Government Grants for Home Improvements 2026 UK — What's Available

Government funding exists for specific home improvements, primarily focused on energy efficiency and disability adaptations. Here’s what’s actually available in 2026.

What Grants Cover

Funded Improvements

Funded	Not Funded
Insulation	New kitchen
Heat pumps	New bathroom
Heating systems (if eligible)	Extensions
Disability adaptations	Decorating
Solar panels (some schemes)	General repairs

Energy Efficiency Grants

ECO 4 (Energy Company Obligation)

Feature	Details
What it funds	Insulation, heating, renewables
Cost to you	Free if fully eligible
Who funds it	Energy companies (legal obligation)
Runs until	March 2026 (ECO 4), then ECO successor

ECO 4 Eligibility

You need to meet criteria in BOTH columns:

Benefits (one of these)	Property Condition
Pension Credit	EPC D, E, F, or G
Income Support	OR in a low-income area
Universal Credit	defined by council
Income-based JSA
Income-related ESA
Child Tax Credit (low income)
Working Tax Credit
Housing Benefit

What ECO 4 Covers

Improvement	Typical Value
Loft insulation	£300-500
Cavity wall insulation	£500-1,500
Solid wall insulation	£5,000-10,000
Boiler replacement	£2,000-3,000
First-time central heating	£3,000-4,500
Heat pump	£7,000-12,000

How to Apply for ECO 4

Method	Details
Through energy supplier	Contact your provider
Through council	LEA Flex referral
Through approved installer	Find ECO-accredited companies

Great British Insulation Scheme

Overview

Feature	Details
What’s different	Broader eligibility than ECO
What it funds	Single insulation measure
Who qualifies	Homes EPC D-G
Means-tested route	Lower income households

Eligibility Routes

Route	Requirements
General	Home EPC D-G, council tax band A-D (England)
Low income	On qualifying benefits (similar to ECO)

What It Covers

Improvement	Available
Cavity wall insulation	Yes
Loft insulation	Yes
Room-in-roof insulation	Yes
Flat roof insulation	Yes
Solid wall insulation	No

How to Apply

Step	Action
1	Check eligibility at gov.uk
2	Find approved installer
3	Get survey and quote
4	Work completed and claimed

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

What It Funds

Technology	Grant Amount
Air source heat pump	£7,500
Ground source heat pump	£5,000
Biomass boiler	£5,000

Note: This does NOT fund standard gas boilers — only low-carbon alternatives.

Eligibility

Requirement	Details
Property type	Home in England or Wales
Replace fossil fuel	Gas, oil, or LPG heating
EPC	Valid EPC, no unsatisfied recommendations for insulation
Installer	MCS-certified

Process

Step	Action
1	Get valid EPC
2	Find MCS-certified installer
3	Installer applies on your behalf
4	Grant automatically deducted from quote

Real Cost After Grant

System	Full Cost	Grant	You Pay
Air source heat pump	£10,000-12,000	£7,500	£2,500-4,500
Ground source heat pump	£15,000-20,000	£5,000	£10,000-15,000

Disabled Facilities Grant

Overview

Feature	Details
What it funds	Adaptations for disability
Maximum	£30,000 (England), higher elsewhere
Who qualifies	Disabled person, owner or tenant
Means-tested	May have to contribute

What It Covers

Adaptation	Examples
Access	Ramps, widening doors, lifts
Bathrooms	Walk-in showers, grab rails
Kitchen	Lower surfaces, adapted facilities
Safety	Emergency alarm systems
Heating	Improved heating control

How to Apply

Step	Action
1	Contact local council
2	Occupational therapist assessment
3	Assess need for adaptations
4	Means test (may have to contribute)
5	Work quoted and approved
6	Grant paid to contractor

Means Testing

Income/Savings	Contribution
Very low income	£0 (full grant)
Low income	Small contribution
Higher income	Larger contribution
Passported benefits	Usually £0

Children and young people under 19 are not means-tested.

Solar Panel Support

Solar Together Schemes

Feature	Details
What it is	Group buying for solar
How it works	Council-backed collective purchase
Benefit	Discounted prices
Available	Varies by council area

SEG (Smart Export Guarantee)

Feature	Details
What it is	Payment for exported electricity
Who offers	Most energy suppliers
Rate	Typically 3-15p/kWh
Requirement	MCS-certified installation

Not a grant, but helps payback on solar investment.

Local Council Schemes

Varies by Area

Type	Examples
Empty property grants	Bring vacant homes into use
Heritage grants	Historic building restoration
Landlord schemes	Improve rental housing
Area-specific	Regeneration programmes

How to Find

Method	Details
Council website	Search “[your council] home improvement grants”
Housing team	Contact for information
Citizens Advice	Local knowledge

Scotland-Specific

Home Energy Scotland Grants and Loans

Feature	Details
What it funds	Insulation, renewables, heating
Grant	Up to £7,500 for most measures
Loan	Interest-free loans available
Apply	homeenergyscotland.org

Warmer Homes Scotland

Feature	Details
What it is	Free energy efficiency improvements
Who qualifies	Benefits or income criteria
Apply	0808 808 2282

Wales-Specific

Nest Scheme

Feature	Details
What it funds	Free energy efficiency
Who qualifies	Benefits or income under threshold
Apply	nest.gov.wales

ECO Flex Wales

Feature	Details
What it is	Broader ECO eligibility
Via	Local authority referral

Northern Ireland

Energy Efficiency Schemes

Scheme	Details
Affordable Warmth	Low income home improvements
Boiler Replacement	Grants for new boilers (limited)
Contact	nihe.gov.uk

How to Apply: Summary

Grant	Apply Via
ECO 4	Energy supplier or approved installer
Great British Insulation	gov.uk or approved installer
Boiler Upgrade Scheme	MCS-certified installer
Disabled Facilities Grant	Local council
Local schemes	Local council
Scotland grants	Home Energy Scotland
Wales grants	Nest scheme

Beware of Scams

Red Flags

Warning	What It Means
“Free solar panels” with catches	Long-term lease agreements
Upfront fees for grants	Grants don’t require fees
Pressure to sign quickly	Legitimate schemes don’t pressure
Unsolicited calls	Be very cautious

Stay Safe

Action	Why
Verify through official sources	Use gov.uk links
Check installer credentials	MCS, TrustMark
Never pay upfront	For grant-funded work
Get multiple quotes	Even with grants

Summary: What’s Available

Improvement Need	Best Grant Option
Insulation	ECO 4, Great British Insulation
Heat pump	Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Boiler (gas)	ECO 4 only (if eligible)
Disability adaptations	Disabled Facilities Grant
Solar panels	Local schemes, finance
General improvements	No grants available

Focus on energy efficiency for the most grant opportunity — this is where government funding is concentrated for home improvements.