and receive a free EPC assessment if you do not have one.
To apply or find out more, please register on the website hugapply.co.uk or call 0800 107 8883. Residents are encouraged to apply now as funding is allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Councillor Richard Quarterman, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Corporate Services, said: “We are pleased to have been awarded funding from the Home Upgrade Grant for our residents. It’s a great opportunity for households most likely to be impacted by high energy prices and will benefit them permanently in having a more energy-efficient home.
“While this scheme is specifically for off-gas properties, other grants and funding sources are available for those qualifying on-gas properties.”
Not eligible?
There are other funding sources available for homes that use gas heating, such as ECO4 or the Great British Insulation Scheme. Visit our grants page to find out more.