The Great British Insulation Scheme is not always free, but most households pay nothing
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. For a significant portion of eligible households, the installation is completely free, while others pay a fixed contribution of between £150 and £300 per measure, depending on the installer and property type (DESNZ, 2026 update).
Some pay a fixed contribution of £150 to £300 per measure. No household pays the full market rate. Check your eligibility to see if you qualify for free insulation.
- Some households pay a fixed contribution of £150 to £300 per measure.
- The scheme funds one insulation measure per home, chosen from a set list.
- Eligibility is based on benefits or low EPC rating and council tax band.
- Cavity wall insulation can save £200-£300 annually with zero upfront cost.
- The Great British Insulation Scheme is not always free, but most households pay nothing
- How the Great British Insulation Scheme actually works, one measure per home
- Quick numbers, what the scheme costs and saves in 2026
- The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
- The direct answer, is the Great British Insulation Scheme free?
- How to verify a Great British Insulation Scheme installer, MCS certification is mandatory
- What the scheme actually covers, and what it does not
The direct answer is that the scheme is not universally free, but the vast majority of participants either pay nothing or a heavily subsidised fee. No household pays the full market rate for insulation under GBIS.
How the Great British Insulation Scheme actually works, one measure per home
The scheme provides funding for a single insulation measure per household, chosen from a list that includes cavity wall, loft, solid wall, room-in-roof, flat roof, underfloor, or park-home insulation (Ofgem, 2026). It is a replacement for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme’s broader, multiple-measure approach, targeting homes with lower energy costs to improve the least efficient properties.
Eligible households are identified based on either receiving certain benefits or living in a property with a low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating in a lower council tax band. Once a measure is approved and installed, the energy company that supplies the property covers the cost, minus any fixed contribution from the householder.
Quick numbers, what the scheme costs and saves in 2026
| Measure | Without scheme cost | With GBIS cost | Annual saving | Payback (if paying contribution) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavity wall insulation | £500–£1,000 | £0–£300 | £200–£300 | 1–2 years |
| Loft insulation (top-up to 270mm) | £300–£600 | £0–£300 | £180–£250 | 1–2 years |
| Solid wall insulation (external) | £8,000–£15,000 | £0–£300 | £400–£700 | Less than 1 year |
| Underfloor insulation | £1,000–£2,500 | £0–£300 | £100–£200 | 2–3 years |
Costs and savings are based on Energy Saving Trust data (2026) and the DESNZ scheme impact assessment (2026). Savings vary by property size and fuel type.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
Households receiving certain means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Housing Benefit, qualify for 100% funding with no contribution (GOV.UK eligibility checker, 2026).
General-eligibility households, those in lower council tax bands (A–D) with an EPC rating of D or below, or living in social housing, pay a fixed contribution. The exact amount depends on the installer and property type, but is typically capped at £150–£300 per measure. Social housing tenants pay nothing even under general eligibility.
The direct answer, is the Great British Insulation Scheme free?
The scheme is free for households on eligible benefits; for everyone else, it is heavily subsidised with a fixed contribution, not free, but typically cheaper than paying for insulation privately (DESNZ scheme policy paper, 2026). No household pays the full market cost; the scheme covers the majority of the installation price.
If you are not on benefits but live in a lower council tax band property with a poor EPC rating, you will still pay significantly less than if you arranged the work independently. The fixed contribution is built to be affordable and is often recouped within the first year of energy savings.
How to verify a Great British Insulation Scheme installer, MCS certification is mandatory
All installers must hold current Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certification for the insulation type they install. You can check an installer’s certification online via the MCS installer database (2026).
Installers must also be registered with TrustMark (2026), the government-endorsed quality scheme, to ensure work meets Building Regulations. The energy company responsible for your property will assign an installer, but you have the right to request verification of their credentials before work begins. If an installer cannot provide current MCS and TrustMark certification, do not proceed, the work may not be covered by the scheme or comply with regulations.
What the scheme actually covers, and what it does not
Covered measures include cavity wall insulation, loft insulation (up to 270mm top-up), solid wall insulation (internal or external), room-in-roof insulation, flat roof insulation, underfloor insulation, and park-home insulation (Ofgem eligibility list, 2026).
Not covered are double glazing, boiler replacement, heating controls, solar panels, or any measure not listed as an eligible insulation type (DESNZ scheme guidance, 2026). The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. For broader home improvements, other schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) may be more suitable.
Check if you qualify for ECO4 instead for multiple measures
Compare the Great British Insulation Scheme with the Home Upgrade Grant
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not free for everyone. Most eligible households pay nothing, but some pay a fixed contribution of £150 to £300 per measure, as confirmed by DESNZ in their 2026 update.
If a contribution is required, it ranges from £150 to £300 per insulation measure, depending on the installer and property type, according to Ofgem.
Annual savings range from £100 for underfloor insulation to £700 for solid wall insulation, based on Energy Saving Trust data (2026). Most measures pay back the contribution within 1-3 years.
