Double Glazing Grants In The UK: A Complete Guide (2024)

Currently, across the UK, there are various region-based government schemes to which many homes are entitled. These grants mostly target the lowest-income households to address fuel poverty and upgrade the inefficient housing stock. This article will discuss the various grants and schemes available in the UK and how much new windows cost with these policies.

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As mentioned earlier, most available grants are more akin to government incentives to help pay for eco-friendly measures for low-income residents. A government grant for windows usually comes with means-testing measures, and windows can be one part of this.

That said, these can still be an effective means of improving your windows and doors if you are eligible. Let’s go over the main ones.

ECO4, the latest iteration of the UK government's Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, was launched in April 2022 and will run until 31st March 2026. It requires energy suppliers to help low-income, energy-inefficient households by providing free energy efficiency upgrades, such as double glazing installation, to alleviate cost-of-living pressures.

The ECO4 scheme achieves this by imposing a Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO) on medium and large energy suppliers. Each supplier's contribution is proportional to their domestic gas and electricity market share.

Considering this, it's important to differentiate ECO4 from other double glazing grants. It is not a grant in the traditional sense, and those eligible may still be required to contribute towards the total cost.

This window scheme is available to any recipient of a list of means-tested benefits. These include Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Universal Credit, and Income Related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA). You can potentially be eligible for free double glazing (depending on the size and number of installations).

Currently, there aren’t any government grants for double glazing in Wales. Therefore, ECO4 is the best option for homeowners in Wales looking to upgrade their windows with the help of a grant.

If you do not qualify for the ECO4 grant, you may still be eligible (via referral) for ECO Flex. This can widen the eligibility pool, extending it to those outside of the set criteria but still classified as needing assistance. To see if you qualify for the windows replacement grant, check with your local authorities and/or energy provider.

The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2), which has been available nationwide since April 2023 and will run until March 2025, allocates £1.4 billion in funding to local authorities and social housing providers.

This government grant for windows is aimed at low-income households living or for those in off-grid properties with low energy efficiency ratings (EPC rating of D or below). The grant aims to improve energy efficiency through measures such as new windows, doors, and draught-proofing. These upgrades aim to build new doors to protect vulnerable homes from cold weather and reduce energy consumption.

These measures will include loft insulation, draught-proofing, as well as new doors and double glazing in England. The scheme expects to target over 115,000 homes in England and could save tenants between £220 and £400 on yearly energy bills.

To qualify for these new windows grants, you must live in a specific local authority area, have a low income, reside off the gas grid, and have a home with a low energy-efficiency rating (EPC band D or lower). Additionally, income requirements include your household having a total gross annual income under £31,000 or being situated in an economically deprived neighbourhood. To apply for the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2), whether you’re an eligible homeowner or private tenant, you can submit your application through the local council. After doing this, your application will be reviewed.

The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan has been available to all homeowners in Scotland, regardless of income, since May 2017. It has been designed to support those living in rural and island homes who are facing increased costs in installing home improvements.

While there's no specific grant for window upgrades, homeowners can access an interest-free loan of up to £8,000 for replacing single glazing with double, secondary, or triple glazing. Additionally, the scheme provides grants that can finance up to 75% of the cost of energy-efficiency improvements, with a maximum grant amount of £7,500. Notably, a "rural uplift" is available to households in Remote Rural and Island areas, increasing the maximum grant to £9,000.

These grants can be used for various energy-efficiency measures such as heat pumps and insulation, complementing the window upgrade loans. For example, grant funding for heat pumps is up to £7,500, or £9,000, for households that qualify for the rural uplift. Any remaining portions of the funding request can be taken on as an optional interest-free loan.

To participate, homeowners must secure a written loan offer and quotes from approved installers before starting work. The scheme categorises upgrades as primary or secondary measures, with funding determined case-by-case. Window upgrade loans cover 75% of costs, while homeowners contribute 25%. Draught-proofing is eligible for £500 in combined funding but must accompany a primary measure like cavity wall insulation or heat pump installation.

The Warmer Homes Scotland grant is an initiative established by the Scottish Government and has been ongoing since 2015. While it doesn't offer specific double glazing grants or grants for new windows, it offers grants of up to £7,500 to make energy efficient improvements or install low-carbon heating, including draught-proofing existing windows and doors.

Having said this, it’s important to note that it’s available for homeowners and private tenants who have resided in their property for at least six months. Moreover, eligible applicants must also meet certain criteria, such as living in a home with a poor energy rating and a floor area of 230 sq m or less. 

While free double glazing isn't directly offered, the scheme contributes to other energy-saving measures like loft and wall insulation, central heating system upgrades, and renewable energy systems. Interested homeowners can check their eligibility through the Warmer Homes Scotland self-assessment tool or by contacting the scheme directly.

The Affordable Warmth Scheme was introduced in 2014 and aims to combat fuel poverty in Northern Ireland by offering up to £7,500 for energy-efficiency improvements to low-income households. This scheme is available to homeowners and private tenants with a total gross annual income below £23,000. 

