Millions of UK homes remain poorly insulated, with draughty lofts, unlined cavity walls, and solid brick walls bleeding heat into the atmosphere year-round. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
Eligibility splits into two groups, a low-income group for those receiving qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, and a general group open to any household with an EPC rating of D or below regardless of income. Insulation measures such as loft or cavity wall insulation, which can cost £300 to £1,000 without support, are typically covered in full or in large part under the scheme. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
- Check your EPC rating before applying — homes with a D, E, F, or G rating qualify under the general group, even without means-tested benefits
- Contact your energy supplier directly to start a GBIS application, as the scheme is delivered through Ofgem-regulated energy companies
- If your household receives qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, apply under the low-income group for the strongest chance of free insulation
- The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
- Get your EPC certificate checked or updated before applying, as an outdated rating could affect your eligibility under the general group
- The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
- The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
- Understanding the Great British Insulation Scheme
- The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
- What Insulation Measures Are Available Under GBIS
- How GBIS Compares to ECO4 and Other Schemes
- The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
- What to Look for When Choosing a GBIS Installer
- The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
- Common Reasons Applications Are Declined and How to Respond
- Making the Most of GBIS as Part of a Wider Home Improvement Plan
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. Eligibility is split into two groups, a low-income group for households receiving qualifying means-tested benefits, and a general group open to a much wider range of homeowners whose properties carry an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D or below. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
Understanding the Great British Insulation Scheme
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. It forms part of the UK government’s wider strategy, overseen by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), to reduce household energy bills and lower the carbon footprint of the existing housing stock.
A common source of confusion is how GBIS relates to ECO4, the Energy Company Obligation scheme. ECO4 is a separate scheme focused on whole-house retrofits for low-income and fuel-poor households, covering multiple measures including heating upgrades. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. This distinction makes GBIS accessible to a far broader population than ECO4 alone.
The scheme operates in two distinct eligibility groups. The low-income group covers households receiving qualifying means-tested benefits who live in a property with a lower EPC rating. The general group opens access to households who do not receive benefits, provided the property meets the relevant EPC and council tax band criteria. Understanding which group you fall into is the first step towards accessing support.
Practical tip, before you do anything else, look up your home’s EPC rating on the GOV.UK register. It takes two minutes and immediately tells you whether your property is likely to qualify.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
The Low-Income Group
To qualify under the low-income group, your household must be receiving at least one of the following means-tested benefits and live in a property with an EPC rating of D or below (some suppliers accept E, F, or G rated homes):
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit (without Working Tax Credit, and with an income threshold)
- Working Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child Benefit (subject to income caps, check with your energy supplier)
Households in this group may also be able to access support through ECO4 simultaneously if their home requires more comprehensive improvements. It is always worth asking your energy supplier whether you qualify under both schemes.
The General Group
The general group is what makes GBIS genuinely distinctive among government energy efficiency schemes. You do not need to be receiving any benefits to qualify, the key requirements are an EPC rating of D or below and that your property falls within the correct council tax band.
Council tax band restrictions for the general group are as follows:
- England, council tax bands A to D
- Scotland, council tax bands A to E
- Wales, council tax bands A to D
This is one of the most commonly overlooked eligibility criteria. Homeowners in larger or higher-value properties may find themselves outside the council tax band threshold even if their EPC rating qualifies. Always check your band before investing time in the application process.
Property Type and Tenure
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. However, social housing and most landlord-owned properties are generally excluded from the scheme in their own right. If you are a private tenant, it is worth discussing the scheme with your landlord, as in some circumstances the landlord may be able to apply on behalf of the tenancy, though this varies by energy supplier and is not guaranteed.
Practical tip, if you are unsure of your council tax band, check via your local council’s website or the Valuation Office Agency (England and Wales) or the Scottish Assessors Association (Scotland). Both are free to use and take only a few minutes.
What Insulation Measures Are Available Under GBIS
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. Understanding what is typically available helps you set realistic expectations before you apply.
Loft Insulation
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. If your loft is accessible and currently has little or no insulation, this is often the first measure a surveyor will recommend. Based on Energy Saving Trust data, an uninsulated loft can account for up to 25% of a home’s heat loss. That makes this a high-impact intervention for relatively low installation cost.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Cavity wall insulation involves filling the gap between the inner and outer layers of a cavity wall, typically found in properties built after approximately 1920, with insulating material such as mineral wool, polystyrene beads, or foam. A surveyor must confirm that the cavity is suitable before installation goes ahead, as not all cavities are appropriate (for example, homes in exposed, high-rainfall areas may require specialist assessment). When correctly installed in a suitable property, cavity wall insulation can meaningfully reduce heat loss through external walls.
