Home Insulation Grants 2026
The main home insulation grants open in 2026 are ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant. Both can pay the full cost of loft, cavity wall, solid wall and floor insulation for eligible households. ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026, while the Warm Homes grant runs in England until 31 March 2028. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026.
Please note: InstantGrant is an independent, private information and support service. We are not the government, Ofgem, a council, an energy supplier or an installer, and we cannot approve or pay any grant. Every decision is made by the official scheme body. Always confirm the latest rules with them before any work starts.
Last checked: 30 September 2026 against Ofgem, GOV.UK, Home Energy Scotland, Nest and NI Housing Executive information.
Check If I Qualify for Free Insulation
Which Home Insulation Grants Are Available in 2026?
Two UK wide routes still fund free insulation: ECO4 until 31 December 2026, and the Warm Homes: Local Grant in England until 31 March 2028. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also run their own insulation schemes. The Great British Insulation Scheme, which many people used for loft and cavity wall insulation, is now closed.
Insulation Grants at a Glance
Scheme | Where it applies | Who it is for | What it pays | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ECO4 | England, Scotland, Wales | Households on qualifying benefits, or referred by a council through ECO4 Flex | Often the full cost of insulation and heating work | Ends 31 December 2026 |
Warm Homes: Local Grant | England | Lower income households in homes rated EPC D to G | Up to £15,000 for insulation and other energy performance work | Open until 31 March 2028 |
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan | Scotland | Any homeowner living in the property, no benefits needed | Up to 75% of insulation costs, maximum £7,500 grant | Open |
Warmer Homes Scotland | Scotland | Households in or at risk of fuel poverty | Fully funded package | Open |
Nest | Wales | Low income or benefit households in poorly rated homes | Fully funded package after assessment | Open |
Affordable Warmth Scheme | Northern Ireland | Household income below £23,000 | Up to £7,500, or £10,000 with solid wall insulation | Open |
The Great British Insulation Scheme Has Closed
The Great British Insulation Scheme ended on 31 March 2026, and all its installations had to be finished by that date. Some websites still say it is open, which is wrong. If anyone offers you insulation through this scheme now, treat it as a warning sign. Its role has largely passed to ECO4 and the Warm Homes grant.
What Types of Insulation Can a Grant Pay For?
Grants can fund most types of home insulation, including loft, cavity wall, solid wall, underfloor, flat roof and room in roof insulation. Which ones your home gets depends on a survey, not on what you choose. The assessor looks at your walls, roof and floors, then recommends the measures that will improve your home's energy rating most.
Loft and Room in Roof Insulation
Loft insulation is laid between and over the joists in your roof space. If you already have some, a grant may fund a top up. Room in roof insulation is used where a loft has been converted into living space, and it covers the sloping ceilings and walls of that room.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Most homes built from the 1930s onwards have two layers of brick with a gap between them. Cavity wall insulation fills that gap by injecting material through small holes in the outside wall. Your surveyor first checks that the walls are suitable and not exposed to severe driving rain.
Solid Wall Insulation
Older homes with solid walls cannot have cavity insulation. Instead, they can have internal wall insulation fitted to the inside of external walls, or external wall insulation fixed to the outside and finished with render. Both are bigger jobs, which is why grants often focus on them for homes with very low energy ratings.
Underfloor and Flat Roof Insulation
Underfloor insulation is fitted beneath suspended timber floors, usually from a crawl space or by lifting floorboards. Flat roof insulation improves roofs on extensions and some flats. Both are eligible under ECO4 and the Warm Homes grant where the survey recommends them.
Which Scheme Covers Which Insulation
Measure | ECO4 | Warm Homes: Local Grant | Home Energy Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|
Loft insulation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cavity wall insulation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Solid wall insulation, internal or external | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Underfloor insulation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Flat roof and room in roof insulation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Draughtproofing, windows and doors | In some cases | Yes | In some cases |
ECO4 Insulation Grants: Last Chance Before 31 December 2026
ECO4 is funded by large energy suppliers and regulated by Ofgem. It can pay the full cost of insulation for households on qualifying benefits in homes with an EPC rating of D to G. The scheme ends on 31 December 2026, and every installation must be finished by then, so time is very short.
