Energy grants FAQ

According to government sources, the main UK energy grant schemes in 2026 are:

• ECO4 Scheme: Energy efficiency measures (GB-wide) - not a grant with a set amount, and every installation must be completed by 31 December 2026
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 for heat pumps, £5,000 for biomass (England & Wales)
• Warm Homes Plan: comprehensive upgrades under two Warm Homes: Local Grant caps of £16,600 — one for energy performance, one for low carbon heating (England only, launched April 2025)
• Home Energy Scotland: up to £7,500 towards clean heating and up to £7,500 towards insulation, each £1,500 higher in rural and island areas — Scotland only. Warmer Homes Scotland is the separate means-tested route
• Nest (Warm Homes Nest): free home energy improvements for eligible households — Wales only. There is no cap and nothing for the household to contribute
• Northern Ireland: the Affordable Warmth Scheme, through the Housing Executive's NI Energy Advice Service for households on a gross income under £23,000, and NISEP — Northern Ireland only
• Local Authority schemes: Various council-specific programmes

Yes, in many cases you can combine schemes, but there are rules:

• ECO4 and Boiler Upgrade Scheme can sometimes be combined for different measures
• Local authority schemes may complement national programmes
• You cannot typically receive funding from multiple schemes for the same specific measure
• Scotland and Wales run their own schemes, and Ofgem's local authority guidance bars blending ECO4 funding with several of them — Warmer Homes Scotland, Home Energy Scotland, Scottish Area Based Schemes and Warm Homes Nest among them
• Professional installers can advise on the best combination for your situation

This depends on the scheme and your specific situation:

• ECO4: Often fully funded, but it is not a grant scheme - installers may ask you to contribute, and Ofgem advises shopping around if they do
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Grant is deducted from installation cost - you pay the remainder
• Warm Homes Plan: under Warm Homes: Local Grant in England, owner occupiers “are not required or expected to make any contributions” — the council pays for the work it agrees with you
• Some installers offer payment plans for any remaining costs
• Always get clear pricing information before work begins

Income thresholds vary by scheme:

• ECO4: Eligibility on the main route is through qualifying benefits. Gross household income under £31,000 is Route 1 of ECO4 Flex, the council referral route for households not on those benefits
• Warm Homes Plan: for Warm Homes: Local Grant in England, gross household income of £36,000 a year or less. Earn more and you may still qualify through your postcode area, or if someone in the household gets certain means-tested benefits
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme: No income restrictions - available to all
• Scottish schemes: Various thresholds depending on household composition
• Many schemes also have benefit-based eligibility routes that don't require income assessment

EPC requirements vary by scheme:

• ECO4: EPC rating D, E, F or G if you own your home; E, F or G if you rent privately
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme: No EPC rating requirement
• Warm Homes Plan: Warm Homes: Local Grant covers English homes rated EPC D, E, F or G — bands A to C are not eligible
• Scottish schemes: Typically target lower EPC rated properties
• If you don't have an EPC, one can usually be arranged as part of the assessment process

Tenants may be eligible, but it depends on the scheme and landlord permission:

• ECO4: Private tenants may be eligible with landlord consent
• Warm Homes Plan: in England, Warm Homes: Local Grant covers owner occupiers and private tenants, who contribute nothing towards the work. The home has to be privately owned, so social housing is not covered
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a tenant cannot apply at all — gov.uk requires the applicant to “own the property you’re applying for”. The landlord applies, and may do so for a property they rent out. Worth raising with them if the heating needs replacing: it is £7,500 off their bill, not yours
• Social housing tenants should contact their housing provider directly
• Landlords apply in their own right rather than on a tenant’s behalf: the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for a property they rent out, and in England the Warm Homes: Local Grant funds one rented home in full per landlord and half the cost of each additional home, with the tenant household meeting the income test

The application process varies by scheme:

• ECO4: Apply through an approved installer - they handle the application process
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme: MCS-certified installers apply on your behalf
• Warm Homes Plan: for Warm Homes: Local Grant in England, you apply to central government first at gov.uk/apply-warm-homes-local-grant — the service checks your postcode and passes you to your council. If you are eligible and your council still has funding, it arranges a home survey and pays for any work it agrees with you
• Routes differ by scheme - for ECO4 there is no central government application: you go through an obligated energy supplier, a TrustMark-registered installer, or your council under ECO4 Flex
• Energy Pages can pass your enquiry to one qualified installer in your area

Timescales vary depending on the scheme and your specific situation:

• Initial assessment: Usually 1-2 weeks after installer visit
• Grant approval: Can take 2-8 weeks depending on scheme complexity
• Installation scheduling: 2-6 weeks after approval (varies by installer availability)
• Total process: Typically 6-16 weeks from first contact to completion
• ECO4 deadline: 31 December 2026 is a completion deadline, not an application one - the installation itself has to be finished by then, so work back from that date rather than from when you enquire
• Complex installations or multiple measures may take longer

Common documents required include:

• Proof of income (payslips, tax returns, benefit statements)
• Council Tax bill or statement
• Utility bills (gas and electricity)
• Property ownership documents or tenancy agreement
• EPC certificate (if available - can be arranged if needed)
• Bank statements (for some schemes)
• Photo ID

Your installer will provide a complete checklist for your specific application.

Typical grant installations include:

• Heat pump installation: Full system including outdoor unit, indoor components, and controls
• Insulation: Materials and professional installation with proper ventilation considerations
• System commissioning: Testing and optimisation of all installed equipment
• User training: How to operate your new systems efficiently
• Warranties: Manufacturer warranties plus installer guarantees
• Certification: All required building control and MCS certificates

Most heat pump installations fall under permitted development rights:

• Air source heat pumps usually don't need planning permission for most properties
• Ground source heat pumps may require permission for ground works
• Listed buildings and conservation areas have special requirements
• Your installer will assess planning requirements during the initial survey
• Building regulations approval is typically required regardless of planning permission

Installation disruption varies by measure type:

• Air source heat pump: 1-3 days installation, heating off during work
• Ground source heat pump: 1-2 weeks due to ground works
• Insulation: 1-5 days depending on extent, some room access restrictions
• Solar panels: 1-2 days, minimal internal disruption
• Professional installers minimise disruption and provide temporary heating if needed
• Most work can continue around your daily routine with some planning