Insulation Grants: A UK Guide

The UK housing stock is considered one of the least energy-efficient in Europe. So much so, that the Office of National Statistics (ONS) claims the average energy efficiency rating (EPC score) in England by the end of 2023 was just D. Worse off, more than 80% of pre-1930s properties were classed as bands D - G in terms of energy efficiency. 

Poor home insulation is at the core of this domestic energy crisis, resulting in soaring energy bills, damp homes, and a higher risk of illness. That’s why the UK government is poised to help fuel-poor and energy-inefficient homes with insulation upgrades through a series of grant schemes. Currently, the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) are active to help provide free home insulation and reduced-cost upgrades to qualifying homes.

This complete guide by GreenMatch UK will give you all the information you need about insulation grants in the UK, including perks, qualification criteria, application, and much more. 

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Home insulation grants in the UK are a series of government initiatives aimed at making the cost of insulation upgrades more affordable and accessible to low-income, fuel-poor, and energy-inefficient households. 

Alongside improving the efficiency of the UK housing stock and helping homeowners and tenants combat fuel poverty, these grants are in place to keep the UK moving towards its ambitious Net Zero by 2050 goal. 

The two main grant schemes currently active in the UK are the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4), both of which provide a wide range of home insulation upgrades for qualifying households.

Insulation grants can get you a wide range of home insulation upgrades, but what you receive, and how you receive it, can differ depending on which grant scheme you apply for. In general, the range of domestic insulation measures provided by the UK’s insulation grant schemes are:

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) works by providing a single insulation upgrade per household, such as wall insulation. This is done so that the scheme can prioritise its reach across the UK. The most fitting upgrade is decided after a property assessment to determine the most effective measure to improve your home’s energy efficiency. 

On the other hand, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) works with a more whole-house approach, aiming to maximise a home's energy efficiency through a range of upgrades. Alongside free insulation, the ECO4 even provides heating system upgrades, repairs, and replacements. 

The choice of insulation and funding is usually determined by the energy companies themselves. In some cases, this could mean full coverage for low and mid-tier upgrades but may require a contribution from the household for high-cost measures.

Home insulation is a highly effective way to upgrade your home, protect your savings, and improve your property. With a wealth of benefits justifying the investment, home insulation also helps contribute to a healthier planet by drastically reducing your carbon footprint. 

Here are just some of the key benefits that proper home insulation can bring:

With all things considered, home insulation is one of the most effective means of protecting your health, property, savings, and the environment, all with one investment. Available UK grant schemes are there to assist in carrying out such upgrades for qualifying households.

As of 2024, the two main nationwide grant schemes for insulation in the UK are the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4). Both the ECO4 and the GBIS scheme are accepting applicants until March 2026, but it is advised to apply sooner than later.

Here is how the two schemes differ from one another:

While there may be only two active schemes to choose from, there are some other avenues of support provided by independent initiatives and smaller government schemes:

To get grants for insulation in the UK, you must meet a series of qualifying criteria. Both UK insulation grant schemes generally look for the same indicators, such as low-income, home EPC ratings below D, recipients of government benefits, and council tax bands A - D in England, and A - E in Scotland and Wales. 

There are two main routes to apply for a free insulation grant from either the GBIS or ECO4 scheme. These are applying as a homeowner, or as a home renter. The qualification criteria are similar in both cases but may have slight differences.

In general, low income in the UK is considered to be a gross annual income of less than £31,000 a year. 

Additionally, a household's status of low income can also be reflected in its council tax band range. Council tax bands are used to determine how much council tax you pay based on your property value. 
Homes within bands A to D in England, and A to E in Scotland and Wales can qualify for grants from either scheme.

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating measures your home’s energy efficiency. It helps you understand how much energy your home consumes, and its subsequent environmental impact. EPC ratings range from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).

For the Great British Insulation Scheme, the EPC rating qualification range differs if you own or rent your home:

If you don’t know your home EPC rating, you can arrange an inspection with an accredited housing assessor via the official UK government portal. Many professional insulation installers are also able to conduct an EPC assessment of your property.

If you are a homeowner, your property's EPC rating will not be the only qualification that matters. You must also qualify for the correct council tax band ranges as mentioned in the previous section.

Individuals, both homeowners and tenants, who receive UK government assistance through allowances and benefit schemes are very likely to qualify for assistance from the Great British Insulation Scheme.

The current qualifying benefits that are recognised as eligible are as follows:

Pensioners and those over 70 can still get free loft insulation even if they don’t meet the qualification criteria for a grant. Whilst age alone isn’t a qualifying factor, pensioners can receive assistance if they belong to one of two groups; the low-income group, or the general group. 

Low-income group:

General group:

As for the ECO4 scheme, pensioners may qualify for free or reduced cost insulation assistance through ECO4’s flexible eligibility based on reasons such as:

To get a full understanding of whether you qualify for the ECO4 scheme, it’s recommended to contact your energy provider to learn more about the application process.

Generally, both the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) provide the same grant qualifications, provisions, and application process throughout the entire UK, comprising England, Scotland and Wales.

However, the GBIS and ECO4 schemes are not available in Northern Ireland. For this region, you will need to make use of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Program (NISEP). 

The NISEP is a lump fund collected from all Northern Ireland electricity consumers through a public service obligation. This fund is then redistributed to help fuel-poor and low-income homes with energy efficiency upgrades. Alongside home insulation, NISEP also provides funding for boiler upgrades, draught-proofing, lighting and much more. To learn more, you can visit the official Energy Saving Trust UK website for qualification criteria and application.

To apply for The Great British Insulation Scheme, you can directly visit the UK government portal for all the information you need. This also includes a qualification survey, arrangement of a housing assessment and many other details.

To apply for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) Scheme, contact your energy supplier directly to learn more about the criteria and how to apply. This is because your energy company is directly responsible for carrying out the housing assessment and providing the grant. 

Both schemes are currently running and accepting applicants until March 2026.

To receive a grant, it’s very important to work with a professional installer. This includes your installer having a PAS 2030-2035 certification to make sure the job is done to the highest standards. 

However, finding the right installer at the best bargain is no easy task. Customers often find themselves stuck in an endless cycle of research and vetting. With the services provided here at GreenMatch UK, you can say goodbye to those days!

Instead of spending endless hours surfing the web and scheduling phone calls with installers, just spend 30 seconds filling out our simple online form, and receive up to 3 free home-tailored quotes from our network of trusted installers. The best part? Our services are completely free of charge and come with no obligations. Click below to begin!