A loft insulation grant is government funding that pays for all or part of the cost of insulating your loft. In the UK, schemes such as GBIS and ECO4 help households cut heat loss by up to 25% and save around £620 a year on energy bills.
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A loft insulation grant is government-backed funding that helps homeowners and tenants cover the cost of insulating their loft. The aim is simple: make homes warmer, cut energy bills, and reduce carbon emissions. Depending on your circumstances, the grant may cover the full cost of installation or provide partial funding.
Grants are available through national schemes such as the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) and ECO4, as well as local council programmes. They are designed to remove the upfront expense of insulation so households do not miss out on the long-term savings. Properly insulated lofts can reduce heat loss by up to 25% and save you as much as £620 per year on energy bills.
If you qualify, the process is straightforward: apply via your energy supplier or local authority, arrange a free survey, and have certified installers fit your insulation to the current recommended depth of 270mm.
There are several government grants for loft insulation available in 2025, each designed to help households improve energy efficiency and cut heating bills. The main schemes are the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) Scheme, and a range of local authority and regional grants.
If you want to learn more about installation costs without a grant, see our full guide to loft conversion costs.
What it is: The Great British Insulation Scheme is a government-funded programme with a £1 billion budget running until March 2026. It is administered by Ofgem and delivered through energy suppliers. The scheme covers insulation upgrades, including loft insulation, for eligible households.
Who can apply:
How much can you get? Many households qualify for 100% funding, while others may receive partial funding depending on property type and energy efficiency rating.
How to apply:
What it is: ECO4 is a government requirement for energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements for low-income and vulnerable households. It runs until March 2026 and covers loft insulation alongside wall insulation, heating upgrades, and other measures.
Who can apply:
Other upgrades included: ECO4 can also cover cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, boiler replacements, and heating control systems.
How to apply:
What they are: Many councils run their own loft insulation grant schemes, often to support households who do not qualify for GBIS or ECO4. Examples include Warm Homes in England, Warmer Homes Scotland, and Nest in Wales.
When they can help: Local schemes may offer partial or full funding, especially for households in fuel poverty or properties with poor EPC ratings.
How to check availability:
Every grant has its own rules, but the main factors are always the same: how energy efficient your home is, your council tax band, your household income, and whether you own or rent the property. Meeting these requirements is the first step to unlocking free or heavily discounted insulation.
Most loft insulation grants are targeted at homes that are more difficult to heat. To qualify, your property usually needs an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band D or lower. This ensures funding is directed to homes that will see the biggest improvements in energy efficiency and reduced heating bills.
Schemes such as ECO4 are specifically designed for low-income households. You may qualify if your household earns under £31,000 a year or if someone in the home receives benefits such as Universal Credit, Tax Credits, or Pension Credit.
Even if you do not meet the income test, you could still qualify under GBIS or local council programmes.
For the Great British Insulation Scheme, homes must fall within Council Tax Bands A-D in England or A-E in Wales and Scotland. This restriction helps target funding towards average or lower-value homes where efficiency upgrades are often most needed.
Both homeowners and private tenants are eligible to apply for grants. If you rent, you will need written consent from your landlord before work starts. Social housing tenants may have different routes, as many housing associations run their own insulation upgrade programmes.
Most loft insulation grants are targeted at homes that are more difficult to heat. To qualify, your property usually needs an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band D or lower. This ensures funding is directed to homes that will see the biggest improvements in energy efficiency and reduced heating bills.
If you are unsure which scheme fits, start with your energy supplier, they manage applications for both GBIS and ECO4.
Loft insulation grants are designed to bring your home up to modern energy efficiency standards. Whether you have no insulation at all or your existing layer is outdated, funding can cover both new installations and essential upgrades.
If your loft has never been insulated, the grant will usually cover the full cost of fitting brand-new insulation from scratch. Homes with old or thin insulation can also qualify. Even if you already have some material in place, you may still be eligible if it falls short of today’s standards.
Building regulations set the benchmark for loft insulation at 270mm of mineral wool. This depth has been proven to minimise heat loss through the roof, keeping homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer. If your loft already has some insulation, but it measures less than this, you may still qualify for a grant to “top it up” to the full standard.
Most homes built before 2010 typically have only 100-150mm of insulation in place, which means a significant amount of heat still escapes.
Bringing insulation up to the 270mm level can cut heat loss by as much as a quarter, significantly lowering energy bills and reducing your carbon footprint. Grants are designed to make sure every eligible loft reaches this depth, whether that means adding a new layer over the old one or starting fresh with a full installation.
