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Frequently asked questions about the Home Upgrade Grant
Find out more about the Home Upgrade Grant
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What are the current eligibility routes?You may qualify for the funding if the following statements apply: Your home must be/have: · An EPC rating of D, E, F or G or No EPC* (you can check your home’s EPC rating here) · Your tenure is either Privately Rented or Owner Occupied · Your homes main heating system is not fuelled by mains gas. And You have a total gross** household annual income of £36,000 or less (before Tax, NI, housing costs/bills) Or: You have a total household annual income of £20,000 or less after housing costs (mortgage/rent and council tax) Or: You receive a means-tested benefit (as listed in the question below) Or: Your home is within an LSOA (Lower Super Output Area) 1-3 postcode area. We will verify this for you once you have made your application). *Please note that even if you don't currently have an EPC rating or have an expired EPC rating between D and G, you may still qualify for the programme. However, we will need to conduct an EPC assessment before any work can begin. ** Total gross annual household income will be income from each household member aged 18+ before any tax and national insurance deductions have been made.
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What heating systems are eligible?If your home is heated by the following heating systems, you may be eligible for funding. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Coal Oil Electric Smokeless Fuel Propane Gas Fires (as long as this isn’t considered your main heating system which is determined via your Energy Performance Certificate)
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What are the criteria for landlords?If you’re a tenant applying If you are a private rental tenant, the landlord must give their permission before any work can be undertaken. The landlord should have at most four properties in their portfolio. The landlord will also need to contribute one-third of the total cost, with a quote provided after a survey has been conducted. The landlord can choose to opt-out if they decide not to proceed. If you’re a landlord applying Landlords can apply for the programme on behalf of their tenant(s), but the tenant must meet the eligibility criteria. Landlords with more than four properties are not eligible to apply. This includes properties owned by the landlord's spouse or partner, any companies owned or controlled by the landlord (or spouse or partner), and, in cases where the landlord is a company, any other companies in that group, as well as any other connected bodies or organisations related to the landlord. It's important to note that the property in which the landlord resides will not be counted toward the total number of properties. The landlord will also need to contribute one-third of the total cost, with a quote provided after a survey has been conducted.
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What is total gross annual household income?Total gross annual household income will be income from each household member aged 18+ before any tax and national insurance deductions have been made. There are some exceptions to the household income assessment. Lodgers and students in full-time education will not be counted towards household income. However, the rental payments made by the lodger will be counted towards household income, and enrolment evidence will be required for students in full-time education. Income sources are as follows: Full- time employment Part-time employment Self-Employment Interest earned from savings Dividends Pensions (State pensions, Occupational and Private) Rentals No Income Non-means-tested benefits (only)
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What evidence may be required under the Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) route?Under the LSOA route, we will need to see occupancy evidence. We can accept the following: Most recent utility bill (not including mobile/phone bills) Most recent council tax bill Bank statement
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What evidence may be required under the income route?This will depend on how each household member earns their income. Total gross annual household income will be income from each household member aged 18+ before any tax and national insurance deductions have been made. Lodgers and students in full-time education will not be counted towards household income. However, the rental payments made by the lodger will be counted towards household income, and enrolment evidence will be required for students in full-time education. Employment: Full-time and part-time members must provide us with consecutive pay slips from the last three months. If you are paid monthly, we will require three pay slips; if you are paid biweekly, six pay slips; and if you are paid weekly 12 pay slips. Self-Employment: Self-employed members will need to provide us with their most recent Official HMRC documentation, such as tax return/ self-assessment and consecutive bank statements from the last three months. Savings: Members with savings will need to provide us with evidence of the interest earned from those savings. Please note inheritance is not included. Dividends: Members receiving dividends will need to show a dividend statement or certificate from within the last year. Pensions: Members receiving State pensions, and/or Occupational pensions and/or Private pensions will need to supply us with