External Wall Insulation Grants: What Is Still Available
Yes, external wall insulation grants still exist, but fewer routes remain. ECO4 can fund it for eligible households until 31 December 2026, with no successor supplier scheme.
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The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. In England, councils with funding can also pay for it through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, delivered until 31 March 2028.
ApplyFreeBoiler.uk is run by Reliant Energy Solutions Ltd (Companies House 16100301), an ECO4 heating and insulation installer. We survey homes, install the work and submit it under ECO4, so we have a commercial interest in households applying. We are not the government or Ofgem.
Written by the ApplyFreeBoiler editorial team. Last reviewed 7 October 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page. Read our editorial policy to see how we research and fund this site.
Which schemes fund external wall insulation now?
Support depends on where you live. In Great Britain, ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 and suppliers choose what to fund. The Great British Insulation Scheme has closed. In England, councils can fund it through the Warm Homes: Local Grant. Scotland and Wales run their own schemes.
| Scheme | Where | Status | External wall insulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECO4 | Great Britain | Runs until 31 December 2026. No successor supplier scheme. | Solid wall insulation is an ECO4 measure. Suppliers decide what they fund, and you may be asked to contribute. |
| Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) | Great Britain | Closed on 31 March 2026. | No longer available. |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | England | Delivery window 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028. Your council must have funding available. | External and internal wall insulation are both named in the scheme guidance. Owner-occupiers must not be asked to contribute. |
| Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan | Scotland | Terms and conditions published by Home Energy Scotland. | Grant of up to 75% of costs (maximum £7,500, or £9,000 with the rural uplift) plus an optional interest-free loan. Solid wall insulation is capped at £10,000 in combined grant and loan. External wall insulation claims need a building warrant. |
| Warmer Homes Scotland | Scotland | For households at or at risk of fuel poverty who meet its criteria. | Wall insulation is one of the listed measures. In most cases the Scottish Government meets all the costs. |
| Nest | Wales | Run by the Welsh Government. | Insulation is one of the listed improvements, but Nest does not name wall types on its page. Ask on 0808 808 2244. |
| Affordable Warmth Scheme and NISEP | Northern Ireland | Linked from nidirect's insulation page. | nidirect names loft and cavity wall insulation only. Ask NI Energy Advice about solid wall work. |
Sources: DESNZ ECO4 extension response, GOV.UK Warm Homes: Local Grant, Home Energy Scotland terms, Welsh Government Nest page and nidirect. Devolved schemes change, so confirm with the scheme body before you rely on a figure.
What "free" external wall insulation really means
Ofgem says ECO is not a grant scheme. Energy companies decide which projects they fund and how much they pay, and you may be asked to contribute. Under the Warm Homes: Local Grant, DESNZ guidance says owner-occupiers must not be required to contribute, while a private landlord gets one home fully funded and pays 50% for later properties.
Solid Wall Insulation Grants
Homes built before about the 1920s to 1930s usually have solid walls with no cavity, so they cannot have cavity wall insulation. Solid walls are insulated either from the outside or from the inside, and the same schemes cover both.
- External wall insulation: fixed to the outside and finished with render or cladding. This is the route this page covers.
- Internal wall insulation: fixed to the inside face of the external walls. Our internal wall insulation grant guide covers it.
Solid wall insulation grants come from two places. ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 for households with a qualifying benefit or an ECO4 Flex route (LA Flex), usually in a home rated EPC D to G. In England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant can also fund it where your council has funding available, and our Warm Homes: Local Grant versus ECO4 comparison sets the two side by side. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026, so it can no longer fund solid wall insulation.
External insulation changes how the outside of the house looks, so check the planning rules before work starts. Permission may be needed, and you need it in a conservation area, National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Broads. Internal insulation leaves the outside alone, although a listed building still needs listed building consent for significant work. A home survey recommends which type suits your walls, and the external versus internal comparison below shows the differences.
Who qualifies for a free external wall insulation grant?
