Insulation grants in 2026: what's available now that GBIS has closed
Home insulation grant schemes in the UK have shifted meaningfully during 2026, and anyone researching help with insulation costs — whether alongside a heat pump installation or independently — needs an up-to-date picture rather than older guidance describing schemes that have since closed.
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), which had been one of the broader routes to help with insulation cost, closed to new applications on 31 March 2026. GBIS was notable for being available to a wide range of households based on a property's EPC rating (D to G) and council tax band, rather than requiring the occupant to be on a specific benefit — a comparatively accessible route that's no longer open for new applicants as of its closure date. Anyone whose application was already in progress before the closure date should still have it processed, but no new applications are being accepted through this route.
That leaves ECO4 as the main remaining government-backed insulation grant scheme still open in some form. ECO4 has been extended and is scheduled to run until 31 December 2026, but it's important to understand that ECO4 was never as broadly accessible as GBIS — it's specifically targeted at lower-income and vulnerable households, generally requiring an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or lower plus receipt of qualifying benefits, or a total household income at or below a set threshold (commonly cited around £31,000). Households not on qualifying benefits can sometimes still access ECO4 through a council's "flexible eligibility" or ECO Flex referral route, aimed at people who are near the qualifying threshold or facing genuine financial hardship despite not receiving a listed benefit, though this route requires going through your local council rather than applying to a supplier directly.
As of August 2026, it's worth being realistic about ECO4's current capacity: while the scheme is officially scheduled to run to the end of 2026, supplier funding budgets under the scheme are widely reported as largely allocated at this point in the year, meaning new applications are being processed on a limited, first-come-first-served basis against what funding remains, rather than being guaranteed. If you're considering applying, doing so promptly and checking directly with an ECO4 provider or your council about current funding availability is more useful than assuming the scheme's official end date guarantees funding will still be available when you apply.
Looking beyond ECO4, the government has indicated that no direct like-for-like successor supplier obligation scheme will follow it when it eventually closes. Instead, a Warm Homes Plan has been set out, with £1.5 billion in additional grant funding committed for low-income household upgrades going forward — though as with any forward-looking government commitment, the practical detail of exactly how and when this reaches individual households is something to check for current status rather than assume from an early announcement.
For anyone whose insulation need is linked to a heat pump installation specifically — since the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant requires no outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations on your EPC — it's worth having this conversation early with your MCS-certified heat pump installer or an insulation contractor, rather than discovering partway through a heat pump quote that insulation work needs addressing first. In some cases this can be a straightforward, inexpensive job (topping up loft insulation, for instance); in others, particularly solid-wall properties without cavity walls to insulate, it can be a more substantial undertaking that's worth understanding and costing before committing to a heat pump installation timeline.
If you're unsure what you might currently qualify for, a sensible first step is checking your property's current EPC (available free via the government's EPC register if one exists for your address) to see what it currently recommends, then contacting a reputable local insulation installer or checking directly with an ECO4 provider about current eligibility and funding availability, rather than relying solely on guidance — including this article — that may not reflect the very latest funding position.
Frequently asked questions
No — GBIS closed to new applications on 31 March 2026. Applications already in progress before that date should still be processed, but no new applications are being accepted through this route.
ECO4 is scheduled to run until 31 December 2026, but it is targeted at lower-income and vulnerable households, generally requiring an EPC of D or lower plus qualifying benefits or referral via a council ECO Flex route; as of August 2026 funding is reported as largely allocated, so applying promptly and checking current availability directly is worthwhile.
The government has said no direct like-for-like successor supplier obligation scheme will follow ECO4, with a £1.5 billion Warm Homes Plan instead committed for low-income household upgrades going forward.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant generally requires the property to have a valid EPC with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, so addressing any flagged insulation work is often a necessary step before a heat pump grant claim can proceed.