Heating Insulation Grants

Heating Insulation
Grants UK 2024

Save Money with £1000s in
Heating Insulation Grants

  • Get Insulation Fully Funded with Free Grants
  • Save on Energy as Prices Climb
  • Benefit from 0% VAT on Installation
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The scheme is supported by the government

How Do Heating Insulation Grants Work?

Eligible households can receive heating grant funding, such as GBIS and ECO4, for different home insulation measures. These grants help improve energy efficiency by providing financial support for insulation upgrades, making homes warmer and reducing energy costs.

Eligibility Requirements

Grants are available to households that meet specific income and property criteria.

Application Process

Apply online or through a designated agency to check your eligibility.

Types of Insulation

Grants cover loft, cavity wall, and solid wall insulation measures.

Benefits of Insulation

Insulation reduces energy bills and improves home comfort.

Can I really get free insulation?

Yes, insulation grants are available through government-backed schemes like ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Schemes (formerly ECO+). These grants are funded by major UK energy providers.

 

These schemes aim to improve the energy efficiency (EPC) of homes, reduce carbon footprints, and save on heating bills. Eligibility criteria vary; households receiving income-based benefits may qualify for ECO4 funding.

 

Additionally, homes with low EPC ratings in lower Council Tax bands may be eligible for GBIS funding. Applying for these grants typically involves meeting specific criteria related to income, property type, and location.

Do I Have to Repay the Grant?

No, you don’t have to pay anything back. If you’re eligible for the scheme, an installer will complete the work, and the grant will cover the installation cost. Major energy suppliers like British Gas, E.ON, Npower, Scottish Power, SSE, and EDF are required to provide these grants under the ECO and GBIS schemes.

 

Eligibility has changed, allowing more people to qualify. Previously excluded households, especially those not receiving benefits, may now be eligible for a home insulation grant if they have a low income. Grants are also aimed at homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G and are in a lower Council Tax band.

Who is Eligible for a Loft Insulation Grant?

The eligibility criteria for GBIS and ECO4 schemes differ, allowing more households to qualify for free funding. For the ECO scheme, you must own your home or privately rent it with landlord approval for loft insulation.

 

Meeting the criteria could make you eligible for a non-repayable grant. Even without a full grant, you might receive a subsidy to help cover loft insulation costs.

 

Recent changes to the ECO scheme mean some low-income households that didn’t qualify before may now be eligible, even if they don’t receive benefits. Grants focus on homes needing insulation most, especially those with an EPC rating of E, F, or G.

 

Social housing tenants should contact their council or housing association, which run their own energy efficiency schemes for low-income households. If you own 50% or more of a housing association home, you can still apply.

 

The scheme also covers insulating tanks and pipework, adding draught excluders around the hatch, and creating a walkway to tanks over 1m from the hatch. Insulation must cover at least 60% of the property, so extensions often don’t qualify for funding.

Eligibility for Free Loft Insulation

Also, to be eligible for free loft insulation under ECO4, your household must have an income of £31,000 or less, or someone in your household must receive one of the benefits listed below.

  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • Working Tax Credit (WTC)
  • Income Support (IS)
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Universal Credit (UC)
  • Child Tax Credit (CTC)
  • Pension Credit Savings Credit (eligible under ECO4)
  • Housing Benefit (eligible under ECO4)
  • Child Benefit (income-based eligibility)
  • GBIS targets homes with an EPC rating of D or below
  • Funding is for households not previously funded for energy efficiency improvements
  • Helps households in Council Tax bands A-D in England & A-E in Scotland and Wales

What funding schemes are exist for home insulation?

Depending on your location, you may qualify for an insulation grant due to various funding opportunities available.

Energy Provider Mandate (ECO4)

The UK government introduced the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme in 2013 to reduce carbon emissions in domestic homes. Now in its fourth iteration, ECO4, the scheme requires large energy companies to provide grants to eligible households for energy-efficient home improvements, such as insulation.

These grants help eligible households save on energy bills, improve heat retention, and lower carbon emissions. ECO4, the final version of the scheme, was launched in autumn 2022.

Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)

The £1 billion Great British Insulation Scheme (formerly ECO+) will run until March 2026, aiming to help hundreds of thousands of households in lower Council Tax bands with energy-inefficient homes reduce their energy costs.

GBIS funding extends support to households previously ineligible for government assistance, enhancing energy efficiency. It builds on the £6.6 billion ‘Help to Heat’ schemes, such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant, and Local Authority Delivery Scheme.

Key details of the GB Insulation Scheme include:

  • Grants up to £15,000 for eligible households
  • Targeting homes currently not benefiting from government support
  • 80% of funding for the least energy-efficient homes (EPC rating D or below or lower Council Tax bands)
  • 20% of funds for the most vulnerable, including those on means-tested benefits or in fuel poverty.
Nest - Warm Homes Scheme for Wales

The Welsh Government Warm Homes program provides funding for energy efficiency upgrades and impartial advice to eligible households, offering free or heavily subsidized insulation to improve energy efficiency.

These improvements are delivered through the Nest scheme, which succeeded the Arbed scheme. The program aims to support energy-efficient home upgrades for low-income households and disadvantaged areas, making homes warmer and reducing energy bills.

