Insulation is usually the cheapest way to cut heating bills, and many homes can have it fitted free. Some schemes are for anyone in a lower council tax band, others for people on benefits or a low income.
Checked against each scheme's official page. Last updated 2 November 2026.
Grant · Northern Ireland · Department for Communities, run by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Up to £7,500, or up to £10,000 for solid wall insulation
A grant of up to £7,500 (or £10,000 for solid wall homes) for insulation, draught proofing, a new oil or gas heating system or boiler, and replacing single glazed windows.
Who can get it: Homeowners and private tenants in Northern Ireland with a total gross household income under £23,000 a year.
Grant · Scotland · Local councils, funded by the Scottish Government
Varies by council, often free or heavily reduced
Council-run schemes in areas with high fuel poverty that pay for insulation such as loft, cavity, internal or external wall and room-in-roof insulation, and sometimes home renewables.
Who can get it: Homeowners who struggle to heat their home, living in an area their council has chosen for a scheme. Each council sets its own rules.
Grant · England, Wales, Scotland · Your local council (declarations) with energy suppliers · Closing
Usually free insulation or heating upgrades through ECO4.
Lets your council refer you for ECO4 help even if you do not get benefits, for example if you are on a low income or vulnerable to the cold. The same Flex Route 2 test can also qualify you for the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Who can get it: Private households (owners and private tenants) that meet their council's published Statement of Intent, usually low income or a health condition made worse by cold.
Grant · England, Wales, Scotland · Large energy suppliers, regulated by Ofgem · Closing
Usually free; you may be asked for a contribution.
Free or cheaper insulation and heating upgrades paid for by energy suppliers for low-income and vulnerable households. It is closing and no new scheme will replace it.
Who can get it: People on certain benefits in privately owned (EPC D to G) or privately rented (EPC E to G) homes, social tenants in EPC E to G homes, and people referred by their council under ECO Flex.
Grant · Scotland · Scottish Government, through Home Energy Scotland
Up to £7,500 grant plus £7,500 loan for clean heating, up to £7,500 grant for insulation; up to £18,000 grant in rural and island homes
A grant of up to £7,500 plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500 for a heat pump or other clean heating, and a grant of up to 75% of the cost (capped at £7,500) for insulation. Rural and island homes get an extra £1,500 on each grant.
Who can get it: Homeowners in Scotland, for the home they live in as their only or main home. You do not need to be on benefits.
Grant · Northern Ireland · Utility Regulator, administered by Energy Saving Trust, delivered by named scheme managers
Fully funded, no cost to you
A free new A-rated oil or gas boiler or central heating (or high heat retention storage heaters), with cavity wall and loft insulation, plus small extras like LED bulbs, smart heating controls and draught proofing. One scheme also does solid wall insulation.
Who can get it: Homeowners in Northern Ireland on a single income under £28,000, or a couple or single parent family under £35,000, who have no central heating, solid fuel heating, a boiler over 15 years old or broken, or old Economy 7 heaters.
Grant · Northern Ireland · Utility Regulator, administered by Energy Saving Trust, delivered by named scheme managers
Fully funded, no cost to you
Free cavity wall and loft insulation, plus small extras like LED bulbs, a hot water tank jacket, radiator panels and draught proofing.
Who can get it: Homeowners in Northern Ireland on a single income under £33,000, or a couple or single parent family under £40,000.
Grant · Northern Ireland · Utility Regulator, administered by Energy Saving Trust, delivered by Refresh NI and McGaffin Mechanical
Fully funded, no cost to you
A free air source heat pump with cavity wall and loft insulation. The Toasty Homes Heat Pump and Solar scheme can also add solar panels, and the official list mentions battery storage.
Who can get it: Homeowners in Northern Ireland on a single income under £28,000, or a couple or single parent family under £35,000, with no central heating, solid fuel, an oil or LPG boiler over 15 years old or broken, or old Economy 7 heaters.
Grant · Northern Ireland · Utility Regulator, administered by Energy Saving Trust, delivered by named scheme managers
40% grant, up to £650 per insulation measure or £1,000 for cavity extraction and refill
40% off cavity wall or loft insulation, up to £650 per measure (up to £1,000 for removing and refilling old cavity wall insulation), plus a free hot water tank jacket.
Who can get it: Homeowners and private tenants in Northern Ireland at any income level who do not qualify for other NISEP schemes.
Grant · Northern Ireland · Utility Regulator, administered by Energy Saving Trust, delivered by named scheme managers
60% of heating cost paid, insulation free
60% off a new gas or oil central heating system or high heat retention storage heaters, with free cavity wall and loft insulation. You pay the other 40% of the heating cost.