For ECO4 you need a qualifying benefit or, under ECO4 Flex, an income under £31,000 or a health condition made worse by a cold home. Your home must be in EPC band D to G, and you must own it or have your landlord's permission. For the Warm Homes: Local Grant, household income is usually £36,000 or less.
ECO4: the household test
Ofgem lists these benefits, each with its relevant income requirements:
ECO4 Flex covers a combined gross household income under £31,000, or a household member with a severe or long-term health condition made worse by living in a cold home. Ofgem lists the qualifying conditions, including cardiovascular conditions and respiratory disease. Our LA Flex guide explains how councils use these routes.
ECO4: the property test
Warm Homes: Local Grant (England)
GOV.UK says your home must be in England, privately owned (by you or your landlord) and have an EPC of D, E, F or G. Household income must usually be £36,000 a year or less. You might still qualify above that if you live in a certain postcode area or someone in the household gets certain benefits.
If your landlord owns the home, they may need to pay for some of the improvements. Not sure which scheme fits? Our Warm Homes: Local Grant versus ECO4 comparison sets them side by side.
Our free eligibility checker tells you which of these routes you may fit before you commit to anything.
Use the free eligibility checkerSolid wall insulation grant: external or internal?
A solid wall insulation grant can fund external wall insulation, fixed to the outside and finished with render or cladding, or internal wall insulation, fixed to the inside face of the external walls. ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant both cover the two types. The home survey recommends which suits your home.
| Feature | External wall insulation | Internal wall insulation |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is fitted | On the outside of the walls, finished with render or cladding. | On the inside face of the external walls. |
| Does the outside of the house change? | Yes. Planning permission may be needed (see the planning section). | No. Listed buildings still need listed building consent for significant work, inside or out. |
| Schemes that name it | ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant. In Scotland, claims need a building warrant. | ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant. |
| NAO audit result (installed before 16 January 2025) | 98% estimated to have major issues needing remediation. | 29% estimated to have major issues needing remediation. |
Audit figures are from the National Audit Office, extrapolated from DESNZ and Ofgem audits of 758 projects fitted under ECO4 and GBIS before 16 January 2025. Homes fitted from that date were not audited. Solid walls are generally insulated on the inside and/or the outside, according to the Planning Portal.
For the internal route, including how ECO4 treats it and what a survey checks, read our internal wall insulation grant guide. For every insulation measure in one place, see our insulation grants hub.
What does external wall insulation installation involve?
It starts with a survey, not a scaffold. You agree what is funded in writing, the insulation is fixed outside and finished with render or cladding, and you sign off only when the works are complete. Keep the guarantee and completion paperwork.
- 1
Check eligibility
Confirm your benefits or income, your EPC band (D to G) and whether you own the home or have your landlord's permission.
- 2
Home survey and assessment
A survey checks whether your walls suit insulation and recommends measures. Under the Warm Homes: Local Grant your council arranges it and usually contacts you within 10 working days of your application.
- 3
Agree funding in writing
Get the scope, timeline and any contribution you must pay in writing. TrustMark advises a written contract and three quotes, and Ofgem tells ECO4 households who are asked to contribute to shop around.
- 4
Installation
Insulation is fixed to the outside walls and covered with a render or cladding finish.
- 5
Sign-off
Ofgem says to sign the post-installation declaration only once the works are complete. Keep a copy.
- 6
Keep your paperwork
The ECO4 guidance refers to 25-year guarantees, enforced through TrustMark. Keep the guarantee with your completion documents.
Standards: under the Warm Homes: Local Grant, upgrades must follow PAS 2035 and be fitted by TrustMark-registered installers certified under PAS 2030.
Already had it fitted? Every home with external wall insulation installed under ECO4 or GBIS will be offered a home check, and faulty work should be fixed by the installer at no cost to you. Details are on GOV.UK.
How much does external wall insulation cost without a grant?
