Support with the rising cost of energy bills

Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) - Free funding

Overview:

End Date: (March 2025, Applications before November 2024).

Conditions: Off Gas Property & Household Income Below £36,000 per year.

Application Link: https://www.gov.uk/apply-home-upgrade-grant

Delivered By E.ON and IZ Energy in partnership with Department for Energy & Net Zero.

Can I Apply?

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 £36,000 gross OR receiving certain income-related means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit OR you live in an area of Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).

AND

Hard to heat homes - this is based on your home Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

*Please note that mobile park homes and apartments are not eligible to apply.

Home Efficiency Upgrades

Struggling with an old heating system? If your home uses oil, LPG, solid fuel heating or an electric heating system and you are struggling with your energy bills, you could upgrade at no cost to you.

Here are some of the ways your home could be transformed:

Insulation

To keep your home warm and cut energy bills

Heating

A new low-carbon heating system

Heating Controls

Energy efficient hot water solution helping you to only use heat when you need to

Lighting

Energy efficient lighting which is cheaper to run

ECO4 - Free funding

Overview:

End Date: March 2026

Conditions: Household Income below £30,000 per year

All ECO4 applications must be made through 'Better Housing Better Health' website

What is it?

ECO4 is a government scheme that offers support to low-income households in improving energy efficiency. By applying to ECO4, you have the opportunity to receive whole house retrofit support, funded by your energy suppliers.

ECO4 home improvements may include, but are not limited to:

• Cavity wall insulation
• External wall insulation
• Room in roof insulation
• Heat pumps
• Solar energy panels
• Electric storage heaters
• Double glazing
• Boiler upgrades
• Internal wall insulation

1.Your household must receive at least one of the following government assisted benefits:

• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support (IS)
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Working Tax Credit (WTC)
• Child Tax Credits (CTC)
• Universal Credit (UC)
• Housing Benefits
• Pension Credit Savings Credit

2.The EPC rating for your home must be D, E, F, or G

Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) - Free funding

Overview:

End Date: March 2026

Conditions: Household Income below £31,000 per year & suffering from Health Conditions made worse by house problems (E.g Damp, insufficient heating or overheating)

Application Link: The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4 ) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS): How to apply | Essex County Council

What is GBIS?

In order to assist homeowners in improving their home's energy efficiency and lowering their energy costs, the government has developed a new grant programme, The Great British Insulation Scheme.

A "general eligibility group," which includes properties in the lower council tax categories, will be part of GBIS' support scheme and will focus on the least energy efficient performing homes.

GBIS will focus completely on insulation measures, namely loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.

In order to be eligible for GBIS grant funding:

• The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your house must have a D-G rating.
• You must be in council tax bands A-D
• The EPC rating for your home must be D, E, F, or G

Your EPC rating is the official recognition of the energy efficiency of your property.

GBIS is not open to applications for mobile homes/park homes

All GBIS applications to be made through Better Housing Better Health, or by calling 0800 107 0044.

Green Deal - Partial funding

End Date: March 2028

Conditions: Home Owner, no boundaries over income.

Application Link: Green Deal: energy saving for your home: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Boiler Upgrade Scheme - Partial funding

End Date: March 2028

Conditions: Home Owner (no boundaries over income), must have a valid EPC rating & can be used in conjunction with the Green Deal (providing no BioMass Boiler is installed).

Application Link: Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)