If you’re on benefits or have a home with a low energy performance rating (EPC), you might be eligible for free insulation from either your energy provider or local authority.
Currently, there are two schemes on offer – the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), which is open to 300,000 households across the country, and the GBIS Flex scheme, designed to help vulnerable customers and those on a low income.
What is the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)?
First introduced by the UK Government at the end of March 2023, the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is designed to help people insulate their homes, making them more energy sufficient, and saving money on energy bills in the process.
With £1 billion in aid and scheduled to run until March 2026, the scheme aims to help around 300,000 homes across the country with the cost of installing new home insulation.
What is the eligibility criteria?
The Great British Insulation Scheme is designed to help households in England, Wales, and Scotland get free insulation and other energy-efficiency improvements if they fall into any of the following groups:
Low income group
If you meet any of the criteria below, you may be eligible for multiple energy-efficient improvements to your home, including free insulation under the Eco scheme:
- You own your own home (or rent from a private landlord and your home has an EPC rating of D or below (EPC E or below if renting); and are
- Residing at the property and receives at least one of the following benefits:
- Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Employment & Support allowance (ESA)
- Income Support (IS)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Child Tax Credits (CTC)
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Child Benefits (depends on income threshold. See below)
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Credit Savings Credit
You could also qualify if you live in social housing or are considered by your local council as being on a low income, earning less than £31,000 a year, and are vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home.
General group
Through the GBIS, those who met the criteria below may be eligible for free insulation.
However, you will only be able to get one type of insulation installed (e.g., cavity wall insulation or loft insulation). You may also be required to pay some of the costs involved, but this will be told to you before any work is approved.
To be eligible under the General group, all of the following must apply:
- You own your own home or rent (either privately or from a housing association).
- Your home is in council tax band A through D in England, or A through E in Scotland and Wales. Check your home’s council tax band if you’re unsure.
- Your property has an EPC rating of D or below.
I am eligible. What type of free insulation can I get?
When you first apply, your energy supplier will first need to determine whether you meet the criteria for the GBIS.
In the event you do, a professional will be arranged to come out and assess your property and what measures would be suitable to be taken in your home, with the following insulation instalments and improvements potentially on offer:-
Loft and cavity wall insulation
Although there are a number of types of insulation available under the scheme, for most homes, either loft or cavity wall insulation will be most common. According to the Uk government, these are the “two of the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures to install to reduce energy bills.”
Cavity walls insulation:-Cavity walls consist of two walls with a gap - or cavity - in-between. The outermost wall is usually made of brick, while the innermost wall is constructed of brick or concrete block. the two walls are held together with metal wall ties.
If your house was build after the 1930s, then you probably have cavity walls. Filling this cavity with insulating material will help ensure cold air is kept out and warm air in.
Loft insulation: Did you know that a quarter of heat is lost through the roof of an uninsulated home? Having lost insulation installed can help mitigate the loss of this heat.
How much will cavity wall insulation cost to install?
The cost of cavity wall insulation installation will depend on the size and type of property you have as well as the type of insulation you choose.
According to the Energy Savings Trust, a small mid floor flat will cost around £1000 to insulate while a detached house will cost around £4,600. But be aware that prices could be lower or higher depending on exactly where you live in the UK.
How much installation will cost can also be affected by other factors, such as whether you have existing insulation material that has failed and needs to be removed before it can be replaced.
What other types of insulation are available?
Although wall and loft insulation are the two most common types on offer under the GBIS, there are a few other types of insulation available should these be found to be unsuitable for your property. These include:-
- Solid wall insulation (external and internal)
- Flat roof insulation
- Underfloor insulation
- Pitched roof insulation
- Solid floor insulation
- Room-in-roof insulation
- Park home insulation
How can I apply for GBIS?
The quickest way to find out whether you’re eligible for GBIS is through the UK Government's eligibility checker.
Before taking the assessment, you will need to know who your energy supplier is, and be asked to confirm your property address and council tax band, as well as whether you’re a homeowner, renter, or landlord.
If you qualify, your energy supplier should contact you within 10 working days to discuss your application in further detail and arrange for a survey to be carried out on your property.
Once your survey has been carried out, you’ll be told which measures are needed to improve your home’s EPC rating and organise for a time and date for the work to be carried out.
I was not eligible. Can I apply any other way?
If you don’t qualify for the standard Great British Insulation Scheme, you might be able to apply through your local council for GBIS Flex.
The GBIS Flex scheme entrusts councils to reduce fuel poverty in their community, by providing funding to local homeowners who require certain upgrades to their property.
To apply, you need to be living in a band D, E, F or G property and have a total gross household income of less than £31,000. You can also be referred by the NHS if found to have a condition that negatively affects your health in the colder months.
From here, you will need to meet two of the following criteria:-
- Be receiving a council tax rebate (excluding single person rebates and Band D properties).
- Have a child or children receiving free school meals.
- Were referred either by your energy supplier or Citizens Advice due to struggling to pay your energy bills.
- Considered vulnerable due to a health condition that is made worse by living in a cold home, as outlined by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
- Have been in debt to your energy supplier for more than 13 weeks and either have a debt repayment plan in place, or are repaying your debt through a third-party.
- You're on a prepayment meter and have either self-disconnected or received ‘friendly credit’ from your supplier within the last 13 weeks.
Are either GBIS or GBIS Flex available in Northern Ireland?
Unfortunately, the GBIS and GBIS Flex schemes are not open to those living in Norther Ireland. However, there are a couple of similar schemes available, including:
- Northern Ireland Affordable Warmth Scheme: If your annual household income is less than £23,000, you may be eligible for certain home improvements to your property, including the installation of certain insulation and a full conversion from heating oil to gas central heating.
- The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP): This scheme is predominantly reserved for low-income households in Northern Ireland.
The scheme provides funding for energy-efficiency measures, such as boiler upgrades, new LED lights, smart heating controls and draught proofing.
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