Solid Wall Insulation
Solid wall insulation applies to older properties, typically pre-1920 homes built from solid brick or stone, that have no cavity to fill. It can be applied either externally (adding a layer of insulation to the outside of the building) or internally (fitting insulated boards or frames inside the external walls). Solid wall insulation is significantly more expensive to install than cavity wall insulation and is more disruptive, particularly the internal version, which reduces room dimensions slightly. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
Other Eligible Measures
Depending on your property type and the surveyor’s assessment, some energy suppliers also fund room-in-roof insulation (for homes where the roof space is used as a room rather than a conventional loft), flat roof insulation, underfloor insulation, and insulation for park homes. Coverage for these measures is not universal across all participating suppliers, so it is worth asking specifically when you make contact.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. For more comprehensive support, exploring ECO4 alongside GBIS is advisable. how ECO4 works and how to apply
Practical tip, when the surveyor visits, ask them to explain in plain terms why they are recommending a particular measure and what the expected impact on heat retention will be. A good installer will walk you through this without jargon.
How GBIS Compares to ECO4 and Other Schemes
GBIS and ECO4 are often mentioned together, but they serve different purposes and target different audiences. Understanding the differences helps you identify which route is most appropriate for your household, and in some cases, whether you might benefit from pursuing both.
ECO4 is designed for low-income and fuel-poor households and offers a whole-house approach, covering multiple measures including insulation, heating system upgrades, and sometimes solar panels. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. This makes GBIS far more accessible to middle-income homeowners who have historically been excluded from energy efficiency grant schemes.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a separate, standalone grant programme and is not part of GBIS or ECO4. It offers £7,500 towards the cost of an air source heat pump or ground source heat pump, and £5,000 towards a biomass boiler. If you are considering a broader home improvement programme that includes both insulation and a low-carbon heating system, GBIS and BUS can be pursued alongside one another, they are not mutually exclusive. Boiler Upgrade Scheme guide for homeowners
| Feature | GBIS | ECO4 |
|---|---|---|
| Target group | Wider households including the general group | Low-income and fuel-poor households |
| Benefit requirement | Not always required (general group) | Usually required |
| Measures available | Single insulation measure only | Multiple measures including heating upgrades |
| EPC eligibility | D or below (varies by supplier) | E, F, and G primarily |
| Funded by | Energy suppliers regulated by Ofgem | Energy suppliers regulated by Ofgem |
| Application route | Via energy supplier or GBIS referral service | Via energy supplier or ECO4 portal |
| Council tax band restriction | Yes, A to D (England and Wales), A to E (Scotland) | No council tax band restriction |
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. Some households can access broader support by combining the two routes.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. The process involves checking your eligibility, gathering the right documents, and engaging either directly with an energy supplier or via the government’s referral service. Here is a clear, step-by-step guide to making your application.
- Check your EPC rating, Find your property’s current Energy Performance Certificate on the GOV.UK EPC register at find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk. An EPC is valid for ten years, so if your certificate is older than that, or if no EPC exists for your property, you may need to commission a new one from an accredited domestic energy assessor before proceeding.
- Confirm your council tax band, Check your council tax band via your local council’s website, the Valuation Office Agency for properties in England and Wales, or the Scottish Assessors Association for properties in Scotland. All three are free to use.
- Gather benefit documentation where applicable, If you are applying through the low-income group, have your proof of qualifying benefits ready before making contact. This typically means your most recent benefit award letter or a Universal Credit statement downloaded from your online account.
- Contact your energy supplier directly, Most major energy suppliers, including British Gas, EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy, OVO, and Scottish Power, participate in GBIS and have dedicated application teams. You do not have to be a customer of that supplier to apply through them.
- Alternatively, use the government’s referral service, If you are unsure which supplier to approach, the Energy Saving Trust helpline or the Simple Energy Advice service can match you to a participating supplier based on your postcode and circumstances. This can save time if you are navigating the scheme for the first time.
- Arrange a free home survey, Once your eligibility is confirmed, the supplier will arrange for an accredited installer to visit your property and carry out a free survey. The survey assesses which insulation measure is suitable for your home based on its construction, current insulation levels, and condition.