Who Qualifies for ECO4 Insulation
You usually qualify if someone in your home receives a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Child Benefit within income limits, and your home has a low EPC rating. Some councils can also refer lower income or vulnerable households through ECO4 Flex, but in many areas this funding has already run out.
What ECO4 Insulation Covers
ECO4 takes a whole house approach. Rather than fitting a single measure, the installer plans a package that may combine insulation with heating upgrades and ventilation. Insulation often comes first, because a warmer building makes any new heating system work better.
Can You Still Apply in Time?
You can, but the extension to December 2026 came with no extra money and many energy suppliers have already met their targets. If you think you qualify, contact an ECO4 installer now and ask them to confirm funding in writing before any survey. Our guide on how to apply for an ECO4 grant explains each step.
Warm Homes: Local Grant: Free Insulation for Lower Income Homes in England
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is government funded and delivered by councils in England. It pays for insulation and other energy performance upgrades, plus low carbon heating, for lower income households in poorly rated homes. Eligible households usually pay nothing, and the scheme runs until 31 March 2028.
How Much the Warm Homes Grant Pays for Insulation
The grant has a pot of up to £15,000 for energy performance work, which covers insulation, draughtproofing, windows, doors, solar panels and batteries. A separate pot of up to £15,000 covers low carbon heating. Councils manage these limits across their whole project, so the amount for each home depends on its retrofit assessment.
Who Qualifies for the Warm Homes Grant
Your home must be in England, privately owned or privately rented, and rated EPC D to G. Your household must also meet one of these conditions:
Gross household income below £36,000 a year, or below the adjusted threshold for your household size after housing costs.
Someone in the home receives a means tested benefit.
You live in an eligible postcode in one of England's most deprived areas.
How to Apply for the Warm Homes Grant
Start on the GOV.UK Warm Homes: Local Grant page, which checks your postcode and passes eligible applications to your council or its contractor. Greater Manchester and the West Midlands run their own versions, so residents there apply through their combined authority. Our Warm Homes: Local Grant guide has the full details.
Check My Warm Homes Insulation Eligibility
Insulation Grants in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Insulation support differs across the UK. The Warm Homes: Local Grant is England only. Scotland offers grants to all homeowners through Home Energy Scotland, Wales funds free packages through Nest, and Northern Ireland runs the Affordable Warmth Scheme. ECO4 covers Scotland and Wales until 31 December 2026, but not Northern Ireland.
Scotland: Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan
Any Scottish homeowner living in their home can apply, with no benefit requirement. The grant covers up to 75% of insulation costs, up to a combined maximum of £7,500, or £9,000 for eligible rural and island homes. An optional interest free loan can cover more. Each measure has its own limit:
Insulation measure | Maximum grant | Maximum loan |
|---|---|---|
Solid wall insulation, internal or external | £7,500 | £2,500 |
Loft insulation | £1,500 | £500 |
Cavity wall insulation | £1,500 | £500 |
Underfloor insulation | £1,500 | £500 |
Call Home Energy Scotland free on 0808 808 2282 or visit the Home Energy Scotland website. Households in or at risk of fuel poverty may be referred to Warmer Homes Scotland instead, which can fully fund insulation and heating.
Wales: Nest
Nest is the Welsh Government's home energy scheme. It can fund a free package that may include loft, cavity wall or other insulation, alongside heating upgrades. You must own or privately rent your home, receive a means tested benefit or have a low income, and live in a poorly rated home. Free advice is available to every Welsh household on 0808 808 2244.
