Unlock £1,000s in Grants to Transform Your Home and Slash Energy Bills!

Upgrading your home to make it more energy-efficient is a smart move that can lower your bills, increase the comfort of your living space, and boost the value of your property. But the initial costs can feel overwhelmingm, especially if you’re unsure where to find the financial support you need. Luckily, there are numerous home upgrade grants and funding opportunities available in the UK that can make your home greener without draining your bank account. This guide will walk you through the options, explain how they work, and show you how to make the most of these resources to create an efficient, comfortable home.

Why Upgrade? More Comfort, Lower Bills, and a Greener Future

Before diving into funding options, let’s talk about why making your home energy-efficient is such a great idea. A well-insulated, energy-smart home isn’t just kinder to the environment, it’s kinder to you. Imagine a space that stays warm in winter and cool in summer without the need to constantly adjust the thermostat. Picture lower monthly bills and a home that feels more comfortable year-round. An energy-efficient home is more attractive to future buyers, too, since it means lower running costs and a higher property value. If you are still not convinced, check out our blog Exceeding building regulations and Energy efficient homes and property valuation.

The UK government and other organisations want to support you in making these changes, which is why they offer various home upgrade grants and incentives to make your journey easier. Let’s explore what’s out there.

Life-Changing Grants for Energy Upgrades

No repayment needed.

One of the best ways to help fund your home’s transformation is through grants. These options provide financial support you don’t have to repay, making them incredibly appealing for homeowners wanting to go green.

ECO 4 (Energy Company Obligation): Free Upgrades for Eligible Homes

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government-backed initiative designed to help low-income households make their homes more energy-efficient. It’s aim is to reduce the number of people struggling with fuel poverty. Now in its fourth phase, ECO 4 requires large energy suppliers to fund home upgrades for eligible homeowners. This can include new insulation, efficient boilers, and heating systems.

To qualify, the occupier of the home in question must be on certain benefits. See Eligible benefits below:

Child Tax Credits (CTC)

Child Benefits – depends on income threshold

Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)

Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)

Income Support (IS)

Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

Universal Credit (UC)

Warm Home Discount Rebate

Working Tax Credit (WTC)

Housing Benefit

Pension Credit Saving Credit

Assuming your Local Authority has issued its statement of intent (contact them now to find out), households may also qualify for an ECO4 grant in the following situations:

Based on low income (less than £31,000 per year)

Vulnerable persons (including debts, mental health conditions, having people aged 65+, or babies or children living at the property)

Health grounds (including cardiovascular disease, immunosuppressed, mobility issues and respiratory conditions)

Secondly, the home must have a poor Energy Performance rating. Homeowners seeking the grant must have an EPC rating of D or worse, whilst private rental tenants and social housing properties must be an E or worse. You can find your energy certificate on the government website.

For those who are eligible, the upgrades can make a huge difference in cutting down monthly energy costs without spending a penny upfront. It is important to note that you cannot directly apply for ECO funds, as this must be done through an energy supplier. There are many online platforms to check your eligibility, but may serve as intermediaries. Contacting the supplier is recommended. Typically, they will send an assessor around to the home to evaluate the energy-saving work that will be undertaken. And in most cases, the improvements will be made in the coming weeks. The value of the upgrade is not limited but is typically from £4000 to £15000+ depending on what’s required to lift the EPC rating. The types of upgrades you might expect are:

• non-condensing boiler upgraded to an A-Rated boiler
• inefficient storage heaters upgraded to high heat retention storage heaters
• inefficient heating upgraded to air source heat pumps
• wall insulation (cavity wall or internal wall insulation)
• loft or roof insulation
• ventilation
• heating controls

Contact your local council to find their intent or contact your energy supplier directly or via Ofgem which has contact details of all suppliers.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): Say Goodbye to Expensive Heating

Traditional boilers are inefficient and costly to run. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers grants of up to £7,500 for replacing outdated fossil fuel heating systems (Fossil fuel heating systems include oil, gas, electric, or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)) with more efficient alternatives, like heat pumps or biomass boilers. This grant helps property owners reduce their carbon footprint and save money in the long term. Unlike the ECO4 grant aimed at low-income households, BUS is aimed at all households. But a heat pump upgrade actually recommends a house to be of an EPC C or more. This is to encourage a fabric-first approach that ensures the heat pump will be working efficiently, and not cost the occupier more to heat their home. The application process is typically through the heat pump installer. They subtract the grant from their bill. You can find Micro-generation Certificate (MSC) accredited installers on the MSC website. It will involve an assessment to determine your needs, and the price will be specific to each case. In most cases, there will be a cost to the homeowner even with the £7500 grant. If you want to find out more about switching to a heat pump, check out the Gas Boiler vs Heat pump blog.

The Great British Insulation Scheme: A Boost for Your Budget

The Great British Insulation Scheme (formerly known as the Energy Efficient Homes Scheme) is a government initiative aimed at cutting energy consumption through better insulation. Check out the Great British INsulation Scheme implementation in 2023. The scheme helps homeowners and tenants access subsidies for projects like loft, cavity wall, and solid wall insulation. In some cases, floor insulation will be recommended. It’s primary aim is to drive down energy use in at-risk homes. Therefore to be eligible you must meet the following two criteria:

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be between D and G.

In England, the property must be in council tax A-D, whilst in Scotland and Wales the house must be within council band A-E.

To begin this process, check your eligibility on the government website. If you are, your energy supplier will contact you to make arrangements for an in-person assessment. Applications can be made by homeowners and tenants.

Electric vehicle charger grants

The UK government offers the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) and other grants to support the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers at homes and workplaces. These grants aim to make it more affordable for EV owners to charge their vehicles conveniently, promoting the adoption of electric vehicles and reducing carbon emissions.

There are several grants to cover a variety of different situations. In most cases, you can be granted £350 or 75% of the install cost. These situations are as follows:

• Grants for owners of Electric Vehicles to install home EV chargepoints
• Grants for businesses to install workplace EV chargepoints
• Grants for councils and others to install public chargepoints for Electric Vehicles

Please note that if you are applying for a home chargepoint you must be the registered owner of the electric vehicle.

Grants and Loans from Local Authorities

In addition to the national programs mentioned above, your local council may also have additional funding programs to assist with energy-efficient home improvements. These may include grants, low-interest loans, or advice on how to access further support. To check what’s available in your area, visit your local council’s website or contact them directly.