What Are UK Energy Grants?

Quick links:

• Major government energy efficiency schemes in England
• Devolved energy grants: Support in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Bill rebates and winter support payments
• Energy supplier hardship funds
• Who qualifies for an energy grant?
• Easy energy-saving wins when you don't qualify for a grant
• How One Utility Bill simplifies your home finances

If you need help making your home more energy efficient or paying your energy bills, you might be eligible for an energy grant. Current schemes include the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Warm Homes: Local Grant, and ECO4, along with bill support such as the £150 Warm Home Discount.

What you’re eligible for depends on where you live, your income, your type of property and whether you’re a homeowner, tenant or landlord.

Energy grants aren't the same across the UK – some are only available in England, while others have different eligibility criteria in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Schemes can also change, so check the latest eligibility criteria on GOV.UK and your local council website before applying.

Here are some of the main schemes. Click on each one to scroll down and learn more:

Efficiency upgrades

• The Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Grants towards heat pumps and other low-carbon heating upgrades
• Warm Homes: Local Grant: Funding energy-saving improvements for eligible households in England.
• ECO4: Support for energy efficiency improvements for eligible low-income households.

Bill support

• The £150 Warm Home Discount: Reduces electricity bills for eligible households
• The Winter Fuel Payment: Helps older people with heating costs during winter.

• Cold Weather Payments: Help with heating costs during periods of very cold weather.

• Supplier-specific support: Some energy suppliers also have hardship funds for customers struggling to pay.

In this guide, we'll explain what support is available and what to look for.

Skip to the relevant section:

• Homeowners
• Tenants
• Landlords

Let’s take a closer look at the main government-led energy efficiency schemes for homes in England:

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales)

Get money towards upgrading your boiler or fitting a heat pump.

• How much can you get? The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides up to £7,500 towards an air-to-water, ground-source, or water-source heat pump; £5,000 towards a biomass boiler; or £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump. There are even enhanced grants of up to £9,000 for eligible off-gas-grid properties.
• What does it cover? The grant helps with the cost of replacing an old heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
• When is it available? The scheme is available until March 2030, while the enhanced £9,000 grant for eligible off-gas-grid properties ends earlier, in 2027.
• Other info: You don't apply for this grant yourself. Instead, you’ll need a quote from an MCS-certified installer and, once you've chosen one, they'll apply to Ofgem on your behalf.

The Warm Homes: Local Grant (England only)

Helps eligible households make homes with lower EPC ratings warmer and cheaper to run.

• How much can you get? The amount of funding available depends on your home, the improvements it needs and your local council.
• What does it cover? The scheme can fund energy efficiency improvements for eligible privately owned homes, including owner-occupied and privately rented properties.
• Who is eligible? Your home will usually need an EPC rating of D to G, so check your certificate before applying. Your household income will generally need to be £36,000 or less, although you may also qualify through certain benefits or based on your postcode.
• When is it available? The Warm Homes: Local Grant in England is scheduled to run until 31 March 2028
• Other info: It’s a local council scheme, so it’ll vary depending on where you live. Check what's available in your area.

ECO4, the Energy Company Obligation scheme

Supports low-income households to make their homes more energy efficient and cheaper to run.

• How much? There's no set amount for the ECO4 Grant. The support you receive depends on your circumstances, your property, and the improvements it needs.
• What does it cover? It can fund insulation, heating upgrades and other improvements for eligible low-income and fuel-poor households.
• Who is eligible? This depends on your circumstances and property type. Your home's EPC rating can affect whether you qualify and what improvements are recommended, so check your current rating before applying.
• When is it available for? ECO4 has been extended until 31 December 2026, although individual energy suppliers and councils may close their application forms earlier.
• Other info: You may be able to access ECO4 through an energy supplier or your local council. Check what's currently available in your area before applying.

There are a few grants that cover only Scotland, Wales and/or Northern Ireland, including:

Warmer Homes Scotland

• How much? Eligible households may receive support worth £10,000 or more, depending on the improvements their home needs.
• What does it cover? You can use it to fund various improvements including wall and loft insulation, draught-proofing, central heating, heat pumps and other renewable technologies.
• Who is eligible? The scheme is available to eligible homeowners and private-sector tenants in Scotland. Eligibility depends on your property and circumstances, and you'll usually need to receive a qualifying benefit or meet other criteria.
• Other info: The improvements offered depend on an assessment of your home, so the support you receive will be tailored to the property's energy-efficiency needs.

Nest scheme in Wales:

• How much? Eligible households can receive free home energy improvements, with the level of support dependent on your home’s needs.
• What does it cover? Improvements can include insulation, boiler repairs or replacements, heat pumps and solar panels. All households in Wales can also access free advice on improving their home's energy efficiency.
• Who is eligible? Your income, whether you receive certain benefits, and your home's energy efficiency can all affect whether you qualify.

• When is it available? This scheme is currently available with no fixed deadline.

