Government-backed support can help with some home energy improvements, but no upgrade is automatically free or universally funded. Funding depends on the active scheme, delivery area, household, tenure, property and survey. Check the current route before relying on a measure or funding amount.
What home-improvement funding may cover
Government-backed schemes can contribute to insulation, low-carbon heating, solar and controls, but there is no single universal grant that pays for every improvement. The live route, nation, household, tenure, property EPC, existing heating and survey all matter. The scheme owner or authorised delivery body makes the decision.
Start by identifying the route before choosing the measure. A council-led whole-home scheme works differently from an installer-led heat-pump grant or an energy-supplier obligation.
Which funding routes are active?
| Route | Where and who | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | England; eligible lower-income households in privately owned EPC D-to-G homes | Local authority verifies eligibility and approves a surveyed package. Private-landlord contributions can apply. |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme | England and Wales; eligible property owners using an MCS-certified installer | Installer-led grant toward an eligible heat pump or limited biomass installation; not a whole-home grant or guarantee of zero customer contribution. |
| ECO4 | Great Britain; eligible low-income or vulnerable households through obligated suppliers | Supplier-led and targeted. The current obligation is scheduled to end on 31 December 2026, and availability depends on the delivery chain. |
| Local programmes | Nation, council and postcode dependent | Measure lists, budgets, priorities and application status vary. Use the official council or scheme-owner page. |
1. Loft insulation
Loft insulation may be considered where an active route includes it and the survey identifies suitable work. Existing insulation, roof condition, moisture, wiring and ventilation affect the specification. Funding should not be treated as permission to cover defects or block ventilation paths. Read the loft insulation cost and survey guide.
2. Cavity-wall insulation
Cavity-wall insulation can appear in council and supplier schemes where the wall construction, cavity condition and exposure are suitable. A competent survey should check for damp, debris and construction features before work is approved. Compare cavity-wall insulation costs and suitability checks.
3. Internal-wall insulation
Some solid-wall properties may be suitable for internal-wall insulation. Design needs to address moisture, ventilation, thermal bridges, room dimensions and services. A grant does not remove those technical requirements or guarantee that internal insulation is the correct option. See the internal-wall insulation guide.
4. Air source heat pumps
Heat pumps can be supported through Warm Homes: Local Grant or the Boiler Upgrade Scheme when the relevant property and route qualify. Ofgem currently lists BUS support of £7,500 for eligible air-to-water, ground and water source systems, £2,500 for eligible residential air-to-air systems, and a temporary £9,000 level for certain eligible off-gas-grid air-to-water or ground-source replacements until 31 March 2027.
The grant reduces eligible installation cost; it does not guarantee a free system, lower bills or an EPC outcome. Heat loss, emitters, hot water, electrics, noise and controls still need proper design. Review heat-pump suitability and current BUS support.
5. Solar panels
Solar panels can be included in some local whole-home packages, including Warm Homes: Local Grant where the authority and survey approve them. They are not a standard Boiler Upgrade Scheme measure. Roof condition, shading, structural capacity, electrical design, network requirements and household demand should be checked before assuming solar is suitable. See the solar panel installation decision guide.
6. Room-in-roof insulation
A converted loft may be considered for room-in-roof insulation under an eligible fabric-improvement route. This is a specialist measure: the survey and design must deal with slopes, dwarf walls, residual voids, roof ventilation, moisture and fire safety. Read the room-in-roof insulation funding guide.
7. Smart heating controls
Smart controls, timers, thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves can be included in some approved packages, often alongside a primary heating measure. They are not automatically funded as standalone work. HMRC also currently lists the qualifying installation of central-heating and hot-water controls among specified energy-saving materials eligible for temporary 0% VAT until 31 March 2027.
Who may qualify?
| Evidence area | Typical question |
|---|---|
| Nation and council | Is the route available at this address and still accepting applications? |
| Household | Does income, a qualifying benefit, health route or eligible postcode apply? |
| Tenure | Is the applicant an owner-occupier, private tenant or landlord, and whose consent is required? |
| Property | What is the current EPC, construction, heating system and previous funded-work history? |
| Measure | Does the survey approve the work under the scheme standards and cost limits? |
| Contribution | What will the scheme pay, what must the owner or landlord pay, and what is excluded? |
For Warm Homes: Local Grant, household income must usually be £36,000 a year or less, although benefits or an eligible postcode can provide another route. A qualifying tenant can open a route for a private rental, but the landlord must consent and contribution rules can apply.
What evidence should you prepare?
- the property address and current EPC;
- proof of income or qualifying benefits when the household route requires it;
- ownership, tenancy and landlord-consent information;
- details of existing heating and previous grant-funded work;
- survey reports, quotations and the proposed measure package;
- the written contribution, warranty, maintenance and cancellation terms.
Do not pay an unexpected fee or agree to work because a cold caller says a grant is guaranteed. Check the organisation, the scheme route and the written offer independently.
Official sources and review date
Current facts were checked on 24 August 2026 against the GOV.UK Warm Homes: Local Grant service, Ofgem Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance, Ofgem ECO guidance and HMRC VAT Notice 708/6. Check them again before relying on a value, deadline or eligibility rule.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay anything back?
A grant is not normally a loan, but some routes require a customer or landlord contribution and finance has separate repayment terms. Check the written offer before agreeing to work.
Can I choose which improvements I want?
You can discuss priorities, but funded measures are limited by scheme rules, survey findings and the approved package. You do not have to accept work before you understand the scope and terms.
Do landlords qualify?
Some routes include privately rented homes, but eligibility can depend on the tenant household, property, landlord consent and contribution rules. A landlord or rental property is not automatically eligible.