Northern Ireland: Affordable Warmth Scheme
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive runs the Affordable Warmth Scheme for homeowners and private renters with a gross household income below £23,000. It offers a grant of up to £7,500 for insulation and heating measures, rising to £10,000 where solid wall insulation is needed. Read our Northern Ireland grants guide to apply.
Insulation Grants by UK Nation
Scheme | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ECO4, until 31 December 2026 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Warm Homes: Local Grant | Yes | No | No | No |
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan | No | No | Yes | No |
Warmer Homes Scotland | No | No | Yes | No |
Nest | No | Yes | No | No |
Affordable Warmth Scheme | No | No | No | Yes |
Can You Get Free Insulation if You Are Not on Benefits?
Sometimes. In England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant accepts households with income below £36,000 or living in an eligible postcode, even without benefits. Some councils can also refer households through ECO4 Flex while funding lasts. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland grants need no benefits, though they usually cover part of the cost rather than all of it.
Your Options by Situation
Your situation | Insulation route to check first |
|---|---|
On a qualifying benefit, EPC D to G, anywhere in Great Britain | ECO4, before 31 December 2026 |
England, income below £36,000, EPC D to G | Warm Homes: Local Grant |
England, eligible deprived postcode | Warm Homes: Local Grant |
Scotland, any income, you own and live in your home | Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan |
Wales, low income or benefits | Nest |
Northern Ireland, income below £23,000 | Affordable Warmth Scheme |
Higher income in England or Wales | Pay privately with 0% VAT |
0% VAT on Insulation
If you do not qualify for a grant, insulation materials and installation are still charged at 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. This applies to every household, whatever their income, as long as a professional installer fits the work. Ask for the VAT rate to be shown clearly on your quote.
Insulation Grants for Tenants and Landlords
Private tenants can usually get grant funded insulation with their landlord's written permission, and landlords can apply in some schemes. Council and housing association tenants cannot apply directly, because social landlords use separate funding. Whoever applies, the property owner must always agree before any work starts.
Private Tenants
If you rent privately and qualify for ECO4 or the Warm Homes grant, you can apply as long as your landlord gives written consent. The work stays with the property, so it benefits future tenants too. Ask your landlord early, as surveys cannot go ahead without their agreement.
Private Landlords
Landlords can access the Warm Homes grant in some council areas, often with a contribution required for additional properties. ECO4 can also fund insulation in rented homes where the tenant qualifies. Our guide to EPC grants for landlords covers the rules in more detail.
Council and Housing Association Tenants
Social landlords can bid for the government's Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund to insulate their homes. If your home is cold or damp, report it to your landlord in writing and ask about their retrofit plans.
How Do You Apply for a Home Insulation Grant?
Start by checking your EPC rating and which schemes run in your nation. Then gather proof of income or benefits and apply through the official route, such as GOV.UK for the Warm Homes grant or Home Energy Scotland. If you qualify, a retrofit assessor visits before any work is planned.
Five Steps to Apply
Find your EPC rating on the GOV.UK energy certificate register. Scotland has its own separate register.
Check which insulation your home already has, such as loft insulation depth and whether your walls are cavity or solid.
Gather proof of income or benefits, such as award letters, payslips or pension statements.
Apply through the right route for your nation: GOV.UK or your council in England, Home Energy Scotland, Nest or the NI Housing Executive.
Book the survey or retrofit assessment, which decides which measures your home receives.
What Happens During the Retrofit Assessment
For ECO4 and the Warm Homes grant, work must follow a retrofit standard called PAS 2035, overseen through TrustMark. A retrofit assessor records your home's condition, walls, roof, ventilation and heating. A coordinator then plans the measures in the right order, so insulation does not create damp or condensation problems later.
How to Make Sure Grant Funded Insulation Is Done Properly
Good insulation keeps your home warmer for decades, but poor installation can cause damp and mould. Choose TrustMark registered installers, insist on proper ventilation and get the right guarantee for each measure. Never let anyone rush you into signing on the doorstep.