- Review the proposed measure and agree to proceed, After the survey, you will be told which measure has been recommended and what, if anything, you are expected to contribute financially. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. You are never obligated to proceed and should not feel pressured to sign anything on the day of the survey.
- Installation is completed by an accredited installer, Works must be carried out by an installer holding PAS 2030 accreditation, which is the UK industry standard for energy efficiency retrofit installation. MCS certification may also apply where relevant to the measure. Do not allow works to proceed if the installer cannot confirm their accreditation status.
- Receive your updated EPC, After installation, your Energy Performance Certificate should be updated to reflect the improvements made. This confirms the work is complete and can also enhance your property’s marketability if you sell or let in the future.
Practical tip, keep a copy of all correspondence with your energy supplier, the installer, and any referral service. If a dispute arises later, having a written record of what was promised and agreed is invaluable.
What to Look for When Choosing a GBIS Installer
Even though GBIS installers are arranged through your energy supplier rather than chosen independently by you, homeowners retain the right to ask questions and verify credentials before work begins. Knowing what to look for protects you from substandard workmanship and ensures your installation is covered by the scheme’s consumer protections.
PAS 2030 Accreditation
PAS 2030 is the Publicly Available Specification that defines the quality standard for energy efficiency measures installed under government-funded schemes in the UK. Any installer carrying out work under GBIS must hold PAS 2030 accreditation. This is a mandatory requirement, not optional, and you should ask the installer to confirm their accreditation number before work begins. If they cannot or will not provide this information, do not allow the work to proceed.
TrustMark Registration
TrustMark is the government-endorsed quality scheme for home improvements, and GBIS installers are required to be TrustMark registered. This registration gives you additional consumer protection, including access to TrustMark’s dispute resolution service if problems arise after installation. You can verify an installer’s TrustMark registration at trustmark.org.uk using the “Find a Tradesperson” tool.
Checking Reviews and Track Record
In addition to checking formal accreditation, it is sensible to look at recent customer reviews for the installation company specifically. Useful sources include TrustMark’s own register (which includes ratings), Which? Trusted Traders, and Checkatrade. When reading reviews, look specifically for recent feedback mentioning insulation work or GBIS projects rather than general building or maintenance work.
Your Right to Decline or Seek a Second Opinion
Even under a scheme where installation is arranged on your behalf, you are never obligated to accept the first survey outcome or proceed with a measure you have doubts about. You have the right to ask questions, request written confirmation of what is being proposed, and seek a second survey opinion. Legitimate GBIS installers will not pressure you to sign documents on the day of a survey visit.
Practical tip, write down the installer’s name, company registration, and PAS 2030 accreditation number at the survey stage, before work begins. Confirm these on the TrustMark register the same day.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. The answer depends on your eligibility group, the measure recommended, and the individual energy supplier delivering the scheme.
| Measure | Typical cost without grant (2026) | Likely GBIS contribution | Potential homeowner contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loft insulation (semi-detached) | £300 to £600 | Full cost for most eligible households | Nil to minimal |
| Cavity wall insulation | £500 to £1,500 | Full or partial depending on group and supplier | £0 to £300 in some cases |
| Solid wall insulation (internal) | £5,500 to £12,000 | Partial, significant gap likely | Variable, confirm before agreeing |
| Solid wall insulation (external) | £8,000 to £20,000 | Partial contribution | Significant contribution likely required |
| Room-in-roof insulation | £1,500 to £3,000 | Full or partial, varies by supplier | £0 to £500 |
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. These are the two most common measures offered under the scheme and the ones where full funding is most consistently available. Homeowners in the low-income group are generally more likely to receive fully funded installation than those in the general group, though this varies between energy suppliers.
Solid wall insulation presents a more complex picture. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. If solid wall insulation is recommended for your property, you should confirm in writing exactly what the scheme will fund and what you will be expected to contribute before agreeing to proceed. Always get at least three quotes and compare the total costs carefully.
This will vary based on your home’s insulation level, construction type, and the energy supplier delivering the scheme in your area. The figures above represent typical ranges for 2026 and should be used as a guide rather than a guarantee. Always confirm the exact costs and contributions in writing before work begins.
It is also worth noting that energy savings after installation are not guaranteed to a specific figure, they depend heavily on your household’s existing heating habits, occupancy patterns, and the baseline insulation level before works were carried out. According to the Energy Saving Trust, well-installed loft insulation in a previously uninsulated semi-detached home can produce meaningful annual savings on heating bills, but individual outcomes will differ.
