LOW income households can get up to £30,000 from local authorities to make their home warmer.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant offers grants for energy-efficient home improvements.
This can be used for insulation, draught-proofing, double glazing, solar panels and heat pumps.
The scheme is designed to support low income households in England with a poor energy performance rating.
It launched on April 1, 2025 and is expected to run until March 31, 2028.
Who can get the Warm Homes: Local Grant ?
You can be eligible for the grant if your household income is less than £36,000, you live in an eligible postcode or you’re receiving a means tested benefit, such as universal credit, pension credit or housing benefit.
Eligible postcodes are defined as households that fall into the lowest categories of income deprivation.
This means that a high number of people in one area are living on very low incomes, and often need government support.
The complete list of eligible postcodes can be found here –Warm Homes: Local Grant – eligible postcodes
To be eligible you would also have to live in England and own your home or rent from a private landlord.
Those who are renting, will need permission from your landlord before applying.
The scheme is open to all households using all fuel types, including mains gas and off gas-grid households.
What upgrades can I get ?
The grant allows you to get around £15,000 worth of energy-efficiency improvements for your home.
Homeowners could install insulation, solar panels and battery storage.
You also have a further £15,000 grant towards installing low-carbon heating such as a heat pump.
This money could be spent on low-carbon heating, such as air and ground source heat pumps and in some cases high-retention storage heaters.
How to apply
If you are the homeowner, the easiest way is to use the government’s online eligibility checker.
This will ask you to confirm you address and answer questions on your annual household income.
You may also be asked to confirm the EPC (Energy Performance Criteria) rating the government has on record for your home.
If eligible, you’ll then provide your email and/or phone number.
If renting, and with the approval of your landlord, you must apply directly to your local authority.
Cash for improvements
Your local authority will aim to get back to you within 10 working days to discuss your application.
They will then arrange a home survey to be done.
Your survey will be carried out by an official contractor, who is vetted by your local authority.
If everything is approved, then the grant will be paid to directly to your local authority for the measures they install.
Households won’t received any grant payments, this goes straight to the suppliers and contractors.
Other support for green home improvements
The Great British Insulation scheme is available for some households in England, Wales and Scotland who can get free insulation.
Houses are eligible if you have an EPC rating of D or below.
The government also offers grants of £7,500 to households in England and Wales to help towards the cost of installing a heat pump.
This is part of the drive to reduce carbon emissions.
Other schemes include supporting homes across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
These all offer free energy-efficiency home improvements, from greater insulation, to new boilers, radiators and greater heating control.
These schemes may be eligible to people on low incomes, benefits or who have chronic health problems.
The Warm Home Discount scheme also offers a £150 discount off your electricity bills.
Those who are on the guarantee credit of pension credit and are on a low income with high energy costs, are eligible for the discount.
How to save on your energy bills
SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle – but fortunately it’s pretty straight forward to change supplier – and save lots of cash.
Shop around – If you’re on an SVT deal you are likely throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparion site such as MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.
The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals – meaning you’ll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months.
Switch – When you’ve found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier.
It helps to have the following information – which you can find on your bill – to hand to give the new supplier.
- Your postcode
- Name of your existing supplier
- Name of your existing deal and how much you payAn up-to-date meter reading
It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.
It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won’t be interrupted in that time.
