Get help paying for energy efficiency home improvements

Mae'r cyngor hwn yn berthnasol i Cymru. Gweler cyngor ar gyfer Gweler cyngor ar gyfer Lloegr, Gweler cyngor ar gyfer Gogledd Iwerddon, Gweler cyngor ar gyfer Yr Alban

You might be able to apply for help with the cost of home improvements, such as insulation, a new boiler or a renewable heating system like a heat pump.

You might be able to apply to:

  • the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme

  • the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)

  • the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

  • the Connected for Warmth insulation scheme

If you're not sure what home improvements will help save you money, check how to make your home more energy efficient.

If you rent your home

You might be able to apply to:

  • the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme

  • the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)

You should talk to your landlord before you apply. You’ll need permission from them if you want to make changes to your home. Your landlord might have to pay some of the cost of making the improvements.

If you can’t apply or your application is unsuccessful your landlord might be able to apply for help from other schemes. You could ask them to apply.

If you have a private landlord, they might be able to apply to:

  • the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

  • Connected for Warmth 

If you have a social landlord, for example a local council or housing association, they might have plans to apply to the Optimised Retrofit Programme.

If your home isn’t warm enough

If you’re renting privately, your landlord has to make sure your home is ‘fit for human habitation’. This means it needs to be safe to live in and it isn’t likely to damage your health. Check the rules for when landlords have to carry out repairs if you rent privately.

If you have a social landlord, they have to make sure your home is reasonably warm. If it isn’t, they might have to carry out repairs or make improvements to your home. Check if your social landlord has to repair your home and what you can do if they don’t.

Applying to the Nest scheme

If you own your home or rent privately, you might be able to get help with energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, solar panels or heating.

If you rent through a local council or housing association you won’t be able to get help with energy efficiency home improvements. You can contact Nest for free advice on making your home more energy efficient.

Check if your home needs energy efficiency improvements

Your home must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E, F or G.

If your home has an EPC rating of D, you might be eligible if you or someone you live with has a health condition.

You can find your home's EPC rating on GOV.UK. If your home doesn’t have an EPC rating, contact Nest for help. 

Tell Nest if you have an EPC rating of D and you or someone you live with has:

  • a respiratory condition - for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

  • a circulatory condition - for example, cardiovascular disease

  • a mental health condition - for example, anxiety

  • dementia

  • a learning or developmental disability

You’ll need to give evidence of your health condition. For example you could use a prescription, a treatment plan or a letter from your GP or hospital.

If you’re not sure if your health condition qualifies you for help, contact Nest.

Check if you meet the other conditions

You’ll also need to to meet one of the following conditions:

  • you or someone you live with get a benefit based on their income

  • you live in a low-income household

If you get benefits that are based on your income

You or someone you live with needs to get one of these benefits:

  • Universal Credit

  • Pension Credit

  • Housing Benefit

  • Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit - the income on your tax credit award letter must be below £18,660 a year

  • Council Tax Reduction if you’re on a low income

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income Support

Showing evidence

You’ll need to provide evidence you’re getting one of these benefits. You could use:

  • a letter confirming your benefit from this financial year

  • a photo of any online benefit portal clearly showing your name, address and last payment

Check if you live in a low-income household

Nest will check the income for each adult in your household after tax and National Insurance contributions (NI). You’ll need to provide bank statements as evidence.

Nest doesn’t include the following benefits as part of your income:

  • Disability Living Allowance

  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

  • Carer’s Allowance

  • Attendance Allowance

The amount of income you can have depends on who you live with.

Check how much income you can have if you’re single

Number of children in your household Maximum annual income after tax and NI
Number of children in your household

no children

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£12,987

Number of children in your household

1 child aged 13 or under

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£16,863

Number of children in your household

1 child aged 14 or over

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£19,383

Number of children in your household

2 children aged 13 or under

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£20,740

Number of children in your household

2 children aged 14 or over

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£25,779

Check how much income you can have if you’re in a couple

Number of children in your household Maximum annual income after tax and NI
Number of children in your household

no children

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£19,383

Number of children in your household

1 child aged 13 and under

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£23,259

Number of children in your household

1 child aged 14 or over

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£25,779

Number of children in your household

2 children aged 13 or under

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£27,136

Number of children in your household

2 children aged 14 or over

Maximum annual income after tax and NI

£32,176

Contacting Nest

If you think you’re eligible, you can call Nest to see if you can get help with energy efficiency improvements.

If you’re not eligible you can call Nest to get free advice.

Nest

Telephone: 0808 808 2244

Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

Nest will check your eligibility for the scheme. They’ll ask to see some evidence, for example, a letter confirming your benefit entitlement. Nest will then arrange for an assessor to visit your home.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme

You might be able to get help with things like insulation, boilers and improving your heating. 

Some people can get help to apply through their local council. But there are situations where you have to apply through a gas or electricity supplier.

Eligibility and ways to apply to the ECO scheme

If own your own home or you rent from a private landlord, you might be eligible for the ECO scheme if:

  • you get benefits that are based on your income

  • you get Child Benefit

  • you owe money to your supplier

  • you are a prepayment customer and you run out of money

If you have a social landlord and you pay below ‘market rent’, there are different rules which mean you might be eligible for the ECO scheme. Market rent is the average cost of renting a home like yours in the area you live from a private landlord. Your landlord will be able to tell you if you pay below market rent.

