EPC Improvement Grants in 2026 — ECO4, Boiler Upgrade Scheme, GBIS and How to Apply

Overview of Available Grants in 2026

Improving a property's EPC rating can be expensive — a full package of measures to take a poorly insulated property from EPC F to C might cost £15,000–£40,000 without support. Fortunately, several government-funded and energy-company-funded grant schemes are available in 2026 that can substantially reduce or eliminate these costs for eligible households.

The three main schemes are:

1. **ECO4** — Energy Company Obligation, phase 4

2. **Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)**

3. **Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)**

There are also local authority schemes and the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) programme, described below.

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ECO4 — Energy Company Obligation Phase 4

What Is ECO4?

ECO4 is a government obligation placed on large energy suppliers (those with more than 150,000 domestic customer accounts) to fund energy efficiency improvements in low-income and vulnerable households. It runs until March 2026 (phase 4), with a successor scheme expected to follow.

What Does ECO4 Cover?

ECO4 can fund a comprehensive package of measures, including:

• Loft insulation (including top-ups)
• Cavity wall insulation
• Solid wall insulation (internal and external)
• Underfloor insulation
• Heat pumps
• Solar photovoltaic panels
• Smart heating controls
• First-time central heating (for households with no central heating)
• Boiler repair or replacement (for qualifying households)
• Double/triple glazing (in limited circumstances, particularly for solid-walled properties)

In contrast to previous ECO phases, ECO4 takes a whole-house approach: the aim is to reach EPC band C in a single package of measures rather than funding individual improvements piecemeal.

Who Is Eligible for ECO4?

The primary route is through qualifying benefits. Households where at least one member receives any of the following are eligible:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Working Tax Credit (with income below £31,000)
• Child Tax Credit (with income below £31,000)
• Housing Benefit (where the household includes a child under 16)

There is also a **LA Flex** route, where local authorities can refer households that do not receive qualifying benefits but are considered to be in fuel poverty or on low income — typically households earning below £31,000 with a high energy cost burden. Contact your local authority's housing or environmental health team to explore LA Flex referral.

How to Apply for ECO4

Contact your energy supplier directly and ask about ECO4. All major suppliers (British Gas, EDF, E.ON, OVO, Octopus, Scottish Power, Utilita, etc.) have ECO4 teams. Alternatively, use the government's Simple Energy Advice service at **www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk** or call 0800 444 202 — this service can check eligibility and refer you to a participating installer.

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Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)

What Is GBIS?

The Great British Insulation Scheme is a separate, parallel scheme to ECO4 with a broader eligibility criteria. It is specifically focused on single insulation measures — primarily loft insulation and cavity wall insulation — and is aimed at helping households in the least energy-efficient homes insulate quickly and at low or no cost.

Who Is Eligible?

GBIS has two eligibility groups:

**Group A (means-tested)**: Households receiving qualifying benefits (same list as ECO4, broadly)

**Group B (general)**: Owner-occupiers and private tenants in properties with an EPC rating of D, E, F or G, AND in Council Tax bands A–D in England (A–E in Scotland and Wales). This group does not need to be on benefits — it is aimed at households in energy-inefficient homes regardless of income, provided the Council Tax band condition is met.

What Does GBIS Cover?

GBIS funds one primary insulation measure per household. Common measures:

• Loft insulation (new or top-up)
• Cavity wall insulation
• Solid wall insulation (in some circumstances)
• Room-in-roof insulation
• Underfloor insulation
• Park home insulation

How to Apply

As with ECO4, contact your energy supplier or use Simple Energy Advice (www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk).

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Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)

What Is BUS?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides capital grants to help households replace fossil fuel heating systems with low-carbon alternatives. It is administered by Ofgem and funded from general taxation.

Grant Amounts

Eligibility

To qualify for BUS:

• The property must be in England or Wales
• The property must have a valid EPC (issued within the last 10 years)
• The EPC must not contain outstanding recommendations for cavity wall insulation or loft insulation that have not been completed
• The installation must be carried out by an MCS-certified installer
• The installer applies for the voucher on your behalf — you simply pay the reduced invoice

How to Apply

BUS grants are applied for by your installer, not by you directly. Find an MCS-certified heat pump installer at **www.mcscertified.com**. The installer will apply for a voucher before commencing work, deduct the grant value from your invoice, and claim the money from Ofgem after installation is confirmed.

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Other Schemes

**Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2)**: Targeted at low-income households in off-gas-grid properties (i.e. no mains gas connection). Funds improvements including heat pumps, insulation, and solar PV. Delivered through local authorities — contact your council or check www.gov.uk/guidance/home-upgrade-grant.

**Local Authority Delivery (LAD) / Sustainable Warmth**: Some councils offer additional funding or interest-free loans for energy efficiency improvements. Availability varies significantly by area.

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Planning Your Application

The key rules to remember:

1. **Apply before starting work** — most schemes require pre-approval or a confirmed voucher before installation begins

2. **Resolve insulation before applying for BUS** — any outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations must be addressed first

3. **Use MCS-certified installers** — required for BUS; recommended for ECO4 and GBIS to ensure quality

4. **Combine schemes where possible** — ECO4 and GBIS can sometimes be combined in a single visit from one installer

Use the [EPC Improvement Calculator](/epc-improvement-calculator) to identify which improvements your property needs, then cross-reference your eligibility for each scheme to build a fully funded or part-funded upgrade plan.