Free loft insulation might sound great, but not everyone will qualify for a government insulation grant, so it’s best to think about the pros and cons of making an insulation eco home improvement before deciding if it’s right for you. And if it turns out you do qualify for an insulation grant, then that’s just icing on the cake!
Whilst more homeowners than ever are enjoying the benefits of insulation through UK government insulation schemes, not everybody will qualify, and for those that do, not everybody will have the full cost of the insulation installation covered either.
It all depends on the specific grants and their eligibility criteria, so it’s worth looking into the different options and knowing which grant funding might be right for you…
There are a range of government grants and funding schemes for insulation out there, covering a whole host of insulation options, including:
There are many different ways to insulate your home and retain as much of the heat generated as possible. With government support through insulation grants, it’s easier than ever to enjoy the benefits of insulation at home, and in many cases the insulation grants will cover all or the majority of the costs.
As the UK government targets Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, eco home improvements are being incentivised, making it the perfect time to look into home improvements for your home that may be covered by grants and will help you reduce energy bills.
The key to understanding insulation grants is keeping up with the latest news. As with all government grants, insulation grants change frequently, and will be repackaged with different names, benefits, and eligibility criteria.
The best way to make sure the information you’re looking at is up to date is to ensure you’re getting your information from an insulation company who specialises in grants – like us here at ZOA Energy Solutions. We’ll keep this page as up-to-date as possible, and if you’re ever unsure, contact us directly. Our customer service team will be happy to discuss any changes or updates to the grants below if it’s applicable.
ECO4 was first introduced in April 2022 to replace the old ECO3 scheme. It introduces new eligibility criteria and expands the number of households the scheme will be able to help.
ECO4 targets the lowest income households in the poorest-performing homes for energy efficiency in the UK, by offering eco home improvements to control their energy bills, improve their energy ratings, and reduce the carbon emissions these energy inefficient homes produce each year. This scheme covers a range of home improvements such as solar panels, but insulation can be covered as part of the scheme, too.
This means those living in the worst performing houses with the lowest incomes can enjoy the benefits of insulating their home with no (to very small) upfront costs. In total, the UK government has allocated £4 billion to the project which will end in March 2026 and support thousands of UK homes.
As this scheme aims to support low income households in energy inefficient homes, you’ll need to meet certain criteria in order to be able to apply for the grant to cover the cost of installing your insulation. If you meet these requirements, then you may be eligible for the scheme:
If you’re a low income household but you don’t meet the other criteria for ECO4, or GBIS for that matter, then you may still be eligible for insulation grant funding under the LA Flex scheme, which widens out the eligibility criteria and hands control to local authorities and councils that can decide if an insulation grant is right for you…
Insulation grants are designed to help the most vulnerable households suffering from big energy bills. Each grant has different eligibility criteria, but if you’re in a low income household, have a poor performing home in terms of energy efficiency, and/or you’re in receipt of benefits and are in a low council tax band, then the chances are you’ll qualify for one of the insulation grants out there.
Again, each grant is different. Contact ZOA Energy Solutions today, and we’ll be able to guide you through any application process of a grant you qualify for.
Yes. Although ECO4 requires the person putting in the application to be in receipt of benefits (or someone in their household to be), other schemes don’t have this same requirement. LA Flex and the Great British Insulation Scheme focus more on household income than benefits. Keep reading to see if you can get free insulation if you’re not on benefits.
No. Grants are designed to help the most vulnerable domestic households reduce their energy costs. That means, if you qualify, you can enjoy the benefits of insulation with none of the upfront costs. Funding comes from the main energy suppliers as part of the Energy Company Obligation.