Practical tip, always ask the energy supplier for a written breakdown of what the scheme will fund and what, if anything, you are expected to pay before the installation date is confirmed. Never agree to works based solely on a verbal estimate.
energy saving tips for poorly insulated homes
Common Reasons Applications Are Declined and How to Respond
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
EPC Rating Too High
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. The rationale is that higher-rated homes are considered to already have adequate insulation in place. If you believe your EPC is inaccurate, for example, because the assessor did not have access to all areas of the property, you can commission a new EPC from an accredited domestic energy assessor. A fresh assessment that reveals a lower rating may open up eligibility.
Council Tax Band Too High
For general group applicants, living in a property above the council tax band threshold (above band D in England and Wales, above band E in Scotland) will disqualify the application. There is no straightforward workaround for this, the band is based on the property’s assessed value and cannot be changed by the homeowner. In this situation, exploring whether you qualify under ECO4 (which has no council tax band restriction) may be worthwhile if you also receive qualifying benefits.
Property Already Has Adequate Insulation
If the home survey reveals that the relevant insulation measure is already present and performing adequately, for example, if the loft already has 270mm or more of mineral wool insulation, which is the current recommended standard, the installer may determine that the measure is not cost-effective to apply. In this case, you could ask whether a different measure might be surveyed instead.
Structural or Access Issues
Cavity wall insulation requires the cavity to be accessible, free from significant defects, and of a suitable width. Some properties, particularly those in high-exposure locations or with existing damp problems, may not be suitable for cavity fill. If a structural issue is flagged, address it first and then reapply; do not proceed with cavity wall insulation in a property with active damp, as this can exacerbate moisture problems.
Practical tip, if your application is declined, ask the supplier to confirm the reason in writing. This gives you a clear basis for either challenging the decision or pursuing an alternative route such as ECO4 or the Great British Insulation Scheme through a different participating supplier.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
GBIS is a useful starting point, but for most UK homes it is only one piece of a larger energy efficiency puzzle. A single insulation measure, however well installed, will not transform an EPC F property into a highly efficient home on its own. Thinking about GBIS as the first step in a phased improvement programme, rather than a complete solution, tends to produce the best long-term outcomes.
Once your loft or walls are insulated, the next logical consideration is often your heating system. If your boiler is more than fifteen years old, replacing it with a modern condensing boiler can reduce heating energy consumption significantly. If you are interested in moving away from gas altogether, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £7,500 towards an air source heat pump, a device that extracts heat from the outdoor air and uses it to warm your home, using electricity rather than burning fuel. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
Draughtproofing, sealing gaps around windows, doors, letterboxes, and floorboards to reduce cold air infiltration, is an affordable complement to insulation that homeowners can often carry out themselves or arrange at low cost. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
For homeowners considering solar panels or battery storage alongside insulation improvements, MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certification is the required accreditation for installers working on these technologies. Always verify MCS certification at mcscertified.com before commissioning any solar or battery storage work. TrustMark registration applies here too.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the homes that see the greatest improvement in comfort and the most significant reductions in energy use are those where insulation, heating, ventilation, and draughtproofing are considered together as a system rather than as isolated improvements. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
Practical tip, after your GBIS installation is complete and your updated EPC has been issued, review the EPC’s recommendations section. This lists the further measures that assessors believe would improve your home’s rating and gives you a practical roadmap for future improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility falls into two groups. The low-income group covers households receiving qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Child Tax Credit. The general group is open to a much wider range of homeowners whose property has an EPC rating of D or below — no benefits are required. Both groups must be in England, Scotland, or Wales.
For eligible households in the low-income group, insulation is typically provided free of charge. General group households may receive heavily subsidised insulation, with costs varying by measure and property type. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
GBIS funds a single insulation measure per property. Eligible measures include loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation (internal or external), underfloor insulation, and flat roof insulation. Only one measure is funded per household, so it is worth identifying your home's greatest source of heat loss beforehand.
Applications are made through your energy supplier, as the scheme is delivered by Ofgem-regulated energy companies. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. You will need your EPC rating and, for the low-income group, proof of any qualifying benefits you receive.
ECO4 focuses on whole-house retrofits for low-income and fuel-poor households, covering multiple measures including heating system replacements, and requires the property to have an EPC rating of D or below. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. That makes it significantly more accessible. Some households may qualify for both schemes simultaneously.
