First come first served: Apply now for energy-saving grants in Northamptonshire and save on your bills

Homeowners are running out of time to check if they are eligible for energy-saving home improvements as a part of a government grant scheme.

Applications for Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) phase two funding must be in by September, but as they are assessed on a first come first served bases, homeowners are being urged to find out today if they qualify.

What is the scheme?

Phase two covers homes that are ‘off-gas’, which means they don’t use gas as their main heating source. Hard-to-heat homes could include those using coal, solid fuels, oil, LPG or electric panel heaters and storage heaters. Houses with electric boilers could also be covered.

What help is given?

Qualifying households can apply for for the grant funding, which could cover energy-saving upgrades like air source heat pumps, solar panels, additional insulation and more. For homeowners or those buying their home with a mortgage, the agreed work is carried out at no cost to the householder, as it is covered by central government and council supported grants. Tenants who rent from private landlords can apply too.

What kind of property is eligible?

The rules have recently changed, and the earning threshold for eligibility has increased, which means up to 20 per cent more households could access this support.

It’s not the value of your home, or whether you work that matters. If your home is ‘off gas’, and the total household income is less than £36,000 (including benefits), or if you are in receipt of certain means-tested benefits, you could qualify.

What happens next?

Your application is assessed and, if it meets the criteria, a home assessment is carried out. If the home is suitable and the household is eligible for funding, an agreement is signed to progress things. Specialist installers carry out the work.

While the new systems can be installed up to early 2025. But with the deadline for applications looming and applications assessed on a first come first serve basis – don’t delay, visit hugapply.co.uk today to find more information and to fill in an application.