Last reviewed: 2 October 2026. This guide covers England, with a short note on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Grant rules change often, so check the official pages linked below before you apply. Better Lofts does not assess eligibility or make grant applications.
In England in October 2026, the two main routes to free or cheaper loft insulation are the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4), which runs until 31 December 2026, and the Warm Homes: Local Grant, run through local councils. Both are aimed at lower-income households in homes with a poor energy rating, so most people paying for their own insulation will not qualify, but it is worth checking before you get quotes.
Why does loft insulation get grant funding at all?
Because it is one of the cheapest ways to cut heat loss. The Energy Saving Trust says an uninsulated home loses around 25% of its heat through the roof, and that loft insulation installed correctly lasts around 40 years. It gives 270mm as the recommended minimum depth for mineral wool.
The same page puts a typical professional installation in Great Britain at about £750 for an uninsulated loft and about £600 to top up from 120mm to 270mm. Topping up from 120mm saves about £17 a year in Great Britain on its estimate, so a grant matters most for homes that have little or no insulation now.
Which grants are open now?
ECO4: help from your energy supplier
The Energy Company Obligation places a duty on medium and large energy suppliers to fund energy-saving work for low-income and vulnerable households. Ofgem, which runs the scheme for the government, says ECO4 will run until 31 December 2026, after a nine-month extension.
GOV.UK's ECO page says it can help with insulation work, "for example to your loft or cavity walls", as well as boiler and heating upgrades. If you live in private housing, you might be eligible if someone in the household gets one of these benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Guarantee Credit or Pension Savings Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Housing Benefit
If you own the home, it must have an energy rating of D, E, F or G. If you rent privately, it must be E, F or G and you need the owner's permission. Social housing tenants in E, F or G-rated homes may also be eligible. You can look up your rating on the energy performance certificate register.
Different suppliers offer different amounts of help, so GOV.UK suggests contacting your local council to see whether it takes part, or contacting a supplier directly.
Warm Homes: Local Grant (England)
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is delivered through local councils. GOV.UK says it can pay for wall, loft and underfloor insulation, air source heat pumps, smart controls and solar panels. To be eligible, the home must:
- be in England
- be privately owned, by you or by your landlord
- have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G
Household income must usually be £36,000 a year or less. You may still qualify with a higher income if you live in certain postcode areas or someone in the household gets certain benefits. GOV.UK says your council will usually contact you within 10 working days of applying, and that if you rent, your landlord may need to pay for some of the work.
UK Energy Partnership, another Better Home Hub site, has a longer guide to who can get funded loft insulation, including how loft grants sit alongside heating grants.
What happened to the Great British Insulation Scheme?
It has finished. GOV.UK says the service to check eligibility has closed and that installations had to be completed by 31 March 2026, when the scheme ended. If you were part-way through an application, contact the energy supplier you applied to.
If a company tells you it can still get you a Great British Insulation Scheme grant, treat that with caution and check with the supplier it claims to represent.
What is the Warm Homes Plan, and can I apply yet?
Not yet. The Energy Saving Trust says the government's Warm Homes Plan is set to invest close to £15 billion. It describes two parts that matter for lofts:
- fully funded grants for low-income and fuel-poor households, covering measures including home insulation and draught proofing
- low and zero-interest loans for homeowners regardless of income, through a Warm Homes Fund, also covering insulation
When we checked, the Energy Saving Trust said the government had not yet said when these grants and loans would be available. Energy Crisis, also run by Better Home Hub, keeps a plain-English summary of home energy grants and an article on what the ECO4 deadline means for free insulation that are worth reading alongside this one.
What if I live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
The schemes are different. The Energy Saving Trust points people to:
- Scotland: Home Energy Scotland
- Wales: the Nest scheme
- Northern Ireland: the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP), through the Northern Ireland Energy Advice Service
How do I check what I could get?
- Find your EPC rating on the GOV.UK register. Both grants above need D or below for owner-occupied homes.
- Use the government's free advice service. Find ways to save energy in your home gives recommendations for homes in England and Wales, and you can call an adviser on 0800 098 7950.
- Ask your council about ECO and the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
- Be careful with cold calls. GOV.UK warns that installers or agents might contact you directly, and says that if you are not sure an offer is genuine, you should check with your council or the energy supplier they say they represent.
What should I check before any insulation goes in?
Whether it is funded or not, the Energy Saving Trust says damp problems must be fixed before insulation is installed, and that vents, grilles and airbricks must not be covered. Insulation makes the loft colder, which can make condensation more likely. Our guide to loft insulation options explains the main materials, and the mineral wool page covers the most common one.
If you have had wall insulation fitted through a government scheme and are worried about its quality, GOV.UK has a page on what to do about poor-quality wall insulation.
Frequently asked questions
Is loft insulation free for pensioners?
Not automatically. Age on its own does not qualify you for ECO4. Pension Guarantee Credit and Pension Savings Credit are on GOV.UK's list of qualifying benefits, and the home must also meet the energy rating rules.
Can I get a grant if I don't claim benefits?
Possibly, through the Warm Homes: Local Grant if your household income is £36,000 or less and your home is rated D to G. The Warm Homes Plan loans are meant to be open to homeowners regardless of income, but they were not available when we checked.
Do I need building regulations approval for loft insulation?
Not for ordinary loft insulation. GOV.UK lists installing insulation in roof spaces as work that does not need building regulations approval. Converting the loft into a room is different: see our guide to planning permission and building regulations for loft conversions.
Will a grant installer look at my whole loft?
That depends on the scheme and the installer. Ask whether they will check for damp and ventilation before they start, as the Energy Saving Trust recommends.
Get free quotes from local loft specialists
If you don't qualify for a grant, or want to compare prices, Better Lofts can help. Better Lofts is an introduction service run by Better Home Hub Ltd: we don't install insulation or handle grants. Send us an enquiry and Better Home Hub will try to introduce you to a loft insulation installer who covers your area.
