Free Insulation Grants

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What are Free Insulation Grants?

These grants are also known as insulation schemes or insulation funding. They were introduced by the government in partnership with energy agencies, or local authorities as part of the Energy Company Obligation Scheme(ECO4) to provide energy-efficient systems for eligible properties. Overall, the aim is to reduce energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, and improve the thermal comfort of deserving low-income households in England, Scotland and Wales.

Insulation Grants

Insulation is very important in the home and not only reduces utility bills but also improves home comfortability. It also helps to maintain a stable indoor temperature thus preventing heat loss.

As the name suggests, it is a grant so it does not have to be repaid. Also, you are not expected to pay for installing an insulation measure for your home although you may need to contribute to the insulation costs if you do not receive enough grant to cover 100% of the insulation cost.

It's advisable to check with local government agencies or energy suppliers to get the most up-to-date information on available grants and incentives in your area.

What Grants are available for Home Insulation?

Here are some of the types of insulation available under the ECO4 scheme.;

  • Loft Insulation Grants

  • Cavity Wall Insulation Grants

  • External wall Insulation Grants

  • Solid Wall Insulation Grants

  • Internal Wall Insulation Grants

  • Room In Roof Insulation Grants

You may be offered enough to fund 100% of the cost of the installation from the insulation grant but some homeowners will only obtain some of the money and will thus need to contribute to the costs.

Not every household is eligible for the free insulation grant as certain criteria must be met for your home to qualify for the grant.

Want to learn more about eligibility? We are here to help. Contact us today!

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Who qualifies for Insulation Grants?

Being eligible for grants for insulation largely depends on the specific grant program as well as the country or region where it is offered. So, in this guide, we have listed some common factors that usually determine eligibility. You may need to check with local government agencies, energy organisations, or program administrators in your location for accurate and up-to-date information based on your region.

You are likely to be eligible for 100% funding for government insulation grants if you or anybody in your home receives one or more of the following benefits:

  • Armed Forces independence payment

  • Attendance allowance

  • Carer’s allowance

  • Child Tax Credit

  • Disability living allowance

  • Income support

  • Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)

  • Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)

  • Industrial injuries disablement allowance

  • Industrial injuries disablement benefit

  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit Element

  • Personal independence allowance

  • Personal independence payment

  • Severe disablement allowance

  • Universal Credit

  • War pensions mobility supplement

  • Working tax credit

  • Child benefits dependant on income & dependants

Free Insulation Grant
  • Income: Some programs target low-income households or those in fuel poverty. There may be income thresholds or criteria that applicants must meet to qualify for free insulation.

  • Property ownership: Programs may be available to homeowners, tenants, or landlords. The specific eligibility for each group can vary, so it's important to check if the program is open to your particular situation.

  • Property type: Certain programs may be limited to specific property types, such as residential homes, apartments, or specific building classifications.

  • Geographic location: Some programs are available only in certain regions or areas. It's essential to check if the program covers your location.

  • Age and condition of property: Some programs may prioritize older properties or those in need of energy efficiency improvements. The age and condition of your property may be a factor in determining eligibility.

Eligible Households for the Free Insulation Grant

  • You may qualify for an insulation grant under the ECO4 scheme if you own a home, are privately renting (must have permission of the landlord) or you are a landlord and you have a tenant who meets the criteria.

For social housing tenants, the local council or housing association will determine if you can obtain a grant as the rules are a bit different.

  • You must own or be living in a property that has an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.

Be aware that energy agencies can only spend 15% of their funding on properties with an EPC rating of D. This means that you will likely be accepted if your property has a rating of E, F and G.

Those who live in properties with an EPC rating of A, B or C are not eligible for the free insulation grant.

You can check the government's EPC register if you are not sure about the EPC rating of your property.

If your household qualifies for the grant, you can then apply for an insulation grant and upon successful completion, a registered insulation installer will carry out the necessary survey and install the insulation for your property.

Under the ECO scheme, energy suppliers are required to install energy-efficient technologies such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation to domestic households in the UK. These companies are fined if they fail to meet their targets.

Sometimes, some energy suppliers may lower the eligibility criteria to accommodate more households that qualify for the grant. However, the property where the insulation measure will be installed has to either be your property, a privately rented property or you receive the permission of the landlord to have insulation work done.

loft insulation grant

What Grants are available for Loft Insulation?

For loft insulation, you will be eligible for a 100% grant if you meet the requirements listed above. Additionally, there must be 100mm (4 inches) or less of insulation already installed. This will usually be at the level or below the joists. If it is above this level, your installer may arrange a free survey and quote to top up to 270mm.