A DESNZ impact assessment from May 2023 assumed external solid wall insulation costs a fixed £5,000 plus £149 per square metre of wall, in 2022 prices. For 80 square metres of wall that is £16,920. It is a modelling figure, not a quote, so get written quotes.
| Wall area (illustrative) | Calculation | Modelled cost, 2022 prices |
|---|---|---|
| 60 m² | £5,000 + (60 × £149) | £13,940 |
| 80 m² | £5,000 + (80 × £149) | £16,920 |
| 100 m² | £5,000 + (100 × £149) | £19,900 |
Source: DESNZ GB Insulation Scheme impact assessment, Table 23. The wall areas are our examples, not typical figures. The same table assumes £128 per square metre for bungalows. The Warm Homes Plan says solid wall insulation has become less viable in recent years following supply chain cost increases, so check current prices.
- VAT: installing energy-saving materials, including wall insulation, is zero-rated until 31 March 2027, then reverts to 5%, according to HMRC VAT Notice 708/6.
- Savings: Which? says you could save £150 to £550 a year with solid wall insulation, using November 2024 prices. Your figure depends on your home and heating.
- Quotes: TrustMark advises getting three quotes and using a written contract.
Do you need planning permission for external wall insulation?
It depends on whether the finish changes how the outside looks. The Planning Portal says permission may be required if it does, and is unlikely to be needed if the materials resemble the originals. You need permission in a conservation area, National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Broads. This guidance covers England.
In a conservation area, National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Broads, you need to apply for planning permission before cladding or rendering the outside of your house.
A listed building needs listed building consent for any significant works, inside or outside.
Permitted development rights that apply to many house projects do not apply to flats, maisonettes or other buildings, so permission is needed for them.
A local authority can remove permitted development rights with an Article 4 direction, so check locally.
Building regulations
The Planning Portal says building regulations normally apply where 25% or more of an external wall is re-rendered, re-clad or re-lined internally, and the insulation would normally have to be improved. Ask your installer how compliance will be evidenced.
The final decision rests with your local planning authority. Policy in Wales may differ from the Planning Portal's English guidance. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland asks for a copy of your building warrant when you claim funding for external wall insulation. Sources: planning permission, external insulation FAQ, permitted development rights and building regulations.
How do you apply for an external wall insulation grant?
Check your eligibility first, then apply to the scheme that fits. In England that can be the Warm Homes: Local Grant through GOV.UK. For ECO4, contact your local council to see if it takes part, or contact an energy supplier directly. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own helplines.
- Check eligibility. Use our free eligibility checker to see which routes you may fit.
- England, Local Grant. Apply on GOV.UK. Your council will usually contact you within 10 working days. The assisted digital helpline is 0800 098 7950.
- ECO4. GOV.UK advises contacting your local council or an energy supplier directly. Ofgem publishes supplier contact details.
- Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. Home Energy Scotland is on 0808 808 2282, Nest on 0808 808 2244, and NI Energy Advice through the Housing Executive.
- Check any offer. If you are not sure an offer is genuine, GOV.UK says to contact your local council or the energy supplier it claims to represent.
ApplyFreeBoiler.uk is run by Reliant Energy Solutions Ltd, an ECO4 heating and insulation installer. We check your eligibility, survey your home and, where you qualify and the survey supports it, install the work and submit it under ECO4. The check is free and carries no obligation. We cannot guarantee funding before the survey, because eligibility is decided under the scheme rules.
Check Eligibility NowWhat happens after ECO4 ends?
ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026 and has no successor supplier obligation. The Warm Homes Plan says solid wall insulation has become less viable, and points to alternatives such as rooftop solar and home batteries as more cost-effective routes to lower bills. Do not assume a future grant will cover external wall insulation.
- DESNZ confirmed there will be no successor supplier obligation, following the November 2025 Budget.
- The Warm Homes Plan says that from 2027/28 the government intends to merge the Social Housing Fund and the Local Grant into a single low-income capital scheme with area-based delivery. We had not found published rules for it on 7 October 2026.
- DESNZ guidance still gives 31 March 2028 as the end of the Local Grant delivery window. Check GOV.UK for the current position before you apply.
- The VAT zero rate on installing insulation runs to 31 March 2027.
