The Full Guide to Government Grants for Insulation UK 2024

• ECO4 helps homes save up to £1,800 a year
• The Great British Insulation Scheme will help least-energy efficient homes
• There are local insulation grants available from certain councils

Keep reaching for the thermostat? Your home probably needs better insulation.

Having a well-insulated property is now at the forefront of a lot of peoples’ minds, as Brits face a cost of living crisis.

Although insulation isn’t the priciest thing to install, some households aren’t able to fork out hundreds – or potentially thousands – of pounds to keep warm.

However, it might be that you could get a government grant for loft insulation, if you’re worried about costs.

If you’re looking for a more affordable way to insulate your home, check out the handful of government grants available below, whether you’re eligible for them, and how much help you can actually get.

If you’re interested in insulation, fill in our form to get a free insulation quote. Keep reading to find out if you are eligible for a loft insulation grant.

Are there government grants available for insulation?

Yes, there are five national grants that provide financial support for people wanting to install insulation at home: the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, Warm Homes Scotland, Nest (Wales), the Great British Insulation Scheme, and the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). 

Each of these schemes focus on low-income and vulnerable households, which would typically benefit from this financial support the most.

Want to see what these schemes have to offer? We’ve outlined the key details below, including what’s covered, who’s eligible, and how to apply.

Can I get my home insulated for free?

Possibly, it depends on what type of insulation you are looking for and if you meet the criteria.

The ECO4 scheme will provide 100% funding for certain types of insulation, if the person requesting the grant receives certain benefits.

Homes with poor EPC ratings could also be covered for free insulation under the ECO+ scheme.

Warmer Homes Scotland helps Scottish residents get free insulation for their homes, though the level of insulation covered by the grant will depend on a survey of your home.

The Welsh government’s NEST scheme will provide free insulation upgrades to eligible homes as well.

Government grants for loft insulation

Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)

The most popular grant that helps people lower the cost of roof insulation is the Energy Company Obligation, which offers a grant towards loft insulation for anyone who meets certain requirements.

Also named ECO4 (since it’s currently in its fourth stage), the government scheme works together with energy suppliers to provide financial support for low-income households.

This includes covering the cost of installing various home improvements, such as loft insulation.

The programme started back in 2013 but will come to an end in March 2026.

How to apply for ECO4

To apply to the ECO4 scheme, all you need to do is get in touch with one of the energy suppliers that are offering it.

You’ll then be invited to a telephone assessment, which involves answering questions about your income, whether you receive benefits, and your property’s energy efficiency rating.

The installer will then arrange a date to visit your home and confirm whether it’s suitable for the grant.

Great British Insulation scheme

The Great British Insulation Scheme (previously known as ECO+) is a new government initiative that will extend the support currently offered by the existing Energy Company Obligation (ECO4), which offers financial support to low-income and vulnerable households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

The scheme will be supporting these vulnerable households, but will also branch out to help additional groups. Unlike ECO4, The Great British Insulation Scheme will be available to anyone living in a property with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D-G, and within council tax bands A-D in England and A-E in Scotland and Wales.

The government has stated that this grant will run from around April 2023 until March 2026. It’s also allocated £1 billion to the project, and claims it will cover up to 75% of the costs of either loft insulation or cavity wall insulation, and possibly smart heating controls. The households will pay the rest of the costs.

You can find out more about the scheme on our page: ECO+: Everything You Need To Know.

How to apply for the Great British Insulation Scheme

Contact your energy supplier first to find out if you’re eligible, and if you are, they’ll match you with an installer who’ll assess your home for free. The installer will recommend what single piece of insulation is best for your home, and then a date will be decided for installing it.

Home Upgrade Grant

The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) is a government-backed scheme that provides energy efficiency upgrades and low-carbon heating via local authority funding. It helps cover households in England that meet the specific criteria (see eligibility) and will run from April 2023 to March 2025.

Homes that qualify for HUG will get at least 60% of the costs of insulation covered, and for rented properties, landlords will be entitled to a grant of up to £16,666 to improve the property.

HUG is also available for people looking to get grants for solar panels.

How to apply for the Home Upgrade Grant

You need to contact your local authority, first to find out if it’s applied for the Home Upgrade Grant, then second to see if your house will be eligible. There is no way to apply for the grant yourself, as it’s entirely down to your local authority to do so.

Warmer Homes Scotland

People in Scotland are able to install insulation through the government’s Warmer Homes Scotland scheme – if they meet certain requirements.

Similar to the ECO scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland offers financial support to low-income and vulnerable households that are struggling to keep on top of energy bills.

Loft insulation is a popular choice in this scheme. During both 2017/2018 and 2018/2019, 10% of installations through the Warmer Homes Scotland grant were loft insulation.

How to apply for Warmer Homes Scotland

If you’d like to get the ball rolling, start by calling Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282, or use the contact form to request a call or email back.

