Have you been thinking about how to make your home more energy efficient? Has the cost been putting you off? Fortunately, the UK government and many local authorities offer grants for heating. These are to help households improve their energy efficiency and reduce heating costs. Plus there are also environmental benefits to using less energy, as it reduces your carbon footprint.
Most of these heating grants are targeted at low-income households - exactly the kind of homes that may struggle with these costs. But that’s not always the case. So who exactly is eligible for these grants and what are the criteria?
Here, we look at some of the grants that are out there, who they are aimed at, and how to find out if you’re eligible. We’ll also talk about how to spot and avoid any scammers, so you know that you’re getting the real deal.
What heating grants are available?
There are a number of government heating grants available in the UK. Several of them are for English - or sometimes Welsh - homes, but Scotland also has its own offerings. In addition, there are many local authorities offering financial help.
The main grants in the UK are:
Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) Scheme.
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS).
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
These are probably the best to start with. All three are available to households in England. BUS is also available to homes in Wales while GBIS and ECO4 are also available to Scottish and Welsh households. (They can also apply for other regional grants, which we will briefly touch upon later.)
So let’s take a look at who exactly is eligible for each of these grants.
Are you eligible for a heating grant?
ECO 4.
ECO 4 is a grant provided by energy suppliers to help low-income and vulnerable households reduce their energy costs. The grant covers insulation and heating upgrades. The exact criteria vary from supplier to supplier, but we offer the grant to those who:
Are on qualifying benefits, and a homeowner with an EPC of D to G.
Privately rent their home and have an EPC of D or E.
Are a homeowner and have an EPC rating of D or lower and a council tax band of either A to D in England, or A to E in both Wales and Scotland.
Have an annual household income in less than £31,000.
Have a household member who has been identified by an NHS doctor or GP as vulnerable, due to having a health condition that may be impacted by living in a cold home. (This includes conditions such as heart disease, respiratory problems, weakened immune systems, or limited mobility).
And those “qualifying benefits” are:
Income-based Job Seekers Allowance.
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Income Support.
Pension Credit.
Guarantee Credit.
Working Tax Credit.
Child Tax Credit.
Universal Credit.
Housing Benefit.
If this all sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t panic. We have our own online eligibility checker to help you work out if you qualify.
If you’re eligible for an ECO4 grant through us, we’ll carry out a tailored survey of your property to create a bespoke package of improvements needed to improve the efficiency of your home. What we offer will depend on the results of your survey, but it could include cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation or a smart thermostat.
And of course, we only use accredited installers, so you can rest assured that everything meets UK standards and building regulations.
GBIS.
GBIS grants also cover cavity wall insulation, but you can get help with underfloor insulation, room in roof insulation, or insulating your loft for the first time if you’d prefer. The eligibility criteria are slightly different from ECO4. To qualify, you must:
Be on qualifying benefits (see the list above) and you are a homeowner with an EPC of D to G.
Or privately rent your home and have an EPC of D or E.
Or own your home and have an EPC rating of D or lower and a council tax band of A to D in England and A to E in both Wales and Scotland.
Again, use our eligibility checker if you need help.
Grants vary in size, depending on the work you’ll have done and your eligibility. As with ECO4, we will carry out a survey to work out what kinds of insulation would benefit your home. Under GBIS, we're only able to install one kind of insulation for each qualifying home. However, our Qualitymark-accredited installers will help you work out the most energy-efficient upgrade for your home to help you save money on your energy bills.
BUS.
BUS is for English and Welsh households looking to replace their old fossil fuel heating systems with a low carbon heating alternative, like a heat pump.
To qualify, you must own the property, have a valid EPC certificate for it and be replacing an existing fossil fuel system (like a gas boiler for example). If you do qualify, you’ll get £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump, or £5,000 off a biomass boiler. It may not cover the entire cost, but it’s a significant contribution.
One point about BUS is that you do not apply for the grant yourself. You have to find an MCS-approved installer, who applies for you and then deducts the value of the grant from your invoice. You can always look up an approved installer on the MCS website but double check that you’re dealing with a genuine installer (more on this later).
How to spot energy grant scams.
Unfortunately, energy grant scams are on the rise, especially with the current energy crisis. Scammers try to take advantage of people's worries about rising costs and the desire to make their homes more energy-efficient. Here are signs that should make you wary.
Who made first contact?
Legitimate grant providers will rarely contact you out of the blue. Be on your guard if someone does.
Pressure to make a quick decision.
Scammers will often tell you that an offer is available for a limited time, to force you to buy. Never rush. The (legitimate) schemes we’ve talked about have been around for a few years and aren’t going anywhere for a few more. Only agree to pay once you are sure that it’s what you want - and they can provide you with it.
If it sounds too good to be true…
…then it probably is. Government and local authority grants come with eligibility criteria. If it looks like they’re practically giving it away, or you know you don’t usually qualify for these kinds of grants, then double check. The same with “guaranteed” approvals. Government grants are given after assessing your circumstances, not before.
Handing money or information up front.
These days, many of us are aware of how our personal data can be used against us. Still, never give out information such as bank details, NI numbers, or any passwords.
How to protect yourself against scammers.
Protecting yourself from scams is about being careful and informed. Never share personal details or hand over money to someone you don’t fully trust and haven’t double-checked. If you’re offered an energy grant, take a moment to do your research. Go online and look up the provider, or contact the relevant government department directly and check.
You should be especially wary of unexpected offers that come out of the blue. Scammers often reach out unsolicited. If it feels wrong, trust your instincts and report any suspicious activity. Most importantly, if you’re ever unsure about an energy grant offer, get advice from a trusted source like Citizens Advice or your local council before you make any decisions or part with any money.
Ready to apply?
We hope we have shown you that there are numerous UK heating grants available to help UK homes like yours become more energy-efficient and save money on bills. From the ECO4 scheme supporting low-income households to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offering significant discounts on heat pumps, there's likely a grant that fits your circumstances.
So don't let the costs of an upgrade leave you out in the cold. Take a look at the options we’ve outlined here and then take that first step towards a warmer, more affordable and carbon neutral home today.