There are two main government-backed routes to help with the cost of insulating your home. Here is how they work and how to find out if you qualify.
The cost of insulating a solid-wall home puts a lot of people off, so it is worth knowing that there are two government-backed schemes that can cover part or occasionally all of the cost. Eligibility rules are detailed and they change, so treat this as a starting point and always confirm against the official guidance.
ECO4
The Energy Company Obligation, currently in its fourth phase, requires larger energy suppliers to fund efficiency improvements in lower-income and vulnerable households. It is aimed at homes with poor energy ratings and tends to fund whole-house packages of measures rather than single items. Eligibility is usually linked to receiving certain benefits, or to a local authority referral under the 'ECO Flex' route.
The Great British Insulation Scheme
This scheme is broader. It is targeted at homes in lower council tax bands with an EPC rating of D or below, and it does not always require you to be on benefits. It typically funds a single primary measure such as cavity wall, loft or solid wall insulation.
How to check eligibility
The quickest check is the government's own eligibility tool on GOV.UK, or a call to your energy supplier, who administers the funding. Your council may also run a local scheme. Because the funding is delivered through approved installers working to PAS 2035, the measures have to be surveyed and designed properly, which is a good thing for the quality of the work.
If you do not qualify
Most of our customers pay privately, and external wall insulation still stacks up on its own terms through lower heating bills, a warmer home and an improved EPC rating that helps at resale or when letting. We are happy to talk through the numbers for your specific property at a free survey.
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