If you want to use ECO4, start now: it ends on 31 December 2026. Our ECO4 deadline guide and Warm Homes Plan guide explain what replaces it. Other measures may still be funded: see our loft insulation grant page.
External wall insulation grant FAQs
Answers checked against the sources below on 7 October 2026.
The basics
Can I get external wall insulation for free?
Quick answer: Possibly, if you qualify under ECO4 or, in England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Under the Local Grant, DESNZ guidance says owner-occupiers must not be required to contribute to the cost of upgrades. ECO4 works differently: Ofgem says it is not a grant scheme, so energy companies decide which projects they fund and you may be asked to contribute. Ask for the full terms in writing before any work starts, and use the free eligibility check to see which route fits your household.
Is the external wall insulation grant still available?
Quick answer: Partly. Fewer routes remain than a year ago.
ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 and has no successor supplier scheme. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. In England the Warm Homes: Local Grant has a delivery window to 31 March 2028, but your council must have funding available. Scotland and Wales run separate schemes, and the schemes table above shows what each one says about wall insulation.
Can I get a grant for solid wall insulation?
Quick answer: Possibly, if you qualify. ECO4 and, in England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant can fund solid wall insulation, external or internal.
Solid walls have no cavity, so they are insulated from the outside or the inside rather than with cavity wall insulation. ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 and the Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026, so the Warm Homes: Local Grant, where your council has funding available, is the other route in England.
What is the difference between external and internal wall insulation grants?
Quick answer: External insulation is fixed outside and finished with render or cladding. Internal insulation is fixed to the inside face of the external walls.
Both are solid wall insulation, and ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant guidance name both. A home survey recommends which suits your walls. External insulation changes how the house looks, so the planning rules matter. Our internal wall insulation grant guide covers the other route in detail.
Who qualifies for ECO4 external wall insulation?
Quick answer: A household receiving a listed benefit or meeting an ECO4 Flex route, in a home rated EPC D to G that you own or rent with your landlord's permission.
Ofgem lists benefits including Universal Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit, each with relevant income requirements. ECO4 Flex covers a combined gross household income under £31,000 or a health condition made worse by a cold home. Private rented homes need an initial EPC rating of E, F or G. For the Local Grant in England, household income is usually £36,000 or less, with postcode and benefit routes above that.
Applying and installing
How much does external wall insulation cost without a grant?
Quick answer: Government modelling assumed £5,000 plus £149 per square metre of wall in 2022 prices, which is £16,920 for 80 square metres.
That is a modelling assumption in a DESNZ impact assessment, not a quote. The Warm Homes Plan says solid wall insulation has become less viable in recent years following supply chain cost increases, so check current prices. Installation is zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, then reverts to 5%. Which? says you could save £150 to £550 a year with solid wall insulation, using November 2024 prices. Get at least three written quotes.
Do I need planning permission for external wall insulation?
Quick answer: It may be needed if the insulation changes how the outside of your home looks.
In England you need planning permission before rendering or cladding in a conservation area, National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or the Broads, and listed building consent for any significant work to a listed building. Flats and maisonettes do not have the permitted development rights that apply to many houses. Building regulations normally apply where 25% or more of an external wall is re-rendered, re-clad or re-lined internally. Your local planning authority has the final say.
How do I apply for external wall insulation?
Quick answer: In England, apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant on GOV.UK. For ECO4, contact your council or an energy supplier, or start with our free eligibility check.
After a Local Grant application your council usually contacts you within 10 working days, and the assisted digital helpline is 0800 098 7950. GOV.UK advises contacting your local council or an energy supplier directly for ECO4. As an ECO4 installer we can also check your eligibility, survey your home and submit the work. Home Energy Scotland is on 0808 808 2282 and Nest on 0808 808 2244.
What should I get in writing before work starts?
Quick answer: The scope of the work, the timeline, any contribution you must pay and the guarantee terms.
