The Great British Insulation Scheme has ended. Its final installation deadline was 31 March 2026. If you need help insulating your home now, check the Warm Homes: Local Grant in England and ask about ECO4 support. Eligibility and available funding depend on the scheme and your property.
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- GBIS ended on 31 March 2026 - the deadline applied to funded installations, and the scheme cannot support new work now.
- Warm Homes: Local Grant covers England - check your property, income, benefits and postcode through the official service.
- ECO4 runs to 31 December 2026 - check household eligibility and whether the supplier has funding for a new project.
- Savings depend on your home - request an assessment covering existing insulation, heating use and ventilation.
- Heating grants have separate rules - the Boiler Upgrade Scheme supports eligible low-carbon heating installations, rather than general insulation work.
What Was the Great British Insulation Scheme?
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) was a UK government programme requiring energy suppliers to fund insulation improvements in energy-inefficient homes. Announced in March 2023, it aimed to insulate around 300,000 UK homes by March 2026.
GBIS used different eligibility routes from ECO4, including a General Group based on Council Tax band and the home’s energy performance. Funding depended on the household and the proposed measure; it was not a guarantee that every applicant would receive free work.
What Did GBIS Cover?
| Measure | What to check before installation |
|---|---|
| Cavity wall insulation | Wall construction, exposure to rain and existing damp |
| Loft insulation | Existing insulation depth, access and roof-space ventilation |
| Underfloor insulation | Floor construction, access beneath it and ventilation |
| Room-in-roof insulation | Sloping ceilings, walls, usable space and moisture control |
| Flat roof insulation | Roof condition and whether work should coincide with replacement |
There is no single annual saving that applies to every home. Existing insulation, heated floor area, fuel prices and heating habits affect the result. Compare a property-specific assessment with the Energy Saving Trust’s floor advice and roof insulation guidance. Ask the installer to explain both the proposed saving and its assumptions.
Who Qualified for GBIS?
GBIS had two eligibility routes:
General Group (no benefits needed)
General Group criteria included:
- ✓ Council Tax band A, B, C, or D (England) or A-E (Scotland and Wales)
- ✓ EPC rating of D, E, F, or G
- ✓ Property suitable for insulation (assessor confirmed)
Low-income Group
The Low-income Group had separate benefit and flexible-eligibility routes. A household income figure alone did not guarantee funding; the supplier also assessed the property and proposed work.
GBIS has closed: where to check for help now
Start with the scheme that covers your location and the work you need. Check eligibility before commissioning an installer or paying a deposit.
Warm Homes: Local Grant
The official application service covers privately owned homes in England with an EPC rating of D, E, F or G. Household income is usually £36,000 a year or less, though qualifying benefits or postcode routes can allow higher incomes.
If you qualify and funding is available, the council surveys your home and agrees suitable improvements. These may include insulation, heating controls or solar panels. Use the current service rather than an old HUG2 application page.
ECO4
Ofgem confirms ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026. Ask a participating supplier or your council about the available eligibility routes. The extension does not guarantee that a supplier is accepting new projects or that your chosen measure will be funded.
Our ECO4 guide explains the scheme. Confirm the assessment, any contribution and the installer responsible before agreeing to work.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme supports eligible low-carbon heating in England and Wales. It is a heating grant, so do not treat it as a replacement insulation grant. The amount depends on the heating system and property; ask an MCS installer to confirm eligibility and show the grant deduction in the quote.
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How to compare an insulation proposal
A useful proposal explains which parts of your home need insulation and why. Ask for the complete cost, funding contribution, ventilation work and finish to be included in writing.
- Check the installer and any scheme registration independently.
- Ask how the survey accounts for damp, roof condition and existing insulation.
- Request the assumptions behind any annual bill-saving estimate.
- Keep the quotation, guarantee and completion documents together.
What if GBIS work was never completed?
The GBIS installation deadline was 31 March 2026. Contact the supplier or installer named in your original paperwork if work was booked but not completed. Ask for the status of your agreement and any alternative support rather than assuming the old funding remains available.
If you have a problem with completed work, retain photographs and your contract, and start with the installer and funding supplier. Do not pay another company simply because it claims your installation must be replaced; obtain an independent assessment first.
Help outside England
Warm Homes: Local Grant is an England-only route. In Scotland, contact Home Energy Scotland; in Wales, check Nest. Read our heat-pump grants guide for heating support across the UK, and check solar grant routes separately if generation is part of your project.
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