Government Grants 2026

Free energy grants for your home

Last updated: 1 April 2026

Written by the Great British Energy editorial team · Verified against gov.uk sources

The UK government funds several schemes that can cover the full cost of insulation, heat pumps, and boiler replacements. Check which grants you qualify for — it takes 30 seconds.

UK Energy Grants Comparison — 2026

Scheme Worth Up To Who Qualifies Covers Ends
ECO4 £10,000+ Benefits recipients, EPC D-G Insulation, boilers, solar, heat pumps Dec 2026
Boiler Upgrade £7,500 Any homeowner with valid EPC Heat pumps only Mar 2028
GBIS £3,000-£5,000 Council tax A-D, EPC D-G Cavity wall & loft insulation Mar 2026
Warm Home Discount £150 Pension Credit / low income Electricity bill discount Annual
VAT Relief 20% saving All UK homeowners Solar, heat pumps, insulation, batteries Mar 2027

Grant values and end dates based on current government policy as of 1 April 2026. Subject to change — always verify at gov.uk.

⚡ Key Takeaways

  • ECO4: Free insulation, boilers & solar for households on benefits (until Dec 2026)
  • Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 towards a heat pump for any homeowner (until 2028)
  • Great British Insulation Scheme: Subsidised insulation for council tax bands A-D
  • Warm Home Discount: £150 off electricity bills each winter
  • 0% VAT on solar panels, heat pumps, and insulation (since April 2022)
  • Schemes can be stacked — e.g. ECO4 insulation + BUS heat pump on the same home

Start here: which grant route fits you best?

On benefits and your home is EPC D-G?
Start with ECO4 — it’s the strongest route for free insulation, boilers, and in some cases solar.
Homeowner wanting a heat pump?
Look at the Boiler Upgrade Scheme first — no benefits test required.
Not sure which scheme applies?
Use the free postcode checker and we’ll route you to the best fit.
⚠️
GBIS closes THIS MONTH — apply before 31 March 2026The Great British Insulation Scheme ends March 2026. Once funding runs out, free insulation will no longer be available through GBIS. Check your eligibility now →

UK homeowners can claim £1,000s in free government energy grants in 2026. The main schemes are: ECO4 (free insulation, boilers and solar panels for benefit recipients — average £4,200 per household), the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500 towards heat pumps), GBIS (free insulation for council tax bands A–D — closing March 2026), and the Warm Home Discount (£150 off electricity bills). Enter your postcode to check what you qualify for.

🚨
Gov.uk grant monitor update — 1 April 2026Warm Home Discount guidance now shows a deadline extension to October 2026. EV chargepoint guidance now shows £500 for household, landlord, and workplace routes, and the older higher-cap figures have been removed from that gov.uk page.

Who should check eligibility now?

You should run the checker now if you receive benefits, own an older or poorly insulated home, are looking at a heat pump, or want to know whether ECO4, GBIS, or local council routes fit your property.

Useful next reads: grants for homeowners, grants for pensioners, and can you stack energy grants?.

What Are UK Energy Grants?

UK energy grants are government-funded programmes that pay for home energy improvements — insulation, boilers, heat pumps, and solar panels — at no cost to eligible homeowners. Three main schemes operate in 2026:

ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4)
Government scheme funding free insulation, boilers, solar panels, and heat pumps for low-income households. Worth up to £12,000 per home. Ends December 2026.
GBIS (Great British Insulation Scheme)
£1 billion insulation programme for homes in council tax bands A–D. No benefits required. Covers cavity wall, loft, and solid wall insulation. Ends March 2026.
BUS (Boiler Upgrade Scheme)
£7,500 grant towards air source or ground source heat pump installation. Open to any homeowner — no income or benefits test. Runs until March 2028.
Warm Home Discount
£150 one-off discount on your electricity bill. Automatic for Pension Credit recipients; others may qualify through their energy supplier.

Three government grants you could claim

Each scheme targets different households and improvements. Many homeowners qualify for more than one.

ECO4 Scheme

Up to £10,000+

Free insulation, boiler replacements, and heating upgrades for low-income and vulnerable households. Runs until December 2026.

Benefits-based eligibility

Great British Insulation Scheme

Free insulation

Cavity wall and loft insulation for homes in lower council tax band energy grants. No benefits required — wider eligibility than ECO4.