This said, improvements can also cover new windows in Northern Ireland or double glazing cost, though priority is given to other measures, such as draught-proofing, instead of window replacement itself.

To apply, homeowners contact their local council for a technical officer's assessment. This assessment, lasting about 60 minutes, determines the most appropriate energy-saving measures for the property. The scheme prioritises improvements in a specific order: draught-proofing windows and doors (Priority 1), heating system upgrades (Priority 2), and single-glazed window replacement (Priority 3).

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), formerly ECO+, is a government initiative launched in April 2023 to address fuel poverty and rising energy costs in Great Britain. This scheme targets low-income households and those in homes with Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of D-G.

While it doesn't offer double glazing grants, GBIS supports various insulation measures to improve home energy efficiency. Although it doesn't cover double glazing windows for your home, we’ve included them on this list since the GBIS can support homeowners in undertaking additional insulation measures and help those not eligible for ECO4.

Unlike ECO4, which takes a comprehensive or “whole house” approach, GBIS focuses on single insulation procedures. The scheme requires large and medium-sized energy providers to promote and implement energy-efficient measures across England, Wales, and Scotland.

The Welsh Warm Homes Nest Scheme was introduced in April 2024 and is an ongoing government initiative designed to support energy saving home improvements in Wales. While it currently excludes double glazing, the scheme offers various measures to help Welsh homeowners reduce their energy bills and create warmer homes.

Nest provides free, impartial advice on using energy more efficiently and accessing potential government grants for home improvements as part of the Welsh Government Warm Homes programme.

To be eligible for these improvements, applicants must meet specific criteria, including owning or renting from a private landlord, living in an energy-inefficient home, and receiving means-tested benefits or having a chronic health condition with a low income.

As part of the UK government's efforts to level up the country and reduce territorial inequalities, the Shared Prosperity Fund was first established in April 2022 and provides local authorities nationwide with funding to offer double glazing grants.

For instance, East Suffolk Council has been allocated £2.75 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to invest in local initiatives over two and a half years to address inequality and support home improvements, which can include home improvements such as replacing single glazing.

Similar to the window grants previously discussed, these grants are income related benefits that aim to improve energy efficiency in homes. They are typically targeted at low income households or those living in properties with a low EPC rating.

Eligibility requirements frequently will depend on receiving means-tested benefits or residing in a home with a low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.

We highly recommend contacting your local council directly to explore available window grants and energy-saving home improvements in your area. They can provide specific information on eligibility criteria, application processes, and the range of energy efficiency measures covered by local grant schemes.

The Green Homes Grant scheme was available in England until March 31, 2021. It provided vouchers for energy-efficient home improvements. Vouchers covered up to two-thirds of the cost, with a maximum government contribution of £5,000.

The Green Homes Grant scheme provided substantial assistance to low-income households, covering up to 100% of costs (up to £10,000) for energy efficiency upgrades. It was available to homeowners and landlords but did not apply to newly built unoccupied homes and could not be combined with other funding sources like the ECO or Local Authority Delivery Scheme grants.

Following the scheme's conclusion in 2021, the UK government has adopted a more targeted approach to supporting home energy improvements, exemplified by the ECO4 scheme, which focuses on specific energy efficiency measures for low-income households, building on the groundwork established by the Green Homes Grant.

On the other hand, ECO+ has been replaced by the Great British Insulation Scheme. On September 23, as part of the Growth Plan 2022, the Chancellor announced this measure, confirming £1 billion in funding from April 2023 to March 2026. Previously known as ECO+, the scheme retains the same guidelines but, at the moment, only focuses on home insulation.

If you are not eligible for any grants for windows and doors, you can still apply for loans. Various companies have windows payment schemes and programs for obtaining double glazing on finance. Many may not live in a region with free window grants or may not fit the criteria, but loans have a lower barrier to entry.

In such cases, another option is to recycle your current windows for a discounted price. These schemes are not backed by the government but many companies provide this. Wooden windows and aluminium windows are widely recyclable, while uPVC windows can be recycled up to 10 times.

If your goal is to improve your home heating, you could instead opt for insulation and draught-proofing. Similarly, there are many grants for efficient heating systems. While they are more expensive than installing windows, technologies like heat pumps can also be more cost-effective in terms of running costs.

While there are technically no grants for new windows to replace single glazing or double glazing, the government schemes discussed in this article can indirectly provide valuable funding for these energy saving improvements. Even if you're not eligible for window upgrades, some of these programs offer free advice or support for other insulation measures that can significantly boost your home's energy efficiency.

As winter approaches, now is the ideal time to take advantage of these grants to cover window costs, enhance your home's comfort, and reduce energy costs. Whether you're interested in double glazing, window replacement, or other energy-saving measures, these programs can help make your next home improvement project more affordable.

Having said this, we strongly recommend consulting with a window professional. They will help you navigate the specifications and requirements of local authority grants or broader schemes like ECO4 and ensure you maximise these opportunities to upgrade your home.

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