Home Upgrade Grant phase 2 (HUG2)
Residents in Chesterfield can now apply for a new grant to help their homes become more energy efficient.
The Home Upgrade Grant phase 2 (HUG2) is available to help homes that are not on mains gas and have poor quality insulation and inefficient heating systems.
Chesterfield Borough Council, Marches Energy Agency (MEA), and E.ON have joined forces to help deliver home energy efficiency improvements to properties. This is to make homes more comfortable to live in, reduce energy bills, and support the national effort to reach Net Zero by 2050.
Work will be completed by Trustmark registered installers, working on behalf of E.ON, and overseen by the council.
Marches Energy Agency may contact some residents directly on our behalf, to discuss making an application.
What home energy efficiency improvements could I be offered?
Works offered will depend on funding availability AND the outcome of technical surveys, but could include:
- external wall insulation
- internal wall insulation
- cavity wall insulation
- loft insulation
- low carbon heating such as air source heat pumps
- solar photovoltaics (PV) electricity panels
Am I eligible?
You are likely to qualify if you meet ALL the following criteria:
- you do not have a mains gas heating system
- you are an owner-occupier or rent your home from a private landlord*
- your property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G.
You can check your EPC online at Gov.uk. If your home does not have an EPC, this can be organised on your behalf, free of charge.
To qualify one of the following statements must also apply:
- Route 1: you live in one of the eligible postcode areas set by the Government
- Route 2: a permanent member of your household receives a means tested benefit
- Route 3: your combined household income is below £31,000 before tax
*For owner-occupiers, grants will fund the full cost of works required (inc. surveys). Private tenants are eligible for assistance, however your landlord will be required to contribute a minimum of on third of the total cost. Only small landlords that own four or fewer rental properties are eligible. Please discuss your application with your landlord before applying.
How do I apply?
For further advice or to apply, please contact MEA’s local team (Warmer Derby and Derbyshire):
Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. All works are subject to household eligibility, funding availability, and property surveys.
Previous schemes
Previous schemes, such as Green Homes Grants and HUG phase 1 have now closed. Our delivery partners E.ON and Marches Energy are considering all remaining Expressions of Interest submitted as part of the previous schemes. You will be contacted by Marches Energy if eligible.
If you don't meet the eligibility criteria, MEA’s Warmer Derby and Derbyshire advice service is able to check to see if there are alternative funding schemes appropriate for you. You can call them on 0800 677 1332 (choose option 1) or email wdd@mea.org.uk.
The service also offers free impartial advice on energy efficiency, billing, fuel debt, and more. Alternatively, you can check with your energy supplier or search for localised grants online.
This is difficult to estimate. Some improvements may take longer to organise than others. For example, some may require planning permission and/or are weather-dependent. If needed, you will not need to pay or apply for planning yourself.
You may have multiple surveys depending on the measure. Once your home has been surveyed and the council have confirmed your grant, there is a formal compliance process to meet funding requirements. This happens in the background and does not require any input from you to complete. However, this can take several weeks to process, and must be done before the work can begin. From your initial application to installation, it could take several months or more.
Government standards, known as PAS 2035, mean that households who qualify for funded insulation must either have their existing ventilation upgraded or new additional ventilation installed in their homes.
At survey stage your home's suitability for insulation, and the ventilation needed, will be assessed together. Should your property require any ventilation measures, they will be fitted at the same time as your insulation at no cost to you.
Upgrades could include extractor fans, trickle vents on windows or gaps beneath internal doors. These allow air to move throughout your home keeping your home safe and healthy.
To receive funding, we must follow strict guidelines set out by the Government. Whilst we all do our best, sometimes eligibility is not clear until after the technical surveys.
Below are the common reasons for unsuccessful applications:
EPC rating too high
Properties rated A, B, C do not qualify because the scheme aims to upgrade the most inefficient properties first.
Property unsuitable
Not all homes are suitable for certain energy efficiency measures. A survey will be completed to determine what improvements your property needs from what is available under this scheme.
High costs
Government has specified a maximum amount of grant per property. If the quotes come back too high, your application will be cancelled.
Access difficulties
Your application may be cancelled if installers are unable to access relevant parts of your property safely. This could be due to narrow passageways or not enough room to erect scaffolding. For health and safety, loft spaces with small loft hatches are often declined for measures such as loft insulation.
Planning constraints
Some measures are not allowed to be installed due planning restrictions. For example, we may encounter complications if your property is listed or in a conservation area.
Privacy notice
Our Green Homes Grants - Home Upgrade Grant 2 privacy notice sets out how we will use your personal data.
