Insulation grants are available across the UK to help some homeowners afford the cost of new installation, which can help to lower your heating bills
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Insulation grants can be helpful for homeowners who need financial support to help make their home more energy efficient.
Ensuring your home is well insulated is important for several reasons, such as minimising heat loss by improving your home’s thermal insulation, therefore making your home more energy efficient and helping you to pay less for your heating bills.
But installing energy-efficient insulation isn’t easily affordable for all homeowners, and unfortunately there aren’t many grants available, which isn’t good news if you’re looking at how to insulate a wall or your loft, for example.
But the schemes in existence do offer financing towards installing insulation cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. We’ve listed them below alongside advice on how to apply.
Energy Company Obligation offers insulation grants
The Energy Company Obligation, or ECO scheme, supports energy efficiency improvements including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and some other heating improvements in low-income and vulnerable households.
All gas and electricity supplies with over 150,000 customers must offer ECO funding, although energy companies can determine which measures they offer to install, how much funding they provide and the installers that do the work.
This means that while you might be able to receive new insulation free of charge, you may also be asked to pay some of the cost yourself.
Loft insulation grants are available on the Energy Company Obligation(Image credit: getty images)
Great British Insulation Scheme
The Great British Insulation Scheme is a £1 billion government initiative launched in 2023 to improve the insulation of homes across England, Scotland, and Wales.
It aims to make homes more energy-efficient and help households reduce energy bills by up to £400 annually. The program targets 300,000 homes, particularly those in lower council tax bands and with lower energy efficiency ratings (EPC rating of D or below).
Eligible households can apply for free or discounted insulation through a government online checker, and the scheme offers various insulation options, including cavity wall, roof and underfloor insulation.
Applications are open to homeowners, tenants, and landlords, though tenants may need permission before proceeding. However, the scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.
The Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme
The Green Homes Grant, which ran from September 2020 to March 2021, is no longer accepting new applications from homeowners, but you can still apply for funding for improvements such as insulation via your local authority.
Local authorities will grant funding up to £10,000 for wall and loft insulation for homeowners, renters and those in social housing where a home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below, and an annual income below £30,000.
You may also be eligible if you do not possess an up-to-date EPC or earn more than £30,000 a year but are on certain benefits.
To apply, follow the instructions on your local council’s website.
Can I get free external wall insulation?
You can get external wall insulation either for free or for a small contribution providing you are eligible for the Energy Company Obligation.
This normally costs around £13,000 for a standard semi-detached house, according to the Energy Saving Trust, but could save you £245 per year on your energy bills.
Warmer Homes Scotland
Warmer Homes Scotland is designed for low-income households and vulnerable people who can apply for grants for insulation, renewable technologies and other energy-efficient home improvements.
Loft and wall insulation are among the improvements available on the Scottish government scheme, providing you meet one of the conditions for eligibility, one of which is that you have to have owned your home for at least six months.
You can contact Home Energy Scotland to learn more about the application process.
Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme
This scheme is available in Northern Ireland and provides fully-funded cavity wall insulation to low-income households with no central heating, solid fuel heating or an old oil or LPG heating system.
Low-income households in Wales and people with certain health conditions can apply to the Nest scheme to get help with insulation costs.
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Jack has worked in journalism for over a decade and was the former News Editor of Homebuilding & Renovating between 2019 until 2023. In his time as News Editor he broke the most relevant and beneficial stories for self builders, extenders and renovators, including the latest news on the construction materials shortage, planning permission and green initiatives. In 2021 he appeared on BBC's The World at One to discuss the government's planning reforms.
He enjoys testing new tools and gadgets, and having bought his first home in 2013, he has renovated every room and recently finished a garden renovation.