Who can get it: Homeowners and private tenants in Northern Ireland on a single income under £45,000, or a couple or single parent family under £50,000, with no central heating, solid fuel, an oil or LPG boiler over 15 years old or broken, or old Economy 7 heaters.
Grant · Wales · Welsh Government, through councils and housing associations
Free to tenants, paid to the landlord
Welsh Government money for councils and housing associations to add insulation, better heating and renewable energy such as solar to their homes. Tenants pay nothing.
Who can get it: Tenants of councils and housing associations in Wales, where their landlord has put their home forward.
Grant · Northern Ireland · Department for Communities · Opening
Not yet announced
A new main scheme for making private homes warmer and cheaper to heat, planned to replace the Affordable Warmth Scheme. Details of what it pays for are not yet final.
Who can get it: Low income households in private homes in Northern Ireland. Final rules not yet published.
Grant · Wales · Welsh Government (run by British Gas, with advice from Energy Saving Trust)
Free package of improvements, no fixed limit published
A free package of home improvements chosen for your home after a visit, such as a heat pump, insulation and solar panels. If you have no working heating or hot water, it may repair or replace your boiler or electric storage heaters.
Who can get it: People in Wales who own their home or rent from a private landlord, get a means-tested benefit or have a low household income, and live in a home with a poor energy rating.
Grant · England · Your local council, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Free for homeowners. Councils can spend on average up to £16,600 per home on insulation and solar, plus up to £16,600 on a heat pump.
Free home upgrades arranged and paid for by your council, such as insulation, solar panels, a heat pump and smart heating controls. A survey decides what your home needs.
Who can get it: Homeowners and private tenants in England on a low income (household income £36,000 or less, a means-tested benefit, or living in an eligible postcode) whose home is EPC D to G, where the council is taking part.
Grant · England · Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), with the ten Greater Manchester councils
Up to £30,000 for a first home (up to £15,000 for energy performance work and £15,000 for low carbon heating). Second and later rented homes get 50%.
The Greater Manchester version of the Warm Homes: Local Grant, funded through the area's devolved settlement. Free insulation, solar and low carbon heating for eligible homes.
Who can get it: Owner occupiers and private tenants in Greater Manchester on a low income, in homes rated EPC D to G.
Grant · England · West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and its seven councils
Free upgrades for eligible residents in priority areas; landlords can get 70% of costs on up to 4 homes, then 50%.
Warm Homes funding for the West Midlands metropolitan councils, paid through the area's devolved settlement. Councils offer free upgrades in chosen neighbourhoods, and WMCA offers landlords grants covering 70% of costs.
Who can get it: Low-income homeowners and private tenants in specific neighbourhoods of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton, in homes rated EPC D or worse.
Grant · England · Councils and housing associations, funded by DESNZ
Free to tenants; paid by your landlord with government funding.
Funding for social landlords to insulate homes and fit solar panels and low carbon heating for their tenants, at no cost to the tenant.
Who can get it: Council and housing association tenants in England whose home is EPC D to G and whose landlord won funding.
Grant · Scotland · Scottish Government, through Home Energy Scotland and Warmworks
Most or all costs paid, often worth £10,000 or more
Free home improvements such as wall and loft insulation, draught proofing, new heating (storage heaters, a gas boiler or an air source heat pump) and home renewables. Support is often worth £10,000 or more.
Who can get it: Homeowners and private tenants in Scotland with a poor energy rating, where someone in the home gets a qualifying benefit, is 75 or over with no working heating, or is terminally ill.
Loan · Wales · Welsh Government, managed by the Development Bank of Wales
Interest-free loan of £1,000 to £25,000 over up to 10 years, with some grants alongside
A free home assessment by a retrofit coordinator, then an interest-free loan of £1,000 to £25,000 for energy saving work. Some measures also get a grant, but only alongside a loan, and it can top up a Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grant.
Who can get it: Homeowners in Wales who live in the home as their main home. Not means tested, but you must pass credit and affordability checks.
Loan · Scotland · Scottish Government, through Home Energy Scotland
Up to £38,500 per property (£15,000 efficiency, £17,500 renewables, £6,000 storage); 0% for up to 5 properties
An interest-free loan for registered private landlords to insulate rented homes and fit heat pumps or other renewables, up to £38,500 per property.
Who can get it: Registered private landlords in Scotland. Tenants can point their landlord to it.
Tax saving · Whole UK · HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) · Closing
0% VAT instead of 5% on installed energy-saving products
No VAT is charged when an installer fits insulation, solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, heating controls and similar products in a home. This saves you 5% compared with the normal reduced rate.
Who can get it: Anyone having qualifying products installed in a home (or charity building) in the UK. Applied by the installer.
Put in your postcode and answer a few optional questions to see which of these you look eligible for.
