This guide is for low-income households who want help with energy upgrades. It explains Warm Homes: Local Grant in detail, because it is the main route in England. It also covers the ECO4 end date and the extra Government funding. We finish with what to do if you live in Scotland or Wales.
We use published sources from the Energy Saving Trust and GOV.UK. We do not quote prices or savings.
Independent guide. We are not a lender or a government body. Always check current scheme rules with the official provider.
Warm Homes: Local Grant
Warm Homes: Local Grant is an England-only scheme delivered by local authorities. It opened in April 2025. It has £500m across 73 projects, covering 270 local authorities over three years. You must meet every condition in the list below.
- Your home is in England.
- Your home is privately owned, either owner-occupied or privately rented.
- Your home has an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.
- Your gross household income is £36,000 or less, or you live in a lowest-income-decile area, or you receive a means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
The grant funds insulation, draught-proofing, glazing, solar panels and battery storage up to £15,000 per property. Low-carbon heating such as a heat pump can add up to a further £15,000. That heating support is mainly for off-gas homes on oil or coal.
Landlords get full funding for their first property and 50% for each additional one. Check your eligibility on GOV.UK or contact your local council.
ECO4 and the extra funding
The Energy Company Obligation, known as ECO4, now runs until 31 December 2026. The Government has confirmed there is no successor obligation. The Great British Insulation Scheme already ended on 31 March 2026. If you want ECO4 support, act well before the end date.
The Government has also committed an extra £1.5bn of grant funding for low-income households under the Warm Homes Plan. It has not yet published how every part of this funding will reach households. We will update this page as details appear.
- Check your EPC rating and household income.
- Check your eligibility on GOV.UK or call your local council.
- Ask your council which measures suit your home.
- Wait for a written offer before any work starts.
- Confirm your installer on the MCS website and TrustMark.
Help in Scotland and Wales
Warm Homes: Local Grant does not cover Scotland or Wales. Home Energy Scotland offers a grant of up to £7,500 for a heat pump or biomass boiler. You can add an optional interest-free loan of up to a further £7,500. Eligible remote rural, island and off-gas rural areas get an extra £1,500. You need an MCS-certified installer and MCS-certified products. There is no benefits requirement, and funding is first-come, first-served. Home Energy Scotland sets different funding levels for other measures, so check its website for those.
Homeowners in Wales should check the Welsh Government's home energy efficiency scheme, called Nest. Homeowners in Northern Ireland should check official Energy Saving Trust advice.
Checklist
- Home in England confirmed
- EPC rating of D to G confirmed
- Income, area or benefit condition checked
- Council contacted or GOV.UK checker used
- ECO4 end date of 31 December 2026 noted
- Installer checked on MCS and TrustMark
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be on benefits for Warm Homes: Local Grant?
No. A gross household income of £36,000 or less also qualifies, as does living in a lowest-income-decile area.
Can I get the grant if I rent my home?
Yes, if your home is privately rented. Your landlord applies, and the property must meet the other conditions.
How much can my home receive?
Up to £15,000 for insulation, glazing, solar and batteries, plus up to a further £15,000 for low-carbon heating.
I am a landlord. What can I get?
Full funding for your first property and 50% for each additional property.
When does ECO4 end?
ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026. There is no successor obligation.
I live in Scotland. Can I apply?
No. Warm Homes: Local Grant covers England only. Check Home Energy Scotland for Scottish grants and loans.
So you can claim the low-income support you qualify for before key deadlines pass.
WHLS Editorial Team
Our editorial team writes independent, plain-English guides on home energy finance. We review guides when scheme rules change.
References
- GOV.UK – Notice of approved grant categories and values for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (opens in a new tab)
- Energy Saving Trust – Boiler Upgrade Scheme (opens in a new tab)
- MoneySavingExpert – Warm Homes Loan Scheme news (October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Financial Conduct Authority – Financial Services Register (opens in a new tab)
- MCS – Find an installer (opens in a new tab)
- Energy Saving Trust – Warm Homes: Local Grant guide (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK – Extending the ECO4 end date: government response (opens in a new tab)
- Home Energy Scotland – Grants and loans (opens in a new tab)
- MCS – Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (opens in a new tab)
- Energy Saving Trust – Welsh Government Nest scheme (opens in a new tab)
