Can you get free insulation?

Adding or upgrading insulation is one of the best ways to improve your energy efficiency and reduce your bills. High upfront costs can be a major barrier, but there are grants and schemes available to cut these down if your home is eligible. 

Over time, insulation will pay for itself with the savings you make on your energy bills. It will also make your home feel cosier and set you up in a good position for if you ever decide to switch to a low-carbon heating system. So it’s worth doing, especially if you can get a grant to help. 

According to the Energy Saving Trust, you could save £230 a year on your energy bills by insulating your loft, and £240 with cavity wall insulation if you live in a semi-detached house.

We’ve rounded up the currently available schemes offering free or cheaper insulation in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

You can also apply for funding directly through certain energy suppliers. Find out more about accessing energy companies' free insulation deals in our guide. 

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Assess your home's energy efficiency

Before searching for grants you might be eligible for, it’s worth assessing the current state of your home’s energy efficiency. Think about any insulation you may already have in the loft, roof, walls or floor. 

You can use our home energy planning service tool to help kickstart this process and keep track of upgrades you make:

Make your property more energy efficient

Find out about our free home energy planning service

See more

Other useful things to do before searching for grants, which will help your search and application:

• Locate and read your energy performance certificate (EPC) rating
• Find out your council tax band
• Make a note of any government benefits you receive

For more information on the different types of insulation and how to interpret your EPC, read our guide to how to insulate your home.

The Great British Insulation Scheme

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) offers cheaper or free roof, loft, cavity or solid wall insulation. 

It’s the latest phase of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, in which energy suppliers are required to help households improve their energy efficiency.

Qualifying properties must have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D or below, and be in council tax bands A-D in England or A-E in Scotland and Wales. GBIS is not available in Northern Ireland.

Homeowners, landlords or tenants are able to apply, but tenants will need to speak to their landlord for permission before anything can be installed.

You can try out the Great British Insulation Scheme eligibility tool on the government's website. Alternatively, call 0800 098 7950 or speak to your energy provider about it directly.

The tool will ask questions such as how you heat your home, whether it has solid or cavity walls, and if you receive any benefits.

After using the tool, you will be referred to your energy supplier for further support.

For more details on the types of home improvements available, and which energy suppliers are signed up to the scheme, read our guide to the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

Insulation grants in England

In some English postcodes, your local council may be able to help you with a Home Upgrade Grant. To be eligible, you need to:

• Own and live in the property you’re applying for
• Not use a gas boiler as your home’s main heating system
• Have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G

Usually, you need to have a household income of £36,000 a year or less, although this limit is higher in some postcode areas.

If eligible, your local council will send a surveyor to suggest upgrades, which may include:

• Wall, loft and underfloor insulation
• Air source heat pumps
• Electric radiators

You can apply on the government's website.

Read more: Find out how much you can save on your bills with insulation in different types of home

Insulation grants in Scotland

In Scotland, free energy efficiency home improvements are available from Home Energy Scotland's Warmer Homes Scotland scheme. 

Key criteria to be eligible are:

• Living in the property as your main residence for at least six months, as the homeowner or tenant
• The home has a poor energy rating (assessed by the scheme)
• Council tax band is A to F
• Receiving one or more of a variety of government benefits

The Scottish government will pay all costs in most cases, but in occasional instances you may need to contribute some money. If so, interest-free loans are available to help with this.

Potential improvements you may be offered include:

• Wall insulation
• Loft insulation
• Draughtproofing
• Central heating (including new gas boilers or air source heat pumps)

Use the Home Energy Scotland website to check if you’re eligible, and apply.

Find out more about:

• Loft insulation costs and savings
• Roof insulation
• Cavity wall insulation costs and savings

Insulation grants in Wales

The Welsh government offers free advice and home energy efficiency improvements through the Warm Homes Nest scheme. 

Nest provides free, impartial advice to:

• Make sure you’re on the best energy and water tariff 
• Check whether you are entitled to any benefits 
• Lower your carbon footprint
• Install your own low-carbon technology

You can check if you’re eligible for free upgrades on the Welsh government's website or by freephone on 0808 808 2244. Calls are welcomed in Welsh.

You may be eligible for home energy efficiency improvements including:

• Insulation
• A heat pump
• Solar panels

To be eligible you must:

• Own or privately rent your home
• Receive a means-tested benefit or live in a low-income household
• Have a property with an EPC rating of 54 (E) or less; or an EPC rating of 68 (D) or less, where you or a household member have an eligible health condition.

Read more about: how to use a thermal camera to cut energy bills

Insulation grants in Northern Ireland

Although the Great British Insulation and ECO schemes are not available in Northern Ireland, other support is available.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive runs the Affordable Warmth Scheme, aiming to help people struggling with fuel poverty and energy inefficiency.

To be eligible, you must:

• Own your own home or be renting from a private landlord
• Have a total annual gross income of less than £23,000

To apply, contact The NI Energy Advice Service (NIEAS) by phone (08001114455) or email (NIenergyadvice@nihe.gov.uk).

Improvements are offered in a staggered priority, with insulation being priority one, and including:

• Installation or topping up of loft insulation to 300mm
• Roof, loft and eaves ventilation
• Providing a hot-water cylinder jacket
• Providing cavity wall insulation (if suitable for the property)
• Draughtproofing doors and/or windows
• Removal and replacement of ineffective cavity wall insulation

Once these works are completed, priority two (heating), three (windows) and four (solid wall measures) can be considered. 

For cheap, quick ways to boost your home's energy efficiency and make it cosier, read our guide on how to draughtproof your home.