
Milton Keynes City Council is urging residents to check their eligibility for the Home Update Grant, a scheme that funds energy-saving upgrades for residents with off-grid gas heating systems.
The Home Update 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. Residents who had cold homes last winter and struggled to pay their bills may be eligible for the grant.
This could help people use less energy, reduce their carbon footprint, and spend less on their energy bills.
The HUG2 is open to homeowners and private tenants in:
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.
- 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 (eligible postcodes can be found here).
- 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 upon before work begins.
How will it help?
Residents may be offered energy-saving improvements to help cut their energy bills and reduce their 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 residents’ homes in addition to a free updated EPC assessment.
You can find links to other sources of help at: Cost of living support
HUG2 funding is now open to private tenants, landlords, and homeowners and will be available until March 2025.
You can apply via: hugapply.co.uk/ or by calling Agility Eco on 0800 107 8883