Following a recent survey, 51 percent of people are considering making home energy improvements, including home insulation, due to higher energy bills. That’s a statistic recently revealed by energy company British Gas.

Given the likely rise in householder research into finding ways to slash energy bills, now is the perfect time to explore what insulation grants you can access. As you’d expect, each comes with a different qualifying criteria.

This blog sets out to help.

 

Free home insulation depending on Council Tax Bands

Unlike other grants offering free home insulation, eligibility is not based on your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating or isn’t dependent on the householder receiving a means-tested benefit.

Rather, this scheme’s qualifying criteria are much simpler. This means more households could take advantage of free insulation grants in 2024.

This scheme launched in 2023 known as the Connected for Warmth Scheme, offers funding to households based on the home’s Council Tax Band.

If your home is in Council Tax Bands A to D, you may qualify for fully funded cavity wall insulation and loft insulation grants. The good news is, that you can have one or both energy-saving measures installed in your home, completely free of charge.

 

Insulating your home has lots of benefits, including:

• Savings on your energy bills
• Reduces heat loss, so your home is warmer in the winter months
• Improves the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of your home
• Contributes to a greener environment, helping to reduce carbon emissions.

 

You must either own your home or privately rent to qualify. Additionally, it is worth noting that the scheme helps those who have no insulation in their cavity walls, and in circumstances where the loft insulation is not up to the recommended standard of 270mm.

You can find out more about the free cavity wall and loft insulation grant scheme here.

When you apply for this grant, a survey will be arranged to check the suitability of your property for these cost-saving measures.

Let’s answer some commonly asked questions on this home insulation grant scheme.

• How do I find out my home’s Council Tax Band?

If you are unsure what Council Tax Band your home falls in, then you can check using a free Government tool here.

You simply put your postcode in, and a list of addresses will be displayed. Once you’ve found your home address, it will tell you the Council Tax Band your home is in.

Council Tax Bands in England range from A to H and are broadly based on the value of your property.

• Do I have to pay the home insulation grant back?

No, you don’t have to repay the grant. The installation is fully funded through the Connected for Warmth Scheme.

• Why is the free insulation grant available?

Understandably, when you hear the words ‘free’, often you question it – what’s the catch?

Therefore, it may be worth explaining why the scheme which offers you free loft insulation and cavity wall insulation, exists.

The Connected for Warmth Scheme is not a government initiative, it is funded by National Grid. It forms part of their commitment to alleviating the financial distress caused by rising energy costs.

• Is the insulation grant available nationwide?

Yes, it is. This free insulation grant scheme is a nationwide energy efficiency programme.

Several TrustMark-approved experienced installers are allocated to different geographical regions of the UK.

 

Government energy efficiency insulation scheme

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is a new government energy efficiency scheme, which helps support eligible households with improving the insulation in their homes.  Those households who qualify can benefit from funded cavity wall insulation or loft insulation.

The government has placed an obligation on energy companies to deliver the measures for the scheme, using their approved network of installation partners.

Read more here to understand the qualifying criteria for this free insulation grant.

Insulation grants for inefficient homes

There is another energy efficiency scheme households can access when looking for grants for loft and cavity insulation, as well as other energy efficiency measures such as solar PV and air source heat pumps.

Due to the design and purpose of this scheme, the qualifying criteria that households need to meet are more complex. Like the Connected for Warmth Scheme, it is open to owner occupiers and those who privately rent.

This scheme, known as the Energy Company Obligation, is designed to help the most inefficient homes with lower EPC ratings and support those in fuel poverty.

To qualify, your home needs to have an EPC rating of E, F, or G. Additionally, you need to receive a benefit.

To read the full list of qualifying benefits and criteria find out further information here.

How do you find out the EPC rating of your home?

If your home has an EPC lodged against it, you will find your home’s rating on this government EPC register.