What insulation grants cover
Grant schemes usually fund the insulation that makes the biggest difference for the money:
- Loft insulation, including topping up thin existing insulation.
- Cavity wall insulation, for homes built with a gap between two layers of brick.
- Solid wall insulation, on the inside or outside of walls with no cavity. It costs much more, and fewer schemes fund it.
- Underfloor insulation, and in some schemes flat roofs and rooms in the roof.
- Draught-proofing, often included alongside the main measure.
Which of these you are offered depends on a survey of your home, not on what you ask for. Schemes aim to fund whatever brings the energy rating up the most.
The schemes at a glance
| Scheme | Where | Who it is for | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | England | Lower-income households (benefits, income of £36,000 or less, or an eligible postcode) in homes rated D to G | Delivery to 31 March 2028, while councils have funding |
| ECO4 | England, Wales and Scotland | Households on qualifying benefits, or lower incomes through the council Flex route | Closes 31 December 2026 |
| Great British Insulation Scheme | Great Britain | — | Closed on 31 March 2026 |
| Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan | Scotland | Homeowners, whatever their income | Open, while each year’s funding lasts |
| Warmer Homes Scotland | Scotland | Households struggling to heat their home who meet benefit, age or health rules | Open, subject to funding |
| Nest | Wales | Low-income owner-occupiers and private tenants | Open |
England: the Warm Homes: Local Grant
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is delivered by councils in England and funds energy upgrades, including loft, cavity, solid wall and underfloor insulation, for lower-income households in less efficient homes. A household can qualify in any one of three ways: someone receives a means-tested benefit, the gross household income is £36,000 or less, or the home is in one of the eligible postcodes the government publishes. The home has to be rated EPC D to G.
Owner-occupiers are not asked to contribute. Private tenants can benefit too, with their landlord’s agreement, and tenants never pay. You start by checking on GOV.UK, and your council contacts you if you appear eligible and it still has funding. Our Warm Homes: Local Grant page explains the details.
ECO4: insulation through energy suppliers, until the end of 2026
ECO4 has been the largest source of funded insulation. It is paid for by energy suppliers, not the government, and is aimed at households receiving certain means-tested benefits or on lower incomes through a council’s Flex route. The work has to improve the home’s energy rating by a set amount: homes rated D or E must reach at least C, and homes rated F or G must reach at least D.
ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026, and measures must be completed before then. With surveys and installation taking weeks, anyone hoping to use it should act now. See our ECO4 page.
The Great British Insulation Scheme has closed
The Great British Insulation Scheme, which funded single insulation measures for a wider range of households, closed on 31 March 2026 and was not extended.
Offers under closed schemes
If someone offers you insulation “under the Great British Insulation Scheme” now, or asks for a fee to secure a grant, treat it with caution and check with the scheme directly.
Scotland: help whatever your income
In Scotland, the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan is open to homeowners regardless of income. For insulation and other energy efficiency measures it pays up to 75% of the cost, up to a maximum grant of £7,500, with £1,500 more for rural and island homes, and an optional interest-free loan. There are limits per measure, for example up to £1,500 towards loft, cavity or underfloor insulation and up to £7,500 towards solid wall insulation. You must have a written offer before any work starts.
Warmer Homes Scotland can pay for insulation in full for households who are struggling to heat their home and meet its benefit, age or health rules. Our guide to grants in Scotland covers both.
Wales: Nest
In Wales, the Welsh Government’s Nest scheme provides free improvements, including insulation, for low-income owner-occupiers and private tenants in homes rated EPC E or below (or D where someone has an eligible health condition). See our guide to grants in Wales.
Northern Ireland
ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant do not apply in Northern Ireland. The Housing Executive’s Affordable Warmth Scheme has funded insulation for lower-income households and is due to be replaced by a new fund. See our Northern Ireland guide.
If you pay yourself
If no scheme applies, insulation is still often the best-value improvement you can make. Installed insulation currently carries 0% VAT, until 31 March 2027, after which it is due to return to 5%. Buying materials on their own, to fit yourself, does not get the 0% rate.
Insulation before a heat pump
If you are thinking about a heat pump, insulation often comes first: a warmer home needs a smaller heat pump and smaller radiators. Our guide to whether a home is suitable for a heat pump explains how the two fit together.
Check what applies to your home
Check which insulation grants you could get
Tell us what heats your home and whether you own it. We will take you to our eligibility check with those answers filled in. It is free, and nothing is sent until you choose to send it.