Citizens Advice says the ECO scheme should normally cover all the costs, but you may be asked to pay something, and you should be told how much before you agree. TrustMark advises a written contract and three quotes. Ofgem says to sign the post-installation declaration only once the works are complete. The ECO4 guidance refers to 25-year guarantees, enforced through TrustMark, so keep yours with your completion documents.
Problems and edge cases
What if I already have external wall insulation fitted under ECO4 or GBIS?
Quick answer: Ofgem is sending letters to affected properties, and every home with external wall insulation fitted under these schemes will be offered a home check.
The National Audit Office reported in October 2025 that DESNZ and Ofgem estimate 98% of external wall insulation fitted under ECO4 and GBIS before 16 January 2025 has major issues needing remediation. If your work is found to be faulty, your installer will be asked to fix it and you should not be asked to pay. Quote the Unique Measure Reference from your letter when you call Ofgem on 0808 169 4447, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:30pm. Citizens Advice warns that a trader who cold calls saying you must replace your insulation urgently could be a scam.
What if my council is not taking part?
Quick answer: You may still have a route, but it depends on the scheme.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is delivered by councils, so it depends on your council having funding available. ECO4 Flex needs your council to have published a Statement of Intent, and taking part is optional for councils. The ECO4 benefits route does not go through your council. Check with your council, then use our eligibility check to see which routes your household may fit.
What if someone offers me free external wall insulation I did not ask for?
Quick answer: Do not agree to anything until you have checked the offer.
GOV.UK says that if you are not sure an offer is genuine, you should contact your local council or the energy supplier it claims to represent. Citizens Advice warns that a cold call trying to sell you insulation you do not want or need could be a scam. Ask for written terms, and check that the installer is registered with TrustMark.
What if I miss the ECO4 deadline?
Quick answer: ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026 with no successor supplier scheme, so start now.
Citizens Advice says suppliers might stop taking applications sooner than 31 December 2026. In England the Warm Homes: Local Grant runs to 31 March 2028 where councils have funding. The government intends a single low-income capital scheme from 2027/28, but we had not found its published rules on 2 October 2026, and the Warm Homes Plan says solid wall insulation has become less viable. Do not assume a later grant will cover external wall insulation.
Sources
All pages were accessed on 7 October 2026. Government and regulator pages change, so confirm the current rules with the scheme body before you commit to any work.
- Ofgem: FAQs for domestic consumers and landlords (ECO4)
- Ofgem: ECO eligibility for homeowners and tenants
- GOV.UK: Help from your energy supplier, the Energy Company Obligation
- DESNZ: Extending the ECO4 end date, government response
- GOV.UK: Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant
- DESNZ: Warm Homes: Local Grant policy guidance for local authorities
- DESNZ: Warm Homes Plan
- GOV.UK: What to do if you have poor quality wall insulation (updated 18 February 2025)
- National Audit Office: Energy efficiency installations under the Energy Company Obligation (HC 1334, October 2025)
- DESNZ: GB Insulation Scheme final impact assessment (May 2023), Table 23
- HMRC: VAT Notice 708/6, energy-saving materials and heating equipment
- Planning Portal: External walls and planning permission
- Planning Portal: External walls and building regulations
- Planning Portal: Permitted development rights
- Planning Portal: Do I need planning permission for external insulation?
- Planning Portal: Thermal resistance of external walls
- Home Energy Scotland: Grant and Loan terms and conditions
- Home Energy Scotland: Warmer Homes Scotland
- Welsh Government: Nest
- nidirect: Insulation grants in Northern Ireland
- Citizens Advice: Get help with the cost of energy efficiency
- Citizens Advice: Make sure your home is energy efficient (insulation scams)
- TrustMark: Government endorsed quality scheme
- Which?: Solid wall insulation costs and savings (price basis November 2024)
- Companies House: Reliant Energy Solutions Ltd (16100301)
Explore Other Grants
External wall insulation is one of the larger measures funded under the ECO4 scheme, and a low EPC rating is usually the starting point. Compare it with the other home energy grants, or start your application.
Find out which grant you may qualify for
ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026. Checking your eligibility takes a couple of minutes and does not commit you to anything.
Check Eligibility Now