What Grants are available for Cavity Wall Insulation?

The same eligibility criteria apply as mentioned above. Usually, homes built of brick between 1924 and 1982 are generally suitable for Cavity Wall Insulation. Properties that were built up to 2005 without insulation may also qualify.

What Grants are available for Room in Roof Insulation Grants?

In addition to the eligibility criteria mentioned above, the property must have been constructed with roof rooms or have a loft conversion. Furthermore, there must be little or no insulation in the walls and ceiling. Also, there must be a fixed staircase, not a pull-down loft ladder or similar).

Find Out If You Are Eligible

Benefits of Insulation Grants

Several benefits come with government grants for home insulation. Here are some of them;

  • Offsets Insulation Costs: These insulation grants of course provide financial help to homeowners by assisting in reducing the upfront costs of insulating your home.

  • Reduced Heating Bills: A properly done insulation helps to prevent heat gain during the summer months and heat loss during the cold winter months. This consequently reduces the amount of energy needed to either heat or cool your home. This will of course lead to lower energy bills over time. This not only saves costs but also increases financial efficiency. By improving your Cavity wall and loft insulation, you can reduce your energy bills by an average of £300 every year.

  • Energy Efficiency: You improve the energy efficiency of your home when you have appropriate home insulation. This is because with insulation, the demand for other cooling and heating systems reduces which subsequently reduces greenhouse gas emissions leading to a smaller carbon footprint. Not only does your home benefit but so also does the environment.

  • Comfortability: The pleasurable warmth associated with insulated homes is unrivalled. Not only does it heat the home evenly, but it also reduces cold spots and drafts ensuring that there are no temperature fluctuations. Having a consistent indoor temperature which is associated with insulation makes the home much more comfortable for you and your family.

  • Boosts Property Value: Properties with insulation are highly sought after because of their energy efficiency. This means that if you have proper insulation in your home which is still under warranty and/or relatively new, you have a far greater chance to attract the right buyer.

  • It is Healthier: Having your home insulated is healthier for you as it maintains even temperatures throughout a home and contributes to better indoor air quality.

    Additionally, insulation protects your home from outdoor pollutants, allergens, and contaminants which can cause several health issues such as asthma, hypothermia, bronchitis, strokes, and heart attacks.

    Furthermore, insulation reduces condensation in your property, which reduces the risk of mould, dampness and mildew.

Check Your Eligibility

Frequently Asked Question

Insulations are currently still available for various insulation measures including loft insulation grants, cavity wall insulation grants, external wall insulation grants, internal wall insulation grants and solid wall insulation grants.

The aim of these grants (which are not meant to be repaid) is to help deserving homes become energy efficient which will also help them save money by reducing energy bills.

Utility companies are thus obliged by the government to provide insulation funding to eligible households to improve the efficiency of their homes and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. This is all in line with the government's goal of being net carbon neutral by 2050 and reducing fuel dependency.

Free insulation grants for walls are available for loft insulation and cavity walls. ECO funding is usually targeted to vulnerable households in low-income areas.

Grants are not widely available for solid wall insulation. The reason is that most homes built before 1920 – and some after – have solid walls, and they have a very poor record in retaining heat as energy escapes almost two times as it does in cavity walled homes.

However, there are certain companies which offer free solid wall insulation grants and you can find them here.

There are cheap ways to insulate a loft. This includes the warm loft and the cold loft.

A warm loft is created when you insulate the underside of your roof directly. In this case, the barrier to warm air escaping from your home is not at the loft level but at the roof level. This will ensure that your loft space is warmed by the rest of the house making it more habitable. It also reduces the chance of condensation forming when cool air (in the loft) meets warm air (in the house) since the difference between the temperature of the air in your loft compared to the rest of the house is minimal.

Creating a cold loft is also a very cheap way to insulate a loft. In this case, the insulation is placed on the floor of the loft and forms a barrier for warm air leaving the house and entering the loft. The implication here however is that the loft then becomes a very cold spot and you may have condensation issues and may cause damage to your belongings.

On the flip side, the cold loft can become very warm in the Summer months, as warm air enters through the roof and becomes trapped.

To achieve the best possible insulation for your home, it is recommended that around 270mm of wool insulation is added to the floor of your loft. This will prevent heat loss from your home into the loft and will help you save around £140 per annum in energy bills.

Loft insulation is known for its longevity, and so saves you money as you will not have to replace your insulation in just a few years after it has been fitted. According to Energy Saving Trust, most insulation can last for at least 40 years. In some cases, they can even last longer.

The longevity of your loft insulation depends on the material used as well as the conditions in your home.

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