• Other info: The support offered will depend on an assessment of your home and circumstances. Check the Welsh Government's Nest scheme for the latest eligibility criteria before ap

Affordable Warmth Scheme in Northern Ireland

• How much? Support depends on your home and the energy-efficiency improvements it needs.
• What does it cover? The scheme can help with improvements to make your home warmer and more energy-efficient, including insulation and heating upgrades.
• Who is eligible? The scheme is available to qualifying owner-occupiers and private tenants with a total gross annual household income below £23,000. Other eligibility criteria also apply.
• When is it available for? The Affordable Warmth Scheme is currently available in Northern Ireland, although the government is consulting on a future Warm Healthy Homes Fund that could change how support is provided.
• Other info: Read the latest Northern Ireland Housing Executive guidance before applying, as available support and eligibility rules may change.

Energy grants and eligibility rules vary across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Use your local government or council’s official eligibility checker to find the latest schemes and funding available in your area.

If you’re worried about paying your energy bills, there are a few different types of financial support that may be able to help:

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount provides £150 off your electricity bill for eligible households during winter.

• How much? £150 added to your electricity account credit.
• When is it available? The scheme reopens in autumn 2026 for winter 2026/27.
• Who is eligible? In England and Wales, you'll usually qualify automatically if you receive an eligible means-tested benefit and are named on the electricity bill on 23 August 2026.
• Do I need to apply? Most eligible households in England and Wales don't need to apply. In Scotland, some households may need to apply directly through their energy supplier.
• Where is it available? England, Wales and Scotland. The Warm Home Discount isn't available in Northern Ireland.

The Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment helps eligible older people with their heating costs during winter.

• How much? Between £100 and £300, depending on your age and household circumstances.
• When is it available? The payment applies to winter 2026/27.
• Where is it available? England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• What if I earn over £35,000? You'll still receive the payment, but HMRC will recover it if your individual income is over £35,000, unless you choose to opt out.
• Other info: Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (Scotland) has replaced the Winter Fuel Payment there. For winter 2026-27, it ranges from £105.55 to £316.70, depending on age and household circumstances.

Cold Weather Payments (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only)

Cold Weather Payments provide extra help with heating costs during periods of very cold weather.

• How much? £25 for each qualifying seven-day period of cold weather.
• When do you get it? A payment is triggered when the average temperature in your area is recorded or forecast to be 0°C or below for seven consecutive days during the scheme period.
• Who is eligible? You may qualify if you receive certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.
• Do I need to apply? Payments are usually made automatically if you're eligible.
• Where is it available? England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In Scotland: Cold Weather Payments have been replaced by the Winter Heating Payment. This provides eligible households with a single annual payment of £62, regardless of whether temperatures fall below a particular level.

If you're struggling to pay your energy bills, your supplier may offer its own hardship fund. Major suppliers offering hardship support include:

• British Gas Energy Trust: Grants and other support, with some funds requiring evidence that you've received money or debt advice.
• EDF Customer Support Fund: Support for customers struggling with energy costs. You may need to get independent debt advice before applying.
• Octopus Energy: Different types of support depending on your circumstances and what you can afford.
• E.ON Next: Grants and help with energy debt, subject to eligibility.

Each supplier has its own eligibility rules and application process, so contact yours directly to find out how they can help you.

The British Gas Energy Trust may also help people who aren't British Gas customers. However, this depends on which funds are open, whether your own energy supplier offers support and your individual circumstances, so check the latest eligibility criteria before applying.

Not every scheme is available to everyone. What you can apply for depends on things like where you live, your income and whether you’re a homeowner, tenant or landlord.

Homeowners

Homeowners can access some schemes that tenants can't apply for. For example, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme isn't means-tested, so you don't need to be on a low income or receive benefits to qualify.

Other schemes are more targeted. Warm Homes: Local Grant, ECO4, Nest and Warmer Homes Scotland consider factors such as your household income, whether you receive certain benefits or whether someone in your household is considered vulnerable. Your property and its current energy efficiency may also affect what support you can get.

Tenants

Private tenants may qualify for several energy grants, including schemes aimed at low-income or vulnerable households. For property improvements, you'll normally need to speak to your landlord and get their permission before carrying out any work. However, the exact rules depend on your tenancy and the type of improvements being made.

Landlords

Private landlords may also be able to access funding to improve the energy efficiency of their properties through schemes such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Warm Homes: Local Grant, although funding isn't guaranteed.

Under the Warm Homes: Local Grant, one eligible rental property may be fully funded. Landlords will normally need to contribute 50% of the cost for any additional properties receiving improvements. Currently, privately rented homes in England and Wales generally need an EPC rating of E or above, unless an exemption applies.

Your income and circumstances

Many of the energy grants prioritise lower-income households, including those receiving benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Whether you’re eligible varies between schemes, so check the individual criteria to see what support you could receive.

You don't need a grant to start cutting your energy bills. Small changes around the home can add up, and many won't cost you anything:

• Try these 11 ways to save energy for simple changes to your everyday routine.
• Check out our 5 energy-saving myths debunked to find out which common tips actually work.
• Take shorter showers to cut down on the energy and water you use.
• Keep the heat in during winter so your heating doesn't have to work as hard.

Energy grants and support schemes can help with worries around unpredictable energy costs, but it’s not the only way. An Unlimited Energy deal from One Utility Bill is a great way to use all the energy you need without worrying about a big bill later.

With a One Utility Bill package, you can combine your energy, water, broadband and TV into one monthly payment. If you share your home, you can easily split the bills, with each bill payer paying their own share by Direct Debit.

Get a quote to make managing your household bills simpler.