Can you still get a loft insulation grant?
Possibly, but the clock is running. The Energy Company Obligation is the government scheme that has helped pay for insulation in eligible homes, and Ofgem says its current phase, ECO4, applies to measures installed from 1 April 2022 and will run until 31 December 2026, following a nine month extension. If you are hoping for a loft insulation grant, this winter is the last chance to find out whether you qualify.
A loft insulation grant is not a cheque for everyone. It depends on your benefits, your home’s energy rating and who owns the property. This guide walks through what GOV.UK says, so you can check quickly instead of guessing.
Who can get a loft insulation grant through ECO?
GOV.UK says you may get help with insulation work, for example to your loft or cavity walls, as well as with replacing or repairing your boiler or other heating upgrades. There are two routes in: claiming certain benefits while living in private housing, or living in social housing.
For the benefits route in private housing, GOV.UK lists these:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Pension Savings Credit
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Housing Benefit
Claiming one of them is not enough on its own. Your home also has to meet an energy efficiency rating test, which is the next section.
Does your home’s energy rating decide who gets a loft insulation grant?
Yes, it is a key test. GOV.UK says that if you own your home, it must have an energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G. If you rent from a private landlord, the home must be rated E, F or G, and you need the owner’s permission to do the work.
If you live in social housing rated E, F or G, you might be eligible for help with insulation or installing a heating system for the first time. GOV.UK points you to the energy performance certificate register to find your property’s rating, or you can ask your landlord or housing association.
So a loft insulation grant starts with a quick lookup of your rating. It takes a couple of minutes and tells you whether to carry on.
How do you apply for a loft insulation grant?
You do not apply to one central office. GOV.UK says to contact your local council to find out whether it is taking part in the scheme, or to contact an energy supplier directly. Suppliers taking part are listed on the Ofgem website.
- Check your rating. Look up your energy performance certificate on the register.
- Check your benefits. Compare what you receive with the list above, or check whether you live in social housing.
- Ask your council. Find out whether it is taking part and what it needs from you.
- Contact a supplier. Ask a participating energy supplier directly.
- Get permission if you rent. Your landlord has to agree to the work.
Our news post on the ECO4 closing date and what comes next sets out the wider picture. A grant means a survey, an installer visit and paperwork, so an enquiry made in December is unlikely to become finished work before the deadline. If you think you qualify, start now rather than in the last week.
Key takeaways
- Ofgem says ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026, after a nine month extension.
- Eligibility depends on benefits, your home’s energy rating and your housing type.
- Owners need a rating of D to G. Private renters need E to G and the owner’s permission.
- Apply through your council or a participating energy supplier.
What about the Great British Insulation Scheme?
Treat it as a separate scheme rather than a backup. GOV.UK’s statistics collection for the Great British Insulation Scheme says final figures up to the end of the scheme were published in the May 2026 publication. The same page says the department proposes to stop the monthly updates and is asking for feedback, with one further publication suggested for autumn 2026 to cover final data revisions.
So the statistics have reached their final figures, though the monthly releases have not formally stopped yet. Neither that page nor GOV.UK’s ECO page gives a closing date for the Great British Insulation Scheme, so check GOV.UK for what is open now and treat ECO4 as the live route until it ends.
How do you spot a genuine loft insulation grant offer?
Free insulation sounds like the opening line of a nuisance call, so be careful. GOV.UK says installers or agents might contact you directly, and if you are not sure an offer is genuine, you should contact your local council or the energy supplier they say they represent to check.
GOV.UK also flags quality issues with some solid wall insulation fitted through ECO, with guidance on what to do if you are worried about work already done. That is about solid walls rather than lofts, but it is a good reason to keep paperwork from any installer and to ask who guarantees the work.
If a loft insulation grant is not available to you, you can still pay for the work yourself. Our loft insulation cost guide covers what to look at before you pay, and our post on whether cavity wall insulation is worth it helps you weigh up the other big job. Costs and savings depend on your home, so get more than one quote.
Frequently asked questions about loft insulation grants
- When does ECO close?
- Ofgem says ECO4 will run until 31 December 2026, following a nine month extension. GOV.UK’s own ECO page does not give a closing date, so Ofgem is the one to check for any change.
- Do I have to claim benefits to get a loft insulation grant?
- For private housing, GOV.UK lists certain benefits as the route to eligibility. Social housing tenants with a home rated E, F or G might also be eligible, so the benefits are not the only way in.
- How do I find my home’s energy rating?
- GOV.UK says to use the energy performance certificate register, or ask your landlord or housing association.
- Who do I contact to apply?
- Your local council, to see if it is taking part, or an energy supplier taking part in the scheme. The suppliers are listed on the Ofgem website.
- What if I rent my home?
- If you rent from a private landlord, the home must be rated E, F or G and you need the owner’s permission to do the work.
Sources
- Ofgem: Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Source of the 31 December 2026 end date for ECO4 and the nine month extension. The page shows no published or last updated date.
- GOV.UK: Help from your energy supplier, the Energy Company Obligation. Source of the eligibility rules, the benefits list, the energy rating tests, how to apply, the genuine offer check and the solid wall insulation point. This page does not state a closing date for the scheme.
- GOV.UK: Great British Insulation Scheme statistics, published 30 November 2023, last updated 25 June 2026. Source of the point that final figures to the end of the scheme were published in the May 2026 publication, and of the proposal to stop monthly updates.
Checked 6 November 2026. Rules can change before the scheme ends, so check Ofgem and GOV.UK before you act.
