Home Insulation Grants: What Is Still Open

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) closed on 31 March 2026, but insulation funding is still available. ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026, the Warm Homes: Local Grant is open through councils in England, and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own schemes. This guide explains what is open now, who may qualify and how to apply.

Insulation Funding Available Now

Which scheme fits depends on where you live, your household income or benefits, and your home's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.

ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation)

ECO4 requires larger energy suppliers to fund improvements for lower-income and vulnerable households in England, Scotland and Wales. It ends on 31 December 2026, and there will be no successor. Energy Crisis UK explains what the end of ECO4 means if you are hoping for funded insulation this year. Read our ECO4 eligibility guide.

• Covers loft, cavity wall, solid wall, room-in-roof and floor insulation, plus heating upgrades
• For households on qualifying benefits, or referred by their council through ECO4 Flex
• Not a grant scheme: work may be fully or partly funded, and you may be asked to contribute
• Owner-occupied homes rated EPC D to G; privately rented homes rated E to G
• Measures must be delivered by 31 December 2026

Warm Homes: Local Grant (England)

Run by councils, the Warm Homes: Local Grant funds upgrades for lower-income households in England. Its delivery window runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028.

• Measures include wall, loft and underfloor insulation, air source heat pumps, smart controls and solar panels
• The home must be privately owned (by you or your landlord) and have an EPC of D, E, F or G
• Household income must usually be £36,000 a year or less; you may still qualify through certain benefits or your postcode
• If you are eligible and your council has funding, it arranges a survey and pays for the agreed work; landlords may need to pay for some of it
• Apply on GOV.UK or call the helpline on 0800 098 7950

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

• Scotland: the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan offers homeowners a grant of up to 75% of insulation costs, to a maximum of £7,500 (with a £1,500 uplift for rural and island homes). You don't need to be on benefits. Warmer Homes Scotland helps some households, such as those receiving certain benefits (0808 808 2282). Spray foam insulation is not funded.
• Wales: the Warm Homes Nest scheme offers free home energy efficiency improvements to owners and private tenants who receive a means-tested benefit or live on a low income, in homes rated EPC E or below (or D where someone has an eligible health condition). Call 0808 808 2244.
• Northern Ireland: the Affordable Warmth Scheme helps lower-income owner-occupiers and private tenants; check current limits with NI Energy Advice on 0800 111 4455. It is due to be replaced by the Warm Healthy Homes Fund from April 2027. NISEP grants are also available, allocated on a first come, first served basis. ECO4 does not apply in Northern Ireland.

0% VAT on Installed Insulation

If you pay for insulation yourself, professionally installed insulation has 0% VAT until 31 March 2027, when it returns to 5%. The zero rate only applies when the materials are installed for you; insulation you buy to fit yourself is standard-rated.

The Great British Insulation Scheme Has Closed

GBIS ended on 31 March 2026 and was not extended, and the government's online eligibility checker has closed. If someone offers you "GBIS funding" now, ask exactly which scheme is paying for the work.

If you already had insulation fitted under GBIS or ECO4, keep your guarantee paperwork. The Energy Saving Trust reports that 98% of homes fitted with external wall insulation under ECO4 and GBIS have problems that need fixing, and TrustMark runs free audits for those homes. For cavity wall insulation, CIGA provides independent 25-year guarantees for work by its registered installers.

ECO4 Eligibility: Who Qualifies?

ECO4 has two main routes. Your energy supplier, council or installer checks the evidence.

Benefits Route

You may be eligible if someone in your household receives one of these benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Child Benefit (only below an income cap that depends on who lives in your home)

ECO4 Flex: Council Referral

Councils that take part can refer households that don't receive these benefits:

• Gross household income under £31,000 a year (Flex Route 1)
• Meeting at least two of seven indicators, such as living in a highly deprived area or getting a low-income Council Tax reduction (Route 2)
• A medical referral for certain health conditions (Route 3), or other targeting approved by the government (Route 4)

Warm Homes: Local Grant Eligibility

Councils use three main ways to confirm a household is on a low income:

• Living in one of the most income-deprived postcode areas
• Receiving Housing Benefit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support, Pension Credit or Universal Credit, or being eligible through ECO4 Flex Route 2
• A gross household income below £36,000, or below the "after housing costs" threshold

Homes rated EPC A to C are not eligible, and nor are new builds that have never been lived in or most social housing. Owner-occupiers should not be asked to contribute. Private landlords can have one home fully funded, with a 50% contribution for any others. Councils can spend on average up to £16,600 per home on insulation-type upgrades and up to £16,600 on low-carbon heating, but these are project averages: what you get depends on your survey and your council's funding.

ECO4 vs Warm Homes: Local Grant

Some funding cannot be combined for the same measure, so tell each scheme what you have already received.

How Much Can Insulation Save?

These Energy Saving Trust estimates are for a gas-heated home. Ranges run from a mid-terrace house to a detached house or bungalow.

