Grant money to upgrade homes

More than £15m has been secured to help residents in South Holland, Boston and East Lindsey.

The South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership has been awarded the money for Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2) for a two year programme.
The scheme is aimed at improving the energy efficiency of domestic properties across the area.
It has been awarded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to be distributed via the Midlands Net Zero Hub.
The scheme is expected to start delivery in June this year and run until March 2025.
An average of £18,000 per property will be spent on a range of measures including insulation both internal and external, solar panels, heating controls, low-energy lighting and heating.
Eligible properties must be ‘off gas’ – with no access to mains gas and an energy rating of lower than D.
Applications must also meet the criteria of having a total household income of less than £31,000 a year.
A change to the guidance means that Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowances and Personal Independent Payment no longer count towards income.
“If you have previously been turned down for the scheme because you are in receipt of these benefits and were over the income threshold, please do get in touch to see if we are now able to assist.
“Landlords with less than four properties are also eligible to apply for the scheme based on their tenants’ income, but will be required to contribute at least a third of the cost of upgrades,” said Sarah Baker, group manager – climate change and environment.
Grants of up to £25,000 are available to owner-occupiers and up to £16,666 to landlords, with the requirement to contribute a third of the cost themselves.
The funding follows a previous award of £7.2m which has seen improvements carried out to around 420 properties over the last year, with the average energy saving cost of £260 per property (based on rates before the current price hikes).
To find out more about the scheme, and to make an application, email greenhomegrants@e-lindsey.gov.uk or call 01507 613573.