UK Insulation Grant Eligibility Checker
GBIS closed in early 2026 — but ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 and new Warm Homes schemes are opening. Answer 5 questions to see which current grants your home fits.
Where is your home?
Do you own or rent?
What is your EPC rating?
Check free at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate — most UK homes are D or E.
Does anyone in your household receive a qualifying benefit?
Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based JSA/ESA, Income Support, Housing Benefit, or Child Benefit (under income caps).
Is your household income under roughly £31,000, or does anyone have a health condition made worse by a cold home?
Scheme status verified July 2026: ECO4 open to 31 Dec 2026 (benefits-linked + LA Flex, EPC D–G); Great British Insulation Scheme closed to applications 31 Jan 2026; Warm Homes: Local Grant rolling out via English councils; Warmer Homes Scotland and Nest (Wales) open. This checker gives guidance, not a guarantee — final eligibility is confirmed by the scheme administrator or installer survey. EnergyRanked may receive a fee if you request quotes; results are never affected by that.
UK insulation funding in 2026 — the honest picture
The scheme landscape changed sharply this year: the Great British Insulation Scheme closed to applications in January 2026, while ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 and the government’s Warm Homes programme is rolling out through councils. That leaves three live routes for most households — ECO4 (benefits-linked), ECO4 Flex (council referral on income or health grounds), and Warm Homes: Local Grant (England, council by council) — plus Warmer Homes Scotland and Nest in Wales. This checker asks the five things those schemes actually assess.
Who realistically qualifies
The broad shape: someone in the household on a means-tested benefit (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Tax Credits, Housing Benefit, income-based JSA/ESA and others) plus a home with an EPC of D–G puts you squarely in ECO4. No qualifying benefit? ECO4 Flex lets councils refer households with income under roughly £31,000 — or with health conditions made worse by cold — into the same funding. Homes rated A–C generally fall outside grant scope, because the schemes exist to fix the leakiest housing first.
If you don’t qualify: the self-funded maths
| Measure | Typical cost | Typical annual saving | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loft top-up (to 270mm+) | from ~£400 | £200–£300 | < 3 years |
| Cavity wall fill | £1,000–£2,500 | £150–£300 | 4–9 years |
| Solid wall (internal/external) | £7,500–£15,000+ | £300–£500 | 15+ years — grants matter here |
Common questions
Is “free insulation” a scam?
The funding is real — ECO4 legally obliges energy suppliers to fund measures for qualifying households. The scams are the doorstep operators around it, which is why we only match you with accredited, independently ranked installers.
How do I find my EPC rating?
Free at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate — most UK homes are D or E, which is exactly the range the schemes target.
I rent — can I get it?
Private tenants can qualify under ECO4 with the landlord’s consent (worth telling them — it’s their asset being improved). Social tenants go through their housing association.
What happens after the checker?
If you request it, an accredited installer surveys your home free, confirms the funding route and handles the application — that survey is the official eligibility decision, not this tool.