Which UK home improvement grants are genuinely free in 2026? Compare Warm Homes Local Grant, ECO4, BUS and what landlords and tenants can claim.
Free home improvement grants UK 2026: what is actually available
Last updated:July 2026
Searches for free home improvement grants usually mean one thing: households want to know whether the government will pay for insulation, heating or wider energy upgrades without an upfront bill. In 2026 the honest answer is that several routes exist, but none is universal. Eligibility depends on where you live, who owns the property, household income, the EPC rating and which measures a survey confirms as suitable.
This guide separates fully funded support from part-funded grants and paid alternatives, so you can check the right route before planning work.
Quick answer: which grants can be free?
- Scheme: Warm Homes: Local Grant | Fully free?: Yes, for eligible households where the council has funding | Who decides: Your local authority | Typical measures : Insulation, heat pumps, controls, solar (survey-led)
- Scheme: ECO4 (via energy suppliers) | Fully free?: Yes, for qualifying low-income households | Who decides: Accredited installer and energy supplier | Typical measures : Insulation, heating upgrades (scheme rules apply)
- Scheme: Boiler Upgrade Scheme | Fully free?: No , upfront grant, not a free installation | Who decides: MCS-certified installer via Ofgem | Typical measures : Air source, ground source and biomass heating
- Scheme: Paid work and finance | Fully free?: No | Who decides: Customer and installer | Typical measures : Any suitable improvement
If you need a single starting point, use theofficial Warm Homes: Local Grant checkerfor England and ourgrants overviewto compare routes.
Warm Homes: Local Grant , the main fully funded route
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is the clearest answer to "free home improvements" for eligible households in England. It is delivered through participating local authorities, not applied for directly to a national installer network.
Property conditions
Your home must:
- be in England
- be privately owned (owner-occupied or privately rented)
- have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G
Social housing is outside this route. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland operate different programmes.
Household conditions
You must meet at least one eligibility pathway:
- Income threshold, gross household income of £36,000 or less
- Benefits proxy, someone in the household receives qualifying means-tested benefits
- Eligible postcode, the property is in an IMD income decile 1–2 area (even if income is above £36,000)
These pathways are checked through theGOV.UK eligibility service. A positive check routes your details to the local authority; it is not a guarantee of funding or a specific measure.
What you can get
If eligible and your council has budget, a home survey determines the package. Published guidance lists wall, loft and underfloor insulation, air source heat pumps, smart controls and solar panels among possible measures. The council arranges and pays for agreed work. Homeowners do not pay for the funded package.
Tenants and landlords
Private tenants can qualify where the household and property conditions are met. The landlord must consent, and the council may require a landlord contribution before work proceeds. See ourtenant guideandWarm Homes Plan pagefor the landlord consent process.
Funding window:£500 million allocated from April 2025 to March 2028. Availability varies by council.
ECO4 , supplier-led free upgrades (closing December 2026)
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) remains open until31 December 2026. Energy suppliers fund insulation and heating improvements for eligible low-income and vulnerable households through accredited installers.
Unlike the Local Grant, ECO4 is not council-delivered. You apply through an installer or supplier participating in the scheme. Measures depend on a property assessment and the supplier's obligation rules.
ECO4 overlaps with Local Grant eligibility in some cases. An accredited assessor should confirm which open route fits the property. ECO4 is winding down; households that may qualify should not delay checks.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme , a grant, not a free installation
TheBoiler Upgrade Schemereduces upfront cost but does not make a heat pump installation free. Ofgem publishes current grant values:
- £7,500for air-to-water, ground source and water source heat pumps
- £2,500for air-to-air heat pumps (residential only)
- £5,000for biomass boilers
- £9,000for air-to-water or ground source heat pumps in eligible off-gas grid properties (from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027)
There is no household income cap. Property owners apply through an MCS-certified installer, who redeems the voucher against the invoice. You pay the balance after the grant.
BUS suits households that can fund or finance the remaining cost and want low-carbon heating without means-testing.
Schemes that are closed or replaced
Do not plan around these in 2026:
- Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), closed
- Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2), replaced by Warm Homes: Local Grant
- Green Homes Grant voucher scheme, closed (2021)
If an adviser references these as current, ask which live successor applies.