Once you’ve done this, the organisation will ask a few questions about your eligibility. If you qualify for the scheme, you’ll be referred to Warmworks Scotland (the Warmer Homes Scotland managing agent), who will offer a survey of your property.

Nest

People in Wales can install loft insulation through the government’s Nest scheme, as long as they meet certain criteria.

Nest supports low-income and vulnerable people in Wales by offering free and impartial advice about home energy, as well as funding for various home improvements.

If you’re eligible for the scheme, Nest will recommend a range of appliances that you can install at no cost, which will make your home warmer and reduce energy bills.

Learn more: National Home Energy Survey — Wales crowned the most climate-conscious part of the UK.

How to apply for Nest

If you think you meet the eligibility criteria, call Nest on 0808 808 2244, or request a call back using the online form.

A Nest advisor will then ask you some questions to see if you and your property qualify for any free home improvements. If you’re successful with your application, an assessor will visit your home to see what energy efficiency improvements they can offer.

Government grants for cavity wall insulation

If your home needs cavity wall insulation, you might be able to get a grant through the ECO4, Warmer Homes Scotland, and Nest schemes.

Not everyone in the UK is eligible however, but if you might be if you meet at least one of the following benefits:

• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Child Benefit (on the condition that the household’s relevant income does not exceed the amount set out in Chapter 3 of government scheme guidance)
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Mobility Supplement
• Personal Independence Payment
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
• Universal Credit

Government grants for spray foam insulation

Although there are a number of government grants that provide insulation, spray foam insulation isn’t usually a popular material in these schemes. This might be because spray foam is typically the most expensive insulation material on the market.

It’s worth noting that this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t get spray foam insulation through government grants – it just means it might only be economical for some properties.

The Energy Saving Trust found that Warmer Homes Scotland uses innovative measures to improve homes, some of which included spray foam insulation. For example, in homes with suspended floors, the scheme has used Q-Bot technology, which uses robots to spray insulation under the floor.

Find out more about suspended floor insulation on our page.

The Nest and ECO4 schemes, on the other hand, don’t mention spray foam specifically on their websites.

Local grants for insulation

There are also various local grants available to help pay for insulation at home.

If you’d like to find out whether there are any local grants in your area, check out the government’s helpful tool. All you have to do is pop in your postcode, and you can see whether there’s anything available.

The number of schemes available will depend on which region, town, or city you live in. To give you an idea of what to expect from local insulation schemes, we’ve given a few examples below.

London – Warmer Homes grant

Sadiq Khan’s Warmer Homes programme provides free heating, insulation, and ventilation improvements for low-income households.

Londoners are able to get between £5,000 and £25,000 towards home efficiency improvements – though this amount depends on your existing energy efficiency rating and the type of fuel your house uses.

To be eligible for this scheme, applicants need to:

• Live in Greater London
• Own or rent their own home (landlords can apply as long as the tenant is eligible)
• Receive a qualifying benefit or be on a low household income
• Meet maximum energy efficiency and household income requirements for the Sustainable Warmth element

Nottingham – Healthy Housing Service

The Healthy Housing Service funds a range of home-energy improvements for anyone over the age of 60, as well as families with young children who are at risk of cold-related illnesses.

Through the scheme, people can get insulation installed either for free or at a heavily subsidised rate, along with boiler checks and advice on switching energy suppliers.

York – Home Upgrade Grant

The City of York council funds home improvements through its Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) – a scheme that’s available for low-income households.

Applicants can receive various energy efficiency measures, including loft insulation and draft proofing, cavity wall insulation, and attic room insulation.

To qualify for HUG funding:

• Your household must have an annual income of less than £30,000 per year
• Rented properties must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D to G

Is the Green Homes Grant still available?

No, it was scrapped in early 2021 despite the government announcing in 2020 that it would be extended until March 2022.

The £2 billion Green Homes Grant was created to fund eco-friendly installations in more than 600,000 homes, as well as to help tradespeople during an economic downturn.

It covered two-thirds of the cost of home improvements designed to cut energy bills and carbon emissions. Unlike the ECO, Warmer Homes Scotland, and Nest schemes, the Green Homes Grant initiative wasn’t limited to low-income households.

How do I get started?

Hopefully this article has helped you get a better understanding of the grants on offer for people in the UK.

If you find you’re not eligible for any of these schemes, you can still compare insulation prices.

All you have to do is enter a few simple details and we’ll put you in touch with our trusted suppliers, who’ll contact you with free quotes to compare.

Summary

• There are five government grants available for insulation in the UK.
• You may be eligible if you receive certain benefits.
• There are different grants depending on where in the UK you live, be sure to check what is available in your area.
• The Green Homes Grant was scrapped in early 2021.
• If you are not eligible for any of the government grants, you can still compare insulation prices to get the best deal for insulating your home.