Frequently Asked Questions

The main UK energy grants in 2026 are the Warm Homes Local Grant (up to £15,000 for low-income households in England), ECO4 (free insulation funded by energy suppliers, closing December 2026), the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500 towards a heat pump, no income test), and devolved schemes like Nest (Wales) and Home Energy Scotland. Use our free eligibility checker to see which grants match your property and income.

The Warm Homes Local Grant requires a household income of £36,000 or less, though you may still qualify if you live in an eligible postcode area (IMD Income Decile 1–2) or receive qualifying benefits. ECO4 thresholds vary by council — typically £31,000–£38,000 under LA Flex. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has no income test at all.

Yes. Private tenants can apply for ECO4 and the Warm Homes Local Grant, but your landlord must consent to the improvements. For ECO4, the landlord may need to contribute towards costs. Social housing tenants should contact their housing association, as many have separate ECO4 agreements with energy suppliers.

Not always. While receiving benefits like Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Income Support automatically qualifies you for most schemes, you can also qualify through low income alone (under £36,000 for Warm Homes Local Grant) or by living in an eligible postcode area. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has no income or benefits requirement at all.

Yes. You can receive funding from more than one scheme — for example, insulation through ECO4 and a heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. However, you cannot get two grants for the same specific measure. Your local council or installer can advise on the best combination for your property.

The Warm Homes Local Grant is a £500 million government-funded scheme delivered through local councils in England. It provides free insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, and smart heating controls to eligible low-income households. Income must be £36,000 or less (with exceptions). Apply at gov.uk/apply-warm-homes-local-grant or call 0800 098 7950.

ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4) requires large energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements in eligible households. It provides free cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, solid wall insulation, and some heating upgrades. ECO4 has been extended to 31 December 2026. There will be no successor supplier obligation after it ends.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides grants of up to £7,500 for an air source heat pump, £2,500 for an air-to-air heat pump, or £5,000 for a biomass boiler in eligible rural properties. It is available to homeowners in England and Wales who are replacing fossil fuel or electric heating. There is no income test — any qualifying homeowner can apply.

The Warm Homes Plan is the UK government's flagship £15 billion energy efficiency programme. It encompasses multiple schemes including the Warm Homes Local Grant, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, new protections for renters, and planned government-backed loans for solar panels and heat pumps. The aim is to upgrade up to 5 million homes and lift a million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) formally ended on 31 March 2026. It has not been extended or replaced with a like-for-like successor. The two main alternatives are ECO4 (closing December 2026) and the Warm Homes Local Grant (funded until 2028). If you were planning to apply for GBIS, check your eligibility for these schemes instead.

Scottish homeowners can access Home Energy Scotland, which offers grants of up to £7,500 plus interest-free loans of up to £7,500 for insulation, heating, and renewables. The grant has no means test — any Scottish homeowner can apply. The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme provides fully funded improvements to low-income households. ECO4 also operates across Scotland.

Welsh homeowners can access the Nest scheme, which provides free boiler replacements, insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels to eligible households. Nest is funded by the Welsh Government and has no announced end date. ECO4 and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme also operate in Wales. Call Nest on 0808 808 2244 for free advice.

Yes. Free cavity wall insulation is available through ECO4 and the Warm Homes Local Grant for eligible low-income households. Cavity walls (built after the 1920s) have a gap that can be filled with insulation in 2–4 hours. According to the Energy Saving Trust, cavity wall insulation saves approximately £295 per year and reduces heat loss by up to 33%.

Yes. Free loft insulation is available through ECO4 and the Warm Homes Local Grant if you are on a low income or receive qualifying benefits. Loft insulation is one of the quickest and most cost-effective upgrades — it takes 1–2 hours, causes minimal disruption, and saves approximately £355 per year. Recommended depth is 270mm.

Solid wall insulation (internal or external) is available through ECO4 and the Warm Homes Local Grant. It is more expensive and disruptive than cavity wall insulation but can save over £400 per year. External wall insulation involves adding cladding to the outside of your property. Internal wall insulation adds boards to the inside of external walls.

It depends on your circumstances. The Warm Homes Local Grant can fully fund an air source heat pump for low-income households in England (no cost to the homeowner). The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides £7,500 towards a heat pump but you pay the remainder. ECO4 offers limited heat pump funding. A typical air source heat pump costs £7,000–£13,000 before grants.

Free boiler replacements are available through ECO4 if your existing boiler is old or broken and you receive qualifying benefits or have a low income. The Warm Homes Local Grant may also fund heating upgrades. Note: the Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover like-for-like gas boiler replacements — it only funds low-carbon alternatives like heat pumps.

With the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant of £7,500, a typical air source heat pump costs between £0 and £5,500 out of pocket depending on the system and property. Through the Warm Homes Local Grant, eligible low-income households pay nothing. Running costs are comparable to gas in well-insulated homes, especially on heat pump tariffs like Octopus Cosy.

The Warm Homes Local Grant can fund solar panels for eligible low-income households in England. ECO4 can fund solar panels only for homes with electric heating systems. For all other homeowners, solar panels are VAT-free (0% VAT) until March 2027, reducing the cost of a typical system by around £1,000. There is no universal free solar panel scheme.

A typical 3.5kWp solar panel system costs around £6,100 according to the Energy Saving Trust. Larger systems range from £7,000 (5kW) to £10,000+ (8kW). Adding battery storage costs an additional £2,500–£6,000. All residential solar installations are VAT-free until March 2027.

For most UK homes, yes. A typical 4kW system saves £700–£1,100 per year on electricity bills and pays for itself in 6–9 years. Panels last 25+ years with minimal maintenance. With 0% VAT until 2027, Smart Export Guarantee payments for surplus electricity, and rising energy prices, solar is one of the strongest home investments available in 2026.

The Smart Export Guarantee requires licensed electricity suppliers to pay you for surplus solar electricity you export to the grid. Rates vary by supplier — typically 3p–15p per kWh. You need a smart meter and an MCS-certified installation to qualify. Octopus Energy currently offers some of the highest SEG rates.

For the Warm Homes Local Grant, apply at gov.uk/apply-warm-homes-local-grant or call 0800 098 7950. For ECO4, contact your energy supplier or use our eligibility checker to find local installers. For the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, find an MCS-certified installer who will apply on your behalf. You can also use our free 2-minute eligibility checker to see all grants you qualify for.

For the Warm Homes Local Grant, your council should contact you within 10 working days. A property survey follows, then installation is arranged. Total time from application to completed work varies from 4–12 weeks depending on the council and measures required. ECO4 timelines vary by installer. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme voucher is valid for 3 months.

A qualified surveyor visits your home to assess which energy efficiency measures would have the greatest impact. They check existing insulation, heating systems, windows, and the building fabric. Based on the survey, they recommend specific improvements — typically insulation first (as it has the most immediate impact on bills), then heating upgrades.

If you qualify for the Warm Homes Local Grant or ECO4 as a low-income homeowner, improvements are typically fully funded — you pay nothing. For the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you pay the difference between the grant (£7,500) and the total cost of installation. Private landlords may need to contribute towards some measures under ECO4.

Most grant schemes target homes rated EPC D, E, F, or G — these are the least energy-efficient properties. The Warm Homes Local Grant specifically requires EPC D or below. You can check your EPC rating for free at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate. Our eligibility checker also pulls your EPC automatically from government records.

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates your home's energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It shows estimated energy costs, CO2 emissions, and recommends improvements. EPCs are valid for 10 years and are required when selling or renting a property. Over 18 million UK homes are rated D or below.