Free vs part-funded vs paid: how to read the offer
- Language: "Free grant" / "fully funded" | What it usually means : No household payment for agreed measures (Local Grant, ECO4 where eligible)
- Language: "Grant towards" / "up to £X off" | What it usually means : Upfront discount; you pay the remainder (BUS)
- Language: "Finance available" | What it usually means : Loan or credit subject to status; not a grant
- Language: "No upfront cost" | What it usually means : May mean finance or deferred payment; read the contract
A responsible check names the decision-maker (council, Ofgem, supplier), the evidence required and any landlord or customer contribution.
Who qualifies? A practical checklist
Work through these before assuming a grant applies:
- Nation, England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland?
- Tenure, owner, private tenant or social tenant?
- EPC, current rating and whether the property needs a fresh certificate
- Household, income, benefits or postcode for means-tested routes
- Measure, insulation, heating replacement or wider retrofit?
- Delivery, is the council or installer route open in your area?
Ourfree assessmenthelps map property conditions to open schemes before you commit budget.
Landlords: what free support exists in 2026?
Landlords do not apply for the Local Grant in place of the tenant. The occupying household leads eligibility. Landlords must:
- consent to survey and installation
- accept any required contribution the council sets for private rented properties
- meet MEES obligations separately (EPC C by 2030 for new and renewing tenancies under current policy)
For EPC-driven planning, seelandlord energy guidance. BUS grants apply to the property owner directly for heat pump installations regardless of tenancy, with tenant disruption managed through normal landlord processes.
How to apply (step by step)
For fully funded Local Grant support
- Check eligibility atGOV.UK
- Wait for your council to contact you (typically within 10 working days)
- Complete the home survey
- Review the agreed measure package and any landlord contribution
- Council arranges installation with accredited contractors
For ECO4
- Contact an ECO4-accredited installer or check your energy supplier's scheme page
- Complete a property and household assessment
- Installer confirms eligible measures under supplier rules
- Installation scheduled if approved
For BUS heat pump grant
- Get a property suitability assessment
- Obtain quotes from MCS-certified installers
- Installer applies for the BUS voucher on your behalf
- Grant deducted from invoice; you pay the balance
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming "grant" means free.BUS and some finance products are often marketed alongside grants; read the payment terms.
- Skipping the EPC check.Most funded routes require D to G or a confirmed need for improvement.
- Ignoring local funding limits.Eligibility does not guarantee the council has budget this quarter.
- Planning around closed schemes.GBIS and HUG2 referrals should point to Local Grant or ECO4.
- Tenants proceeding without landlord agreement.Work cannot start without consent on rented property.
What if you are not eligible?
You still have options:
- Boiler Upgrade Schemeif heat pumps suit the property
- Customer-funded insulation and heatingscoped to EPC and bill savings
- Finance subject to statuswhere affordability checks pass
- Staged improvementsprioritising fabric first, then heating
Ourinsulation servicesandfinance pagecover paid routes.
FAQ
Are there free home improvement grants for anyone in the UK?
No single grant covers every household. England has the Warm Homes: Local Grant and ECO4 for eligible low-income homes, plus BUS for heat pumps without income testing. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate programmes.
Can I get free insulation without replacing my boiler?
Yes, where a survey confirms insulation is suitable and you qualify under Local Grant or ECO4. Insulation is often prioritised before heating replacement.
Do free grants cover windows and doors?
Local Grant measures are survey-led; published lists focus on insulation, heat pumps, controls and solar. Window replacement is not typically the primary funded measure. Check the survey outcome rather than assuming coverage.
How long does approval take?
Local Grant: council contact usually within 10 working days of a successful check, then survey scheduling. ECO4 and BUS timelines depend on installer capacity.
Is ECO4 still available in 2026?
Yes, until 31 December 2026. After that, households should rely on Local Grant and other confirmed routes.
Need help checking your property?Request a free assessmentor read ourhome energy grants hubfor scheme comparisons.
*Cucumber Eco Solutions Ltd provides property-led energy advice. Grant approval rests with the relevant council, scheme administrator or accredited delivery route. Funding rules change; always confirm at the official source before committing.*
