Independent information
This is an independent information service. Scheme details, eligibility criteria, and availability are compiled from gov.uk and official scheme publications. Schemes can change and funding is subject to availability — always verify current eligibility with the scheme provider or your local authority. We are not a government body.
Routes to Free Insulation in the UK
There is no single "free insulation scheme" — there are several programmes with different eligibility criteria and funding sources. Here is a summary of the main routes, followed by detailed breakdowns of each.
| Scheme | Funded by | Key eligibility | Measures covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBIS | Energy suppliers | Qualifying benefits or general group + EPC D–G | Single insulation measure (loft, cavity, etc.) |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | Government (via local authority) | Lower-income households — whole-home packages | All insulation types + heating |
| ECO Flex | Energy suppliers (via council referral) | Low income / vulnerable — no benefits needed | All insulation types |
| Warm Homes Plan | Government | Expanding — broader eligibility | Insulation + heating |
| Home Upgrade Grant | Government | Off-gas-grid + low income | Insulation + heating |
| Devolved schemes | Scottish / Welsh Government | Varies by nation | All insulation types |
Warm Homes: Local Grant — the main route
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is now the primary route to funded insulation for most households in England. It sits under the Warm Homes Plan, is delivered by local authorities rather than energy suppliers, and targets low-income households in private tenure on a whole-house, fabric-first basis. It became the main route when the Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026, three weeks after ECO4.
Qualifying Benefits
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
- Child Tax Credit (income below the threshold)
- Working Tax Credit (income below the threshold)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Warm Home Discount (core group)
Your property must also have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G. The scheme aims to bring properties up to at least a band C where practically possible.
Coverage
What the schemes cover
- Cavity wall: Full installation cost covered
- Loft: Full installation cost covered
- Solid wall: Internal or external — full cost covered
- Underfloor: Where appropriate for the property
- Room-in-roof: Insulation for converted loft rooms
Note: The specific measures installed depend on your property's needs as identified by a professional assessment. The aim is the combination of improvements that most cost-effectively raises your EPC rating.
LA Flex — no benefits needed
Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex) is one of the most overlooked routes to free insulation. It allows local councils to refer households who do not receive qualifying benefits but are on lower incomes or are vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home.
Who can be referred?
Criteria vary by council, but according to gov.uk guidance, they typically include:
- Household income below a set threshold (often around £31,000)
- Property with an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G
- Occupants who are vulnerable to cold — elderly, disabled, long-term health conditions, families with young children
- Households identified as being in or at risk of fuel poverty
- Those receiving council tax reduction
How to apply
Contact your local council's energy or housing team. They will assess your circumstances and, if eligible, issue a declaration letter that allows an approved installer to proceed with funded work on your property.
This is worth checking even if you do not think you qualify. Many councils have signed up to ECO Flex, and the criteria are often considerably broader than the standard benefits list.
Other schemes
Government strategy
Warm Homes Plan
According to gov.uk, the Warm Homes Plan is the government's broader strategy to support home energy efficiency improvements. It builds on and expands the scope of existing schemes, with the aim of reaching more households and offering a wider range of measures including both insulation and low-carbon heating.
The plan is designed to provide expanded eligibility criteria beyond the current Warm Homes: Local Grant requirements, potentially making free insulation available to more middle-income households over time.
Off-gas-grid
Home Upgrade Grant (HUG)
The Home Upgrade Grant is specifically for properties that are off the mains gas grid — typically rural properties relying on oil, LPG, electric, or solid fuel heating.
According to gov.uk, HUG provides funding for insulation and heating improvements in lower-income off-gas-grid households. It is delivered through local authorities and can cover insulation, heating system upgrades, and solar panels in some cases.
Check with your local council if your property is not connected to mains gas.
Scotland
Warmer Homes Scotland
Scottish residents may also be eligible for Warmer Homes Scotland, funded by the Scottish Government. According to the Scottish Government, it provides free insulation and heating improvements to qualifying households based on a combination of income, benefits, and property type.
Contact Home Energy Scotland (free helpline) for advice and to check eligibility.
Wales
Nest Scheme
In Wales, the Nest scheme provides free home energy improvement advice and, for eligible households, free insulation and heating improvements. According to the Welsh Government, the scheme targets households in or at risk of fuel poverty.
Contact Nest directly for a free assessment — eligibility does not always require benefits.
What to expect
Not everyone qualifies for free insulation. If your household income is above the thresholds and you do not receive qualifying benefits, you may not be eligible through any of the current schemes.
However, the eligibility criteria are genuinely broader than most people assume. ECO Flex in particular catches many households that would not qualify through the standard benefits route. It is always worth checking.
Even if you do not qualify for free installation, insulation — particularly loft and cavity wall insulation — remains one of the best investments you can make in your property. According to the Energy Saving Trust, loft insulation typically costs £300–£700 and pays for itself within a couple of years through reduced heating bills.
The first step is always the same: check your eligibility. It costs nothing to find out.
Check Your Eligibility for Free Insulation
Answer a few questions to see which insulation funding route covers your household — Warm Homes: Local Grant, ECO Flex, or a devolved nation scheme. Takes less than two minutes.
Key eligibility factors:
- Separate caps: energy performance, low carbon heating
- Comprehensive energy upgrade, multiple measures
- Owner-occupier
Check your property against the live MHCLG EPC register to see your current band and every grant you qualify for — free, in under a minute.
Check your propertyApply for free insulation
Not sure which scheme applies to you? Share your situation and Energy Pages will help you find the right route, checking every available scheme on your behalf.
No obligation. Energy Pages checks all available schemes and connects you with approved installers.
How the process works
Eligibility check
We check your eligibility across the schemes that are open — the Warm Homes: Local Grant, ECO Flex, the Warm Homes Plan, and devolved nation programmes.
Property assessment
A qualified assessor visits your property to determine which insulation measures are needed and which will have the greatest impact on your EPC rating.
Installation
Certified installers carry out the work at no cost to you. The type and duration depend on the measures recommended for your property.
Certification
You receive guarantees for all work completed. Your EPC is updated to reflect the improvements made to your property.
Related guides
Grant hub
All energy grants
Complete hub for every energy grant in the UK, including insulation, heating, and renewable energy schemes.
Read guide →Grant scheme
ECO4 Scheme
The scheme that previously filled this role, now closed to new applications since March 2026. Full details on what it covered and the successor schemes.
Read guide →Grant scheme
GBIS (closed)
Closed 31 March 2026. Kept as a record, with the live insulation routes mapped.
Read guide →Find out if you qualify
The eligibility criteria are broader than most people think. Check now — it takes less than two minutes and costs nothing.