What is the Warm Homes Local Grant?
The Warm Homes Local Grant is a government funded scheme that pays for energy saving upgrades to low income homes in England. Your local council arranges and pays for the work, so you do not apply to the government for a cheque.
GOV.UK describes it as funding for local authorities to deliver energy performance and low carbon heating upgrades to low income homes in England. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero runs it, and says the scheme has been allocated £500 million as part of the Autumn Budget.
If you are eligible and your council has funding available, GOV.UK says the council will arrange a home survey. It will then organise and pay for the improvements you agree, and you will not need to pay for them.
So the Warm Homes Local Grant is not a payment to you. It is free work on your home, delivered through the council, and it depends on your council having money to spend.
Key takeaways
- The Warm Homes Local Grant is for homes in England only.
- Your home must be privately owned and have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.
- Household income must usually be £36,000 a year or less, with other routes by postcode or benefits.
- Your council arranges and pays for the work, if it has funding available.
Who can get the Warm Homes Local Grant?
To qualify for the Warm Homes Local Grant, your home must be in England, privately owned and have an EPC of D, E, F or G. GOV.UK says privately owned means owned either by you or by your landlord.
Your household income must usually be £36,000 a year or less. If you earn more than that, GOV.UK says you might still be eligible if you live in a certain postcode area, or if someone in your household gets certain benefits.
The department’s guidance for councils explains the postcode route. It uses the Indices of Multiple Deprivation, which combine several measures including unemployment, health and income. The guidance publishes a list of all postcodes in the two lowest income deciles, and says a household outside that list may still be eligible if the council has verified it meets the benefits or household income routes.
If you do not know your EPC rating, GOV.UK says you can find it out when you apply. And if you rent, the Warm Homes Local Grant can still apply to you, although GOV.UK says a landlord may need to pay for some of the improvements.
What can the Warm Homes Local Grant pay for?
GOV.UK gives several examples of what a council might suggest. It says upgrades could include wall, loft and underfloor insulation, air source heat pumps, smart controls and solar panels.
Not every home gets every measure. The department’s guidance for councils says upgrades should be tailored to individual homes, so the most appropriate measures are installed. A heat pump, for example, only goes in where it is suitable.
If you want to compare this with other schemes, our guides cover the heat pump grant and loft insulation grants. We also reported on the Warm Homes loan, which is a separate scheme from the Warm Homes Local Grant.
How do you apply for the Warm Homes Local Grant?
You apply online through GOV.UK. It has a service for checking your eligibility and applying, and a helpline on 0800 098 7950 for anyone who needs help to use it.
GOV.UK says your local council will usually contact you within 10 working days to get more information and arrange a home survey. That is a guide, not a promise, and it will depend on how much demand your council has.
The funding sits with each council, so what is available can differ from one area to the next. The department says local authorities in the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority received their funding through a separate devolution programme, so if you live there, check with your council about how it works locally.
The scheme is for England only. GOV.UK says you might be able to get funding from a different scheme if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
What should you be wary of with the Warm Homes Local Grant?
Be careful who you give your details to. The scheme runs through your council, and the application route is on GOV.UK, so start there rather than from a cold call, a text or an advert.
GOV.UK says you will not need to pay for the improvements your council agrees with you. So if anyone asks you for money to get the grant, stop and check with your council before going any further.
Bills are the other half of staying warm. While a grant can improve the home, it does not change what you pay per unit, so it is still worth checking your energy deal.
Frequently asked questions about the Warm Homes Local Grant
- Is the Warm Homes Local Grant only for England?
- Yes. GOV.UK says it is only available in England, and that you might be able to get funding from a different scheme in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
- What income do you need for the Warm Homes Local Grant?
- GOV.UK says household income must usually be £36,000 a year or less. Above that you might still qualify by postcode or if someone in your household gets certain benefits.
- Do I have to pay for Warm Homes Local Grant work?
- GOV.UK says you will not need to pay for the improvements your council agrees with you. If you rent, your landlord may need to pay for some of them.
- What EPC rating do I need?
- Your home must have an EPC of D, E, F or G. If you do not know it, GOV.UK says you can find out when you apply.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant. The page carries no visible published or last updated line. Source of the eligibility rules, what the grant covers, the 10 working day contact time, the helpline and how to apply.
- GOV.UK: Warm Homes: Local Grant guidance for local authorities, published 23 September 2024 and last updated 2 July 2026. Source of the £500 million Autumn Budget allocation, the income decile postcode route and the West Midlands and Greater Manchester devolution arrangement.
Checked 10 November 2026.