their most recent monthly statement or a yearly statement outlining income received. No income: Members who do not receive any income or benefits will need to provide us with three months' worth of bank statements. Non-means tested benefits: We'd need to see the most recent non-means tested benefit evidence letter and three months' bank statements (must be consecutive). Rentals: Members who earn an income from renting out land or property, including holiday lets such as Airbnb or lodgers, will need to provide us with rental agreements, contracts, or HMRC Tax Return/Self-Assessment. Students in full-time education: If you or a household member aged 18+ is in full-time education, please provide one of the following documents as evidence of this status. Evidence that can be accepted: · Student ID · Letter from school/ College or University · Enrolment confirmation
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What evidence may be required under the Housing Costs route?This will depend on how each household member earns income. If you take the housing costs route, you will need proof of your total gross annual household income as well as rent/mortgage and council tax payments. Total gross annual household income will be income from each household member aged 18+ before any tax and national insurance deductions have been made. Lodgers and students in full-time education will not be counted towards household income. However, the rental payments made by the lodger will be counted towards household income, and evidence of enrollment will be required for students in full-time education. Employment: Full-time and part-time members must provide us with consecutive payslips from the last three months. If you are paid monthly, we will require three pay slips; if you are paid biweekly, six pay slips; and if you are paid weekly 12 pay slips. Self-Employment: Self-employed members will need to provide us with their most recent Official HMRC documentation, such as tax return/ self-assessment and consecutive bank statements from the last three months. Savings: Members with savings will need to provide us with evidence of the interest earned from those savings. Please note inheritance is not included. Dividends: Members receiving dividends will need to show a dividend statement or certificate from within the last year. Pensions: Members receiving State pensions, and/or Occupational pensions and/or Private pensions will need to supply us with their most recent monthly statement or a yearly statement outlining income received. No income: Members who do not receive any income or benefits will need to provide us with three months' worth of bank statements. Non-means tested benefits: We'd need to see the most recent non-means tested benefit evidence letter and three months' bank statements (must be consecutive). Rentals: Members who earn an income from renting out land or property, including holiday lets such as Airbnb or lodgers, will need to provide us with rental agreements/contracts or HMRC Tax Return/Self-Assessment. Students in full-time education: If you or a household member aged 18 or over is in full-time education, please provide one of the following documents as evidence of this status: · Student ID · Letter from school/ College or University · Enrolment confirmation Mortgage evidence: · Annual mortgage statement showing mortgage payment amounts. · Copy of bank statement showing the monthly mortgage payment. · Screenshot of mortgage payment transaction. Rental evidence: Copy of tenancy agreement showing your rental payment amounts. Council Tax Letter: Copy of most recent council tax letter.
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What evidence may be required under the benefits route?Under the benefits route, the main applicant does not need to be receiving the qualifying benefit, but one household member must be. We will need to see the most recent benefit evidence letter (or a screen shot for Universal Credit) which must include full name, address, date, and most recent payment/ongoing payment figure. The benefits which are accepted are: Child Tax Credits (CTC) Housing Benefit Income based Jobseekers allowance (JSA) Income related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) Income Support (IS) Pension Credit Guarantee Credit Working Tax Credit (WTC) Pension Credit Savings Credit Universal Credit (UC)
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I’m not receiving benefits, but someone else in the house is, can I still apply?If the main applicant is not receiving a qualifying benefit but another household member is, you can still apply to the scheme. The benefits which are accepted are: · Child Tax Credits (CTC) · Housing Benefit · Income-based Jobseekers allowance (JSA) · Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) · Income Support (IS) · Pension Credit Guarantee Credit · Working Tax Credit (WTC) · Pension Credit Savings Credit · Universal Credit (UC)
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Who can I contact with any eligibility queries?If you have any queries about your eligibility for this scheme, please give us a call on 0800 107 8886. Alternatively, you can email our team on applications.team@agilityeco.co.uk.
Applications are now closed
Our HUG scheme is now closed to new applications, if you have already applied, please be assured your application is being processed.
We will soon be taking applications for the new Government backed 'Warm Home Local Grant' funding, please register your interest and we will be in touch.
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