If a scheme funds your insulation, you may pay nothing or only a contribution and still get the bill savings. If you pay yourself, 0% VAT applies to installed insulation until 31 March 2027.

How to Apply for Insulation Funding

Each scheme has its own route, and only the scheme, council or supplier can confirm funding.

Step-by-Step Application

1. Check Your EPC: In England and Wales, look up your rating on the GOV.UK Find an energy certificate service.
2. Find the Right Scheme: Use our grant finder tool as a starting point, then check the official scheme pages linked above.
3. Apply: For ECO4, contact any obligated energy supplier or your council. For the Warm Homes: Local Grant, apply on GOV.UK. In Scotland or Wales, contact Home Energy Scotland or the Nest scheme.
4. Home Survey: A surveyor or retrofit assessor looks at your home to decide which measures suit it.
5. Get It in Writing: Make sure you know which measures are proposed, whether you need to contribute and what guarantee applies. For ECO4, Ofgem advises agreeing to work only once you have a contract.
6. Check the Installer: Look them up on the TrustMark register. ECO4 installers must be TrustMark registered.
7. Keep Your Paperwork: Keep guarantees, certificates and any updated EPC after installation.

Timing

• No set timescale: it depends on the scheme, your council or supplier, the installer and the measures
• ECO4: measures must be delivered by 31 December 2026
• Warm Homes: Local Grant: GOV.UK says your council will usually contact you within 10 working days of applying

Avoiding Insulation Grant Scams

Unfortunately, scammers target government grant schemes. Protect yourself with these precautions:

Red Flags to Watch For

• Fees for checks: Don't pay for an eligibility check or application. If you're asked to contribute to the work itself, get a written quote and shop around
• Cold calls/doorstep sales: Reputable installers don't use aggressive sales tactics
• Pressure to sign immediately: Take time to verify credentials and read documents
• Closed schemes: Offers of "GBIS funding" after the scheme closed on 31 March 2026
• Lack of credentials: No TrustMark registration or company details

Verification Checklist

Before proceeding with any installer, verify:

• TrustMark registration (check on trustmark.org.uk)
• For cavity wall insulation, a CIGA guarantee
• Written details of any guarantee and who backs it
• Company registration, a physical business address and a landline number
• Reviews on independent sites (Trustpilot, Google)

What Happens After Installation?

Once your insulation is installed, there are a few things to be aware of.

Benefits

• Warmer home: Rooms hold heat for longer
• Lower bills: Savings build up over the following bills, depending on how you heat your home
• Improved EPC: A new EPC can show the improvement, which matters if you sell or let
• Less condensation: Warmer walls can reduce condensation, but good ventilation still matters

Guarantees and Protection

Before work starts, check:

• Guarantee: Which guarantee covers each measure. ECO4 guarantees must meet TrustMark's rules, and approved 25-year guarantees are listed on TrustMark's website
• Cavity walls: Whether a CIGA guarantee will be issued
• Complaints: For ECO4 work, Ofgem publishes an ECO4 complaints process
• Aftercare: What advice and support the installer provides

Next Steps: Further Improvements

After insulation, consider complementary upgrades:

• Heating upgrade: ECO4 can include heating upgrades where strict rules are met, but a boiler is not guaranteed
• Heat pump: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £7,500 in England and Wales (£9,000 for off-gas-grid homes heated by oil or LPG until 31 March 2027), with no EPC requirement
• Solar panels: Installed solar panels have 0% VAT until 31 March 2027
• Smart controls: Thermostats and TRVs help you use heat where you need it

Scheme Deadlines and Future Support

GBIS closed on 31 March 2026. ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026 with no successor supplier obligation; the government has instead committed an extra £1.5bn of grant funding for low-income households. The Warm Homes: Local Grant delivery window closes on 31 March 2028, and from 2027/28 the government intends to merge it with the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund into a single low-income scheme.

Should You Apply Now or Wait?

• ECO4 measures must be delivered by 31 December 2026
• The Warm Homes: Local Grant depends on your council having funding available
• 0% VAT on installed insulation ends on 31 March 2027
• Future schemes may have different eligibility rules

What Happens When ECO4 Closes?

There is no ECO5. Lower-income households in England can use the Warm Homes: Local Grant, and government-backed low and zero-interest loans have been announced, with lenders being signed up, but they are not yet open to households.

Getting the Most From Insulation Funding

1. Check your EPC first: Know your starting point and which measures are recommended
2. Understand the package: Ask why each measure is recommended and how they work together
3. Check every scheme: Look at ECO4, the Warm Homes: Local Grant and your devolved scheme
4. Plan future improvements: Good insulation helps a heat pump work well
5. Verify all credentials: Check installers on the official registers
6. Keep all documentation: Certificates, guarantees and EPCs matter for future sales or lets

Next Steps

Insulation can make your home warmer and cut your bills, and funding is still available for eligible households even though GBIS has closed.

Check your EPC, look at the schemes above and apply to the one that fits, or send us an enquiry.