Great British Insulation Scheme closed 31 March 2026: what to apply for now

The Ofgem Great British Insulation Scheme page records the closure. If a website, advert or caller still offers GBIS insulation, ask which scheme is actually paying for the work and get the funding route in writing before you book a survey or pay anything.

The scheme paid for individual measures, such as loft insulation or cavity wall insulation, rather than a whole-house package. Its eligibility was broader than the benefits-led test used by ECO4, which is why so many households searched for it.

ECO4, by contrast, takes a whole-house approach for the least efficient homes and can include heating as well as insulation. Because GBIS has closed, households that would once have used it need to check the routes below instead.

ECO4 (until 31 December 2026)

ECO4 targets the least efficient homes, generally EPC bands D to G, with separate rules for private rented and social housing. It ends on 31 December 2026 (Ofgem). You may qualify in one of two ways:

• A qualifying benefit: Child Benefit (subject to an income threshold), Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit) or Universal Credit. Ofgem lists them on its homeowners and tenants page.
• LA Flex (ECO4 Flex): if you do not get a qualifying benefit, your council can refer you. Councils opt in and publish a Statement of Intent. The routes include a gross annual household income under £31,000, area-based targeting, a health condition made worse by living in a cold home, and bespoke targeting. See our LA Flex guide.

Our ECO4 scheme guide covers the rules in more detail. You may qualify, but a survey decides what is funded.

Warm Homes: Local Grant (England)

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is run by local councils in England. It offers free energy upgrades, such as insulation, low-carbon heating like heat pumps, solar panels and smart controls, for privately owned homes (owner-occupied or private rented) with an EPC rating of D to G. Household income is usually £36,000 a year or less, or the home is in a qualifying low-income postcode, or someone in the household gets certain means-tested benefits. £500m is allocated, delivered from April 2025 to March 2028.

Apply on the GOV.UK Warm Homes: Local Grant page and your council then contacts you. Our Warm Homes: Local Grant vs ECO4 comparison explains how the two differ, and the GOV.UK policy page sets out the scheme.

Warm Homes Plan

The Warm Homes Plan is the government's wider programme that follows on from these schemes. Our Warm Homes Plan guide explains how it fits together.

When people search for a free cavity wall insulation government scheme, they usually mean GBIS. With GBIS closed, cavity wall insulation is funded through ECO4 for eligible households. ECO4 takes a whole-house approach, and the Ofgem ECO4 delivery guidance sets minimum insulation preconditions: before certain heating measures, cavity wall and loft or roof insulation must be installed or already present (or exempt). So insulation can be part of a package that also includes heating.

Cavity wall insulation suits many brick homes with clear cavities and suitable exposure conditions. Not every cavity should be filled; surveys exist to avoid trapping moisture problems. Loft insulation is usually straightforward where the loft is accessible and can take additional depth safely around electrics and hatches.

For funding detail on each measure, see our cavity wall insulation grant guide and our loft insulation grant guide. Older households can also read our loft insulation grant guide for pensioners.

Insulating a damp wall without addressing gutters or plumbing leaks is a false economy, so deal with water ingress first.

Most jobs complete without drama. When they do not, photos, dates, and written complaints matter more than angry phone calls alone. Report damp patches or smells early while the evidence is fresh, and keep any certificates in case your insurer asks for them.