Free or subsidised insulation · Lower council tax bands · No income test for the general route · Open now
Home › Grant guides › Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
| Amount | Free or heavily subsidised (funded by energy suppliers) |
|---|---|
| Who | Homeowners and private tenants in lower council tax bands |
| Status | Open |
| Applies in | England, Scotland, Wales |
| Covers | Loft, cavity wall, solid wall, flat roof, room in roof and underfloor insulation |
| Official page | https://www.gov.uk/apply-great-british-insulation-scheme |
The Great British Insulation Scheme is designed to help homes that lose the most heat get insulated at little or no cost. Energy suppliers fund the work as part of their obligations, and Ofgem oversees the whole programme.
There are two ways to qualify:
The scheme covers a wide range of insulation types depending on what your home needs:
An installer will survey your home and recommend the measures that will make the biggest difference to your energy bills.
The scheme is available in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own separate energy efficiency programmes. In Scotland and Wales the qualifying council tax bands go up to E rather than D, so more homes are included.
There are two routes. The general route is open to homeowners and private tenants in council tax bands A to D in England, or A to E in Scotland and Wales. There is no income test for this route. The second route is for people on qualifying benefits or low incomes, where you may be referred through ECO4. You must live in England, Scotland or Wales. Northern Ireland is not included.
GBIS can cover loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation (internal or external), flat roof insulation, room in roof insulation, and underfloor insulation. The exact measures depend on what your home needs and what is practical to install.
For many households, yes. If you qualify through the general route (lower council tax band), the insulation is either fully funded or heavily subsidised by your energy supplier. If you qualify through the means tested route, it is more likely to be fully free. In some cases there may be a small contribution, but for most eligible homes the cost is covered entirely.
You do not apply directly to the government. The scheme is delivered by energy suppliers and managed by Ofgem. The easiest way is to contact an approved installer or use a matching service like ours. We check your eligibility and connect you with installers who can arrange the work under the scheme.
No, they are separate schemes, but they work alongside each other. ECO4 is aimed at low income households and those on qualifying benefits. GBIS (formerly called ECO+) is broader and includes a general route based on council tax band with no income test. Some households may qualify for both. Your installer can advise which scheme applies to you.