Council tax bands A–D

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

£7,500

Grants towards air source and ground source heat pumps. Your MCS-certified installer applies on your behalf. Extended to 2028.

Homeowners only

ECO4 Scheme

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) requires large energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements in eligible homes. It's the largest domestic energy efficiency scheme in the UK, covering everything from loft insulation to first-time central heating systems.

Who qualifies?
  • Receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Income Support
  • Income-Based JSA or Income-Related ESA
  • Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit (income under £16,480)
  • Housing Benefit
  • Home with EPC rating of D, E, F, or G
Loft insulation
Cavity wall insulation
Boiler replacement
Central heating
Solid wall insulation
Solar panels

Great British Insulation Scheme

Formerly known as ECO+, GBIS specifically targets insulation upgrades. The eligibility criteria are broader than ECO4 — you don't need to be on benefits. If your home is in a lower council tax band, you could get free or heavily subsidised insulation.

Who qualifies?
  • Home in council tax bands A–D (England) or A–E (Scotland/Wales)
  • No benefits requirement for the general group
  • Homeowners and private tenants (with landlord consent)
  • Home must have an EPC to confirm insulation need
Cavity wall insulation
Loft insulation
Flat roof insulation
Room-in-roof insulation

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides upfront capital grants to help homeowners replace fossil fuel heating with low-carbon alternatives. The £7,500 grant significantly reduces the cost of installing an air source or ground source heat pump.

Who qualifies?
  • Property owner (not available for new builds)
  • Valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
  • No previous BUS grant on the property
  • Installation by an MCS-certified installer
  • Replacing an existing fossil fuel heating system
Air source heat pump
Ground source heat pump

Grant questions answered

Common questions about ECO4, GBIS, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Can't find your answer? Enter your postcode and we'll help.

ECO4 is a government obligation on energy suppliers running until December 2026. You may be eligible if you receive benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Income-Based JSA, and your home has an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G. Eligible improvements include loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, boiler replacements, and first-time central heating.
GBIS provides free or heavily subsidised insulation to homes in council tax bands A–D in England and A–E in Scotland and Wales. It covers cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, flat roof insulation, and room-in-roof insulation. You do not need to be on benefits to qualify — it is available to a wider group of homeowners.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides £7,500 towards an air source heat pump or ground source heat pump installation. The grant is applied directly by your MCS-certified installer, reducing the upfront cost. You must own your property and have a valid EPC to qualify.
Yes, in many cases you can combine grants. For example, you could receive ECO4 funding for insulation and separately apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for a heat pump. However, you cannot use two grants for the same measure on the same property.
ECO4 applications typically take 2–4 weeks from initial survey to approval. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is usually processed within a few days once your MCS installer submits the application. GBIS timelines vary by local authority but are generally 2–6 weeks.
For the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, yes — you must own your property. For ECO4 and GBIS, both homeowners and private tenants (with landlord permission) can apply. Social housing tenants may also qualify through their housing provider.
ECO4 runs until December 2026. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been extended to 2028. GBIS is currently funded through March 2026. Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early is recommended.

Disclaimer: Great British Energy is an independent information service. We are not a government body and are not affiliated with Great British Energy (gbe.gov.uk). Grant amounts, eligibility criteria, and scheme details may change. Always verify with the relevant government department or your local authority before making financial decisions. We may receive referral fees when you use our partner installers — this doesn't affect our editorial recommendations. Content last reviewed: 1 April 2026.

Check your eligibility now

Use Great British Energy — enter your postcode to see which grants you qualify for. Free.

Research Hubs

Browse the pages doing the real routing work.

All locationsCity-by-city energy grant pages across the UK. Council guidesLocal-authority grant pages and area-specific eligibility routes. Energy blogFresh explainers on ECO4, GBIS, pensioner support, and retrofit decisions. Eligibility checkerGo straight from research to a grant fit check.

Part of the UK Property Tools Network

Research the property, the bills, and the grants in one pass.

Use EPC Checker for your rating baseline, Council Tax Checker for local bill pressure, and PlanWatch for nearby planning activity before you commit to improvements.

Check your EPC rating See the baseline before you price insulation, solar, or heat pumps. Council tax band lookup Pressure-test the full household cost picture, not just energy bills. Planning permission alerts Check nearby developments before spending on a renovation or retrofit plan.