Mortgages & PropertyGovernment Grants for Home Improvements 2026 UK — What's Available
Guide to government grants for home improvements in 2026. Energy efficiency funding, disabled adaptations, and other support for improving your home.
Government funding exists for specific home improvements, primarily focused on energy efficiency and disability adaptations. Here’s what’s actually available in 2026.
What Grants Cover
Funded Improvements
| Funded | Not Funded |
|---|
| Insulation | New kitchen |
| Heat pumps | New bathroom |
| Heating systems (if eligible) | Extensions |
| Disability adaptations | Decorating |
| Solar panels (some schemes) | General repairs |
Energy Efficiency Grants
ECO 4 (Energy Company Obligation)
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What it funds | Insulation, heating, renewables |
| Cost to you | Free if fully eligible |
| Who funds it | Energy companies (legal obligation) |
| Runs until | March 2026 (ECO 4), then ECO successor |
ECO 4 Eligibility
You need to meet criteria in BOTH columns:
| Benefits (one of these) | Property Condition |
|---|
| Pension Credit | EPC D, E, F, or G |
| Income Support | OR in a low-income area |
| Universal Credit | defined by council |
| Income-based JSA | |
| Income-related ESA | |
| Child Tax Credit (low income) | |
| Working Tax Credit | |
| Housing Benefit | |
What ECO 4 Covers
| Improvement | Typical Value |
|---|
| Loft insulation | £300-500 |
| Cavity wall insulation | £500-1,500 |
| Solid wall insulation | £5,000-10,000 |
| Boiler replacement | £2,000-3,000 |
| First-time central heating | £3,000-4,500 |
| Heat pump | £7,000-12,000 |
How to Apply for ECO 4
| Method | Details |
|---|
| Through energy supplier | Contact your provider |
| Through council | LEA Flex referral |
| Through approved installer | Find ECO-accredited companies |
Great British Insulation Scheme
Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What’s different | Broader eligibility than ECO |
| What it funds | Single insulation measure |
| Who qualifies | Homes EPC D-G |
| Means-tested route | Lower income households |
Eligibility Routes
| Route | Requirements |
|---|
| General | Home EPC D-G, council tax band A-D (England) |
| Low income | On qualifying benefits (similar to ECO) |
What It Covers
| Improvement | Available |
|---|
| Cavity wall insulation | Yes |
| Loft insulation | Yes |
| Room-in-roof insulation | Yes |
| Flat roof insulation | Yes |
| Solid wall insulation | No |
How to Apply
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Check eligibility at gov.uk |
| 2 | Find approved installer |
| 3 | Get survey and quote |
| 4 | Work completed and claimed |
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
What It Funds
| Technology | Grant Amount |
|---|
| Air source heat pump | £7,500 |
| Ground source heat pump | £5,000 |
| Biomass boiler | £5,000 |
Note: This does NOT fund standard gas boilers — only low-carbon alternatives.
Eligibility
| Requirement | Details |
|---|
| Property type | Home in England or Wales |
| Replace fossil fuel | Gas, oil, or LPG heating |
| EPC | Valid EPC, no unsatisfied recommendations for insulation |
| Installer | MCS-certified |
Process
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Get valid EPC |
| 2 | Find MCS-certified installer |
| 3 | Installer applies on your behalf |
| 4 | Grant automatically deducted from quote |
Real Cost After Grant
| System | Full Cost | Grant | You Pay |
|---|
| Air source heat pump | £10,000-12,000 | £7,500 | £2,500-4,500 |
| Ground source heat pump | £15,000-20,000 | £5,000 | £10,000-15,000 |
Disabled Facilities Grant
Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What it funds | Adaptations for disability |
| Maximum | £30,000 (England), higher elsewhere |
| Who qualifies | Disabled person, owner or tenant |
| Means-tested | May have to contribute |
What It Covers
| Adaptation | Examples |
|---|
| Access | Ramps, widening doors, lifts |
| Bathrooms | Walk-in showers, grab rails |
| Kitchen | Lower surfaces, adapted facilities |
| Safety | Emergency alarm systems |
| Heating | Improved heating control |
How to Apply
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Contact local council |
| 2 | Occupational therapist assessment |
| 3 | Assess need for adaptations |
| 4 | Means test (may have to contribute) |
| 5 | Work quoted and approved |
| 6 | Grant paid to contractor |
Means Testing
| Income/Savings | Contribution |
|---|
| Very low income | £0 (full grant) |
| Low income | Small contribution |
| Higher income | Larger contribution |
| Passported benefits | Usually £0 |
Children and young people under 19 are not means-tested.