Why Ventilation Matters
Insulation makes a home more airtight, which traps moisture from cooking, washing and breathing. Without enough ventilation, that moisture can lead to condensation and mould. Under PAS 2035, the assessor must check ventilation, and extractor fans or trickle vents may be added as part of your package.
Guarantees to Ask For
Measure | What to ask for |
|---|---|
Cavity wall insulation | A guarantee from the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) |
Solid wall insulation | A guarantee from the Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency (SWIGA) or an equivalent |
Any grant funded measure | Confirmation the work is lodged with TrustMark |
Warning Signs of an Insulation Scam
Someone offers insulation through the Great British Insulation Scheme, which closed in March 2026.
You are asked for a fee to "secure" free insulation.
A caller claims to be from Ofgem or the government. Neither sells insulation door to door.
You are pressured to sign on the day of a visit.
Spray foam loft insulation is pushed as a quick free fix. Some lenders and surveyors have raised concerns about it, so get independent advice first.
What Happens to Insulation Grants After 2026?
After ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026, the government's Warm Homes Plan becomes the main route. It replaces supplier funded schemes with direct government grants, including the Warm Homes: Local Grant until 31 March 2028, and low and zero interest loans that phase in from 2027. Full loan details have not yet been published.
If you qualify for ECO4 now, applying before the deadline is the safest way to get free insulation. For everyone else, the Warm Homes grant and the coming loans will be the main options. Our guide to what is replacing the ECO4 scheme tracks each change. For heating upgrades alongside insulation, see our boiler and heating grants and £7,500 heat pump grant pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Get Free Insulation in 2026?
Yes, if you qualify. ECO4 can fund free insulation for households on qualifying benefits until 31 December 2026. In England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant funds free insulation for lower income households until 31 March 2028. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also run their own schemes.
Is the Great British Insulation Scheme Still Open?
No. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026, and all installations had to be finished by that date. Any offer made through it now is not genuine. ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant are the main routes for free insulation instead.
Can I Get Free Loft Insulation if I Am Not on Benefits?
Possibly. In England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant accepts households with gross income below £36,000 or in an eligible postcode, without benefits. Some councils also refer households through ECO4 Flex while funding lasts. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland offers a loft insulation grant of up to £1,500 with no benefit requirement.
Do I Need an EPC to Get an Insulation Grant?
For ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant, your home usually needs an EPC rating of D to G, and the assessment will confirm your rating. You can check your current EPC for free on the GOV.UK register. Scotland has its own separate EPC register.
Can Landlords Get Insulation Grants?
Yes, in some cases. Private landlords can access the Warm Homes grant in some council areas, often with a contribution for additional properties. ECO4 can fund insulation in privately rented homes where the tenant qualifies and the landlord gives written consent. Social housing uses separate funding.
How Much Is the Home Energy Scotland Insulation Grant?
Home Energy Scotland pays up to 75% of insulation costs, up to a combined maximum grant of £7,500, or £9,000 for eligible rural and island homes. Solid wall insulation can get up to £7,500, while loft, cavity and underfloor insulation can each get up to £1,500. Optional interest free loans cover more.
Can Insulation Cause Damp?
It can if ventilation is not handled properly, because insulation makes homes more airtight. Grant funded work under ECO4 and the Warm Homes grant must follow PAS 2035, which requires a ventilation check. Use TrustMark registered installers and ask for the right guarantee for each measure.
What Replaces ECO4 for Insulation Grants?
The government's Warm Homes Plan replaces ECO4 after 31 December 2026. It uses direct government grants, such as the Warm Homes: Local Grant, plus low and zero interest loans phasing in from 2027. No new supplier funded insulation scheme like GBIS has been announced.
About This Guide
This guide was written by InstantGrant using current information from Ofgem, GOV.UK, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Home Energy Scotland, Nest and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. It was last checked on 30 September 2026. Insulation grant rules and funding change often, especially as ECO4 closes, so always confirm details with the scheme before work begins.