Scotland's Warmer Homes Initiative

In Scotland, households can benefit from grant funding under the Warmer Homes Scotland initiative, which offers financial assistance to homes facing challenges with heating costs.

The program aims to enhance energy efficiency by funding various home improvements, including insulation installation. Eligible homeowners and private tenants, residing in the property for at least 12 months, can access this Scottish government grant.

Grants Offered Locally

At the local level, various grants are available to assist with home insulation costs. Grant availability varies by region, with different funding initiatives supporting insulation and other eco-friendly measures nationwide.

For instance, London’s Warmer Homes Grant program offers grants ranging from £5,000 to £25,000 for heating, insulation, and ventilation improvements to low-income households. Nottingham’s Healthy Housing Service funds energy efficiency upgrades for those aged 60 and above, or families vulnerable to cold-related illnesses. York’s Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) supports low-income households with home improvements such as insulation and draught-proofing.

Green Homes Funding Scheme

The Green Homes Grant aimed to finance eco-friendly installations across UK households, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills. Initiated as a voucher scheme by the government, it facilitated energy-saving improvements like insulation and low-carbon heating systems. Originally slated until March 2022, the scheme was terminated in March 2021.

Funding was available beyond low-income households, covering approximately two-thirds of improvement costs, with full coverage up to £10,000 if certain benefits were received by household members.

Which types of insulation do the schemes cover?

Many types of home insulation qualify for grants, allowing you to insulate your home for free or at a reduced cost.

Loft insulation

To qualify, the property must be owner-occupied or privately rented and currently inhabited. Eligibility for a grant to cover loft insulation costs typically hinges on receiving one of the listed benefits.

For loft insulation grants, the property should lack insulation or have insulation less than 100mm thick, typically level with or below the joists. If existing insulation exceeds this, a survey and quote may be needed to upgrade it to 270mm.

Cavity Wall Insulation

All eligible private homeowners can apply for a cavity wall insulation grant, provided their home is occupied and not undergoing renovation. Typically, brick-built properties constructed between 1924 and 1982 are suitable for cavity wall insulation, although support is also available for homes built up to 2005 without insulation.

With the ongoing increase in energy costs, cavity wall insulation remains one of the most effective methods to reduce heating bills. Studies indicate that uninsulated cavity walls can result in up to 35% heat loss within a property, whereas insulated homes can save up to £485 annually (based on a detached property and current fuel prices as of January 2024).

Internal wall insulation

If a member of your household receives benefits, you may qualify for no-cost internal wall insulation if you own or privately rent the property. The structure must have solid walls to be eligible for internal solid wall insulation installation.

External wall insulation

You can apply for a grant covering up to 25% of the cost for external wall insulation. Installation typically ranges from £7,000 to £15,000 and is suitable for properties with solid brick or concrete walls, as well as homes with cavity walls unsuitable for cavity wall insulation.

Room in roof insulation

If you’re receiving one of the qualifying benefits and you’re a homeowner or private tenant, you may be eligible for free room-in-roof insulation. This applies if your home has attic rooms from its original construction or through a loft conversion. The walls and ceiling should have little to no insulation, and there must be a permanent staircase providing access to the loft space.

Varieties of Insulation Available

Numerous insulation options are accessible to accommodate every home.

Spray Foam Insulation

Spray Foam for Enhanced Energy Efficiency with Insulation Applications

Loft Insulation

Quickly insulate your home with one of the simplest methods.

External Wall Insulation

External installation of insulation on the exterior of the house.

Internal Wall Insulation

Effective internal insulation helps retain heat within your living spaces.

Party Wall Insulation

Insulate internal walls for improved room-to-room temperature control.

Cavity Wall Insulation

Insulate walls using cavity space for effective temperature regulation indoors.

Flat Roof Insulation

Insulation designed for various types of flat-roofed buildings.

Underfloor Insulation

Floor insulation reduces heat loss and enhances energy efficiency indoors.

How Home Insulation Benefits You and Your Living Environment?

Home insulation reduces energy bills, enhances comfort, and lowers environmental impact.

Energy Efficiency Boost

Discover how home insulation enhances energy efficiency, lowers bills, and improves comfort in your living environment.

Environmental Sustainability

Explore how home insulation reduces carbon footprint, enhances sustainability, and improves indoor comfort and air quality.

Comfort and Savings

Learn how home insulation enhances comfort, reduces energy costs, and promotes environmental responsibility.

Cost-Effective Comfort

Understand the cost-effectiveness of home insulation, benefiting your budget and creating a more comfortable living environment.

Why Install Home Insulation?

This is the perfect time to benefit from insulation funding grants.

  • Up to 25% of heat escapes through an uninsulated roof.
  • Homes without insulation lose a lot of heat.
  • Results in a less comfortable living environment.
  • Negatively affects the environment.
  • Leads to significantly higher heating costs.
  • Grants available for free insulation.
  • Includes cavity wall, loft, and solid wall insulation options.
  • Insulation helps lower bills amidst increasing energy costs.
  • Lowers carbon footprint.
  • Reduces heat loss in homes.

Types of Grants Available for Various Groups

Landlord Grants

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Disabled Grants

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Veteran Grants

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Pensioner Grants

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