Solar Panel Support
Solar Together Schemes
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What it is | Group buying for solar |
| How it works | Council-backed collective purchase |
| Benefit | Discounted prices |
| Available | Varies by council area |
SEG (Smart Export Guarantee)
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What it is | Payment for exported electricity |
| Who offers | Most energy suppliers |
| Rate | Typically 3-15p/kWh |
| Requirement | MCS-certified installation |
Not a grant, but helps payback on solar investment.
Local Council Schemes
Varies by Area
| Type | Examples |
|---|
| Empty property grants | Bring vacant homes into use |
| Heritage grants | Historic building restoration |
| Landlord schemes | Improve rental housing |
| Area-specific | Regeneration programmes |
How to Find
| Method | Details |
|---|
| Council website | Search “[your council] home improvement grants” |
| Housing team | Contact for information |
| Citizens Advice | Local knowledge |
Scotland-Specific
Home Energy Scotland Grants and Loans
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What it funds | Insulation, renewables, heating |
| Grant | Up to £7,500 for most measures |
| Loan | Interest-free loans available |
| Apply | homeenergyscotland.org |
Warmer Homes Scotland
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What it is | Free energy efficiency improvements |
| Who qualifies | Benefits or income criteria |
| Apply | 0808 808 2282 |
Wales-Specific
Nest Scheme
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What it funds | Free energy efficiency |
| Who qualifies | Benefits or income under threshold |
| Apply | nest.gov.wales |
ECO Flex Wales
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What it is | Broader ECO eligibility |
| Via | Local authority referral |
Northern Ireland
Energy Efficiency Schemes
| Scheme | Details |
|---|
| Affordable Warmth | Low income home improvements |
| Boiler Replacement | Grants for new boilers (limited) |
| Contact | nihe.gov.uk |
How to Apply: Summary
| Grant | Apply Via |
|---|
| ECO 4 | Energy supplier or approved installer |
| Great British Insulation | gov.uk or approved installer |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme | MCS-certified installer |
| Disabled Facilities Grant | Local council |
| Local schemes | Local council |
| Scotland grants | Home Energy Scotland |
| Wales grants | Nest scheme |
Beware of Scams
Red Flags
| Warning | What It Means |
|---|
| “Free solar panels” with catches | Long-term lease agreements |
| Upfront fees for grants | Grants don’t require fees |
| Pressure to sign quickly | Legitimate schemes don’t pressure |
| Unsolicited calls | Be very cautious |
Stay Safe
| Action | Why |
|---|
| Verify through official sources | Use gov.uk links |
| Check installer credentials | MCS, TrustMark |
| Never pay upfront | For grant-funded work |
| Get multiple quotes | Even with grants |
Summary: What’s Available
| Improvement Need | Best Grant Option |
|---|
| Insulation | ECO 4, Great British Insulation |
| Heat pump | Boiler Upgrade Scheme |
| Boiler (gas) | ECO 4 only (if eligible) |
| Disability adaptations | Disabled Facilities Grant |
| Solar panels | Local schemes, finance |
| General improvements | No grants available |
Focus on energy efficiency for the most grant opportunity — this is where government funding is concentrated for home improvements.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. PocketWise provides information and guidance — we do not offer financial advice. Seek independent mortgage advice before making decisions about borrowing.
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