GOV.UK confirms the Home Upgrade Grant is now closed, and that people previously eligible for it should instead apply for Warm Homes: Local Grant, which funds improvements including air source heat pumps and insulation for eligible lower-income homes in England.

Why HUG closed

GOV.UK’s current guidance states plainly that the Home Upgrade Grant is now closed, without inviting new applications. Anyone who would previously have looked to HUG, historically targeted at lower-income homes off the mains gas grid, is now pointed toward Warm Homes: Local Grant as the live replacement scheme, alongside the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Great British Insulation Scheme for homes that fit those schemes’ separate criteria instead.

Who qualifies now

GOV.UK sets out three conditions for Warm Homes: Local Grant. The property must be in England; it must be privately owned, either by the applicant or, where the applicant is a tenant, by their landlord; and it needs an existing Energy Performance Certificate rating of D, E, F or G, meaning homes already rated A to C are not the target of this scheme. On top of that, GOV.UK gives a household income threshold of £36,000 a year or less as the usual qualifying level.

What it funds

GOV.UK lists the improvements a successful application can lead to, including wall, loft and underfloor insulation, air source heat pumps, smart heating controls and solar panels. A local council arranges the survey and organises the work, and GOV.UK is explicit that this is done at no cost to the homeowner applying under the scheme’s core terms.

The income and postcode routes

GOV.UK says a household above the £36,000 income threshold may still qualify in either of two situations: if the property is in a postcode area the scheme has specifically designated as eligible, or if someone in the household receives a qualifying benefit. This means the income figure is not an absolute cut-off on its own, and a household slightly over it should still check eligibility through the application process rather than assume it is excluded.

How the process works

GOV.UK describes starting the process through the official application portal, after which the relevant local council usually makes contact within 10 working days to gather further information and arrange a home survey. A dedicated helpline is also available, operating 8am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 12pm on Saturdays, for anyone who needs help with the application itself rather than applying online unassisted.

Landlords and tenants

Where the applicant is a tenant rather than the owner, GOV.UK notes that a landlord may need to contribute toward the cost of some improvements, so a landlord’s agreement and, in some cases, their financial contribution is part of a tenant-led application, rather than the scheme funding everything regardless of who owns the property.

How this differs from other live schemes

GOV.UK’s guidance on the closed Home Upgrade Grant points toward more than one replacement, not just Warm Homes: Local Grant. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Great British Insulation Scheme, both covered in more detail elsewhere on this site, remain separate, live schemes with their own eligibility rules, and a household should check which scheme actually fits its circumstances rather than assuming Warm Homes: Local Grant is the only current option. The schemes are not mutually exclusive in principle, but each has its own qualifying criteria and application route, so confirming eligibility for each separately is worth doing rather than assuming rejection from one rules out the others.

Checking eligibility before applying

Because Warm Homes: Local Grant depends on a combination of factors, EPC rating, ownership, income or postcode, and household benefits, confirming the current EPC rating for a specific property, and gathering evidence of income or qualifying benefits in advance, makes a local council’s initial assessment more straightforward once contact is made. A property without a current EPC on record, or with one that is out of date, may need this checked or renewed as an early step in the process rather than something to discover partway through an application.

FAQs

Can a household still apply for the Home Upgrade Grant?

No. GOV.UK confirms HUG is now closed, and directs previously eligible households to Warm Homes: Local Grant instead.

What EPC rating does a home need for Warm Homes: Local Grant?

GOV.UK gives a current rating of D, E, F or G as the qualifying range.

Is there a fixed income cut-off?

GOV.UK gives £36,000 a year as the usual threshold, but a household in a designated postcode area or receiving a qualifying benefit may still be eligible above that level.

Does a tenant need their landlord’s involvement to apply?

Yes. GOV.UK says a landlord may need to pay for some of the improvements where the applicant is a tenant rather than the owner.

Bottom line

The Home Upgrade Grant is closed, and Warm Homes: Local Grant is the scheme now funding heat pumps, insulation and related improvements for eligible lower-income homes in England, delivered through local councils rather than a single national process. Eligibility depends on EPC rating, ownership and usually a £36,000 household income threshold, with postcode and benefit-based exceptions. This is general information, not advice on a specific property; a local council or the scheme helpline can confirm current eligibility.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 22 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant”
• GOV.UK, “Home Upgrade Grant”

Related guides

Best Boiler Deals is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation — always confirm the details with a Gas Safe registered engineer.