If your home is cold, draughty, or expensive to heat, the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) was one of the main grants that helped households cut those costs. GBIS has now closed: applications ended on 31 January 2026 and the scheme finished completely on 31 March 2026, so you can no longer apply for it. The good news is that other funding has taken its place.
Update, July 2026: GBIS is now closed. If you need help insulating your home, the two schemes to look at are ECO4 (open until 31 December 2026) and the Warm Homes: Local Grant (running until 31 March 2028). Both are explained below.
Below is a clear, homeowner-friendly breakdown of what GBIS covered, who it helped, and most importantly, the grants that have replaced it.
What the scheme actually is
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) was the government's big push to help households install simple, high-impact insulation measures. It ran alongside ECO4, the long-running Energy Company Obligation, and was designed to reach a wider mix of households, not only those on the very lowest incomes.
The aim is straightforward: help people in cold homes install basic insulation such as loft, cavity wall or underfloor insulation, in order to:
- bring down heating bills,
- reduce heat loss,
- and improve EPC ratings in the least efficient homes.
By the time it closed in March 2026, GBIS had helped tens of thousands of households upgrade their insulation. New applications are no longer accepted.
Why insulation still matters
Millions of UK homes have poor insulation, and the majority lose heat far faster than they should. Citizens Advice estimates more than 31 million people live in homes that don’t meet modern insulation standards.
GBIS closed on 31 March 2026, so it's no longer an option. But the need hasn't gone away — and two schemes have stepped in to fill the gap, which we cover in "What you can apply for now" below.
Who could qualify for GBIS?
GBIS had two eligibility groups. Much of the same criteria now applies to ECO4, so this remains a useful guide to whether you're likely to be eligible for insulation support.
GBIS had two eligibility groups:
1. Low income group
You’ll usually qualify if:
- your home has an EPC of D or worse, and
- you receive a means-tested benefit, live in very inefficient social housing, or are referred through a local authority or energy supplier.
This group can receive the highest level of support and may get full funding.
2. General group
You could still qualify if:
- you live in council tax bands A–D in England, A–E in Scotland, or A–C in Wales, and
- your home has an EPC of D or worse.
This is the scheme’s “wider reach” category, designed to help households who don’t meet strict ECO4 criteria but still struggle with cold homes.
Renters can apply too
Private renters can access the scheme, but the landlord must give permission for the installation. (There are extra rules for rental properties.)
What insulation can you get?
The scheme covers one insulation measure per household. Options include:
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Solid wall insulation (internal or external)
- Underfloor insulation
- Flat or pitched roof insulation
- Solid floor insulation
- Park home insulation
- Room-in-roof insulation
If you’re in the low-income group, you may also be able to apply for additional upgrades through ECO4.
How much support could you receive?
Funding depends on your home, EPC rating, and which group you fall into.
Some households receive full funding, others get a significant contribution with a top-up.
Homes with EPC D or below are the main focus, roughly half of all UK homes fall into this category.
Why it’s worth applying
Improving insulation isn’t glamorous, but it’s one of the fastest ways to cut a home’s running costs. According to national modelling, raising homes to EPC C or better could help:
- reduce energy bills across the UK by £24 billion,
- prevent hundreds of thousands of cases of respiratory and mental health issues linked to cold homes.
Whether you’re planning to stay put or preparing to sell, insulation is one of the highest-impact home upgrades you can make.
What you can apply for now
You can no longer apply for GBIS, but two government-backed schemes have effectively replaced it:
ECO4 — open until 31 December 2026
ECO4 is the Energy Company Obligation, delivered by the larger energy suppliers. It can fully fund insulation and heating upgrades for eligible low-income households — typically those receiving a means-tested benefit and living in a less energy-efficient home. Importantly, there will be no direct successor obligation once ECO4 ends in December 2026, so it's worth checking your eligibility sooner rather than later.
Warm Homes: Local Grant — open until 31 March 2028
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is delivered through local councils and targets low-income and fuel-poor households, with funding of up to £15,000 per home towards insulation and heating measures. Availability and exact criteria vary by council. From 2027 it sits within the government's wider Warm Homes Plan, a multi-billion-pound programme to upgrade millions of UK homes.
If you think you might be eligible for either, start with a few quick checks:
- Checking their EPC rating: Search on UK Property Looker
- Confirming their council tax band
- Answering a quick eligibility check: Most installers can do this in minutes.
- See list of participating suppliers: section below
Once you’re eligible, an assessor will visit your home to confirm which insulation measure is most suitable.
Energy suppliers delivering ECO4 and Warm Homes funding
The suppliers below deliver government-backed insulation and heating funding under ECO4 (and, via your council, the Warm Homes: Local Grant). Contact details were correct at the time of writing — always confirm current scheme availability with the supplier before applying.
British Gas
Supports GBIS and ECO4 with nationwide coverage.
Website: britishgas.co.uk
E (Gas & Electricity)
Smaller supplier involved in ECO/GBIS delivery.
Email: James.thornicroft@e.org
Website: e.org
E.ON UK
Offers assessments and installs through its ECO/GBIS team.
Tel: 0333 202 4422
Email: ECOhome@eonenergy.com
Website: eonenergy.com
Ecotricity
Participates in GBIS with a focus on insulation measures.
Email: compliance@ecotricity.co.uk
Website: ecotricity.co.uk
EDF Energy
Accepts applications from eligible households across the UK.
Email: ECO@edfenergy.com
Website: edfenergy.com
Octopus Energy
Provides GBIS-funded insulation through its retrofit team.
Tel: 0808 164 1088
Email: eco@octoenergy.com
Website: octopus.energy
Outfox the Market
GBIS participation via partnered installers.
Tel: 0800 103 2702
Email: hello@outfoxthemarket.co.uk
Website: outfoxthemarket.co.uk
OVO Energy
Runs its own eligibility checks under ECO4 and GBIS.
Email: ECO@ovoenergy.com
Website: ovoenergy.com
ScottishPower
Supports insulation upgrades for eligible households.
Website: scottishpower.co.uk
So Energy (including ESB Energy)
Participates in GBIS through partner installers.
Website: so.energy
Utility Warehouse
Offers insulation measures for qualifying customers and non-customers.
Website: uw.co.uk
Utilita Energy
Focuses on support for low-income and vulnerable households.
Website: utilita.co.uk
A final thought
Schemes like this don't come around often, and GBIS has now closed. If your home is cold or expensive to heat — especially if it's EPC D or below — it's worth checking whether you qualify for ECO4 before it ends in December 2026, or for the Warm Homes: Local Grant through your local council.