Before any work takes place, an approved installer will carry out a free survey to check your loft’s condition and measure what’s needed. If you qualify, the installation is completed by trained professionals using certified materials, so you can be confident the job meets building regulations and industry standards.
Upgrading your loft insulation can reduce heat loss through the roof by as much as 25%. That means warmer rooms in winter, cooler conditions in summer, and savings of up to £620 per year on heating bills. Insulation also improves your home’s EPC rating, cuts carbon emissions, and can even increase property value by making your home more attractive to buyers.
Loft insulation grants cover a wide range of homes, but there are some situations where funding won’t be available. Understanding these limits early on can save you wasted applications and help you find alternative options.
If you have already had a loft conversion and it's been converted into a habitable room, it will not usually qualify for insulation grants under GBIS or ECO4. These schemes are designed for insulating unused loft spaces, not retrofitting converted bedrooms, offices, or studios.
Once a loft is classed as a living area, it falls under building regulations for habitable rooms, which means insulation should already have been installed as part of the conversion. If your converted loft is draughty or poorly insulated, you may need to look at private upgrades or broader home improvement grants.
Many schemes exclude social housing tenants and properties that have been recently built. The reason is that both are typically expected to meet modern insulation standards. Housing associations often run their own improvement programmes, so tenants should check directly with their landlord or local council. For new builds, developers must meet strict energy efficiency requirements at the time of construction, which makes them ineligible for further grant funding.
National schemes set clear boundaries to make sure funding reaches the households that need it most. If your EPC rating is too high (above Band D for most schemes) or your property falls outside the eligible council tax bands (A-D in England, A-E in Scotland and Wales), you may not qualify.
That doesn’t mean you’re out of options; many local authority schemes offer partial subsidies or alternative funding for homes that sit just outside the national criteria. It’s always worth checking with your council to see if support is available in your area.
The application process for loft insulation funding is simpler than most people expect, but it does vary slightly depending on the scheme. Whether you apply through GBIS, ECO4, or your local authority, the core journey is the same: check if you qualify, submit your details, book a free survey, and arrange the installation.
Here’s exactly how it works.
Before you apply, you’ll need to confirm whether your home meets the basic grant rules. This includes your EPC rating, household income, council tax band, and whether you own or rent the property.
Once you know which grant applies to you, the next step is to submit your application. For GBIS and ECO4, this is usually done through your current or former energy supplier, and it doesn’t need to be one of the “Big Six,” as smaller providers also deliver these schemes. If you’re applying for a local authority programme, the process goes directly through your council, often via the housing or sustainability team.
Most applications only ask for your address, property details, EPC rating, and income/benefit information. If you rent, you’ll also need landlord consent before proceeding.
If your application is approved, an accredited installer will arrange a free visit to inspect your loft. During the survey they’ll measure the depth and condition of any existing insulation, check for damp or ventilation issues, and look out for access restrictions that could affect the work.
They will also confirm whether your home needs a full installation or just a top-up, and assess the structure to make sure everything complies with building regulations.
The visit usually takes no more than 30 to 60 minutes and ensures the grant-funded work is tailored to your property’s needs.
Once the survey is complete, you’ll be booked in for installation.
Most loft insulation projects are finished in less than a day, so disruption is minimal and you can usually stay at home while the work is carried out. Installers use certified materials that meet the recommended 270mm standard, ensuring your loft is fully compliant and energy efficient.
If the grant covers the full cost, you won’t pay anything for labour or materials. For partial funding, you’ll only cover the difference. After the work is complete, you should also receive a certificate of compliance or warranty, which is useful proof if you decide to sell your home in the future.
After installation, you should receive:
Some grants, particularly ECO4, also cover other upgrades, such as boiler replacements or cavity wall insulation. Therefore, ask your installer if additional improvements are available under your application.
Loft insulation funding can be complicated, especially with various schemes operating across the UK. Below, we’ve answered the most common questions to help you understand whether you qualify and how to apply.
Yes, landlords can apply for loft insulation grants if their property meets the scheme rules. The most common requirement is that the home has an EPC rating of Band D or lower and falls within the council tax limits set by the scheme. Tenants must give written consent before any work starts, and the landlord is responsible for arranging the application. Some local councils also run additional programmes specifically for private rental properties.
Many pensioners are eligible for free loft insulation under the ECO4 scheme, particularly if they receive Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits.
Even without benefits, pensioners can still access help through the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), provided the property meets the EPC and council tax requirements. Loft insulation is one of the most widely accessible upgrades for older homes, offering cost savings and straightforward installation.
Yes, grants are available across the UK, but each nation has its own options:
If you do not qualify under national rules, check with your local authority, as many run smaller, regional schemes to cover households outside the main eligibility criteria.