If you have a social landlord and your rent is at or above market rent, the rules are the same as for private tenants. If your home is shared ownership, the rules are the same as for homeowners. 

There are different ways to apply to the ECO scheme - it depends on which conditions you meet.

If you get benefits that are based on your income

You can apply to the ECO scheme if you, or your partner, get at least one of these benefits:

  • Universal Credit

  • Pension Credit

  • Housing Benefit

  • Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income Support

If you own your home, it must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G. 

If you rent from a private landlord, your home must have an EPC rating of E, F or G. 

Find your home’s Energy Performance Certificate on GOV.UK.

If your home doesn’t have an EPC, you might still be able to apply. Your home must need energy efficiency improvements - for example, insulation or a more efficient heating system.

Applying to the ECO scheme

Your local council might be able to help you to apply for energy efficiency grants, including the ECO scheme. You can find your local council’s details on GOV.UK

If your local council can’t help, you should be able to apply through any energy supplier that is part of the ECO scheme - it doesn’t have to be your own supplier. 

Check which suppliers are part of the ECO scheme and how to contact them on the OFGEM website.

If you get Child Benefit

You can apply to the ECO scheme if you get Child Benefit and also have a low income.

The amount of income you can have depends on how many children you’ve got, and whether you’re single or in a couple.

Your income is calculated before tax. It includes all your income, for example any earnings and benefits. It also includes your partner’s income, if you’re in a couple.

Your situation Maximum income you can have before tax
Your situation

Single with 1 child

Maximum income you can have before tax

£19,900 a year

Your situation

Single with 2 children

Maximum income you can have before tax

£24,800 a year

Your situation

Single with 3 children

Maximum income you can have before tax

£29,600 a year

Your situation

Single with 4 children or more

Maximum income you can have before tax

£34,500 a year

Your situation

In a couple with 1 child

Maximum income you can have before tax

£27,500 a year

Your situation

In a couple with 2 children

Maximum income you can have before tax

£32,300 a year

Your situation

In a couple with 3 children

Maximum income you can have before tax

£37,200 a year

Your situation

In a couple with 4 children or more

Maximum income you can have before tax

£42,000 a year

If you own your home, it must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G. 

If you rent from a private landlord, your home must have an EPC rating of E, F or G. 

Find your home's Energy Performance Certificate on GOV.UK.

If your home doesn’t have an EPC, you might still be able to apply. Your home must need energy efficiency improvements - for example, insulation or a more efficient heating system. 

If you're not sure if you can apply in your situation, you can talk to an adviser.

Applying to the ECO scheme

Your local council might be able to help you to apply for energy efficiency grants, including the ECO scheme. You can find your local council's details on GOV.UK.

If your local council can’t help, you should be able to apply through any energy supplier that is part of the ECO scheme - it doesn’t have to be your own supplier. 

Check which suppliers are part of the ECO scheme and how to contact them on the OFGEM website.

If you owe money to your energy supplier

You might be able to apply to the ECO scheme if you have owed money to your gas or electricity supplier for at least 13 weeks.

You also need to have a debt repayment plan with your supplier or be repaying your debt through a deduction from your benefits. 

Your home also needs to have an EPC rating of E, F or G. Find your home’s EPC on GOV.UK

If your home doesn’t have an EPC, it has to need energy efficiency improvements - for example, insulation or more efficient heating.

Your supplier might also have other conditions that you’ll need to meet. For example, being classed as being vulnerable to the cold or having a low income.

Applying to the ECO scheme

Speak to your energy supplier to find out if you can apply. If you have separate gas and electricity suppliers, speak to the supplier you owe money to. 

Not all energy suppliers are part of the ECO scheme. You can check which suppliers are part of the ECO scheme and how to contact them on the OFGEM website

If you’re not sure if you can apply in your situation, you can talk to an adviser.

If you have a prepayment meter and you ran out of money

You might be able to apply to the ECO scheme if you have run out of credit or your supplier has lent you credit in the last 13 weeks.

Your supplier might also have other conditions that you’ll need to meet. For example, being classed as being vulnerable to the cold or having a low income.

Your home also needs to have an EPC rating of E, F or G. Find your home’s EPC on GOV.UK

If your home doesn’t have an EPC, it has to need energy efficiency improvements - for example, insulation or more efficient heating.

Applying to the ECO scheme

Speak to your energy supplier to find out how you can apply. If you have separate gas and electricity suppliers, you need to apply to the supplier you owe money to. 

Not all energy suppliers are part of the scheme. You can check which suppliers are part of the ECO scheme and how to contact them on the OFGEM website

If you’re not sure if you can apply in your situation, you can talk to an adviser.

If you have a social landlord and you pay below market rent

Check with your landlord to find out if you’re paying below market rent.

If your home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), its rating must be E, F or G. Find your home’s Energy Performance Certificate on GOV.UK.

If your home doesn’t have an EPC, you might still be able to apply. Your home must need energy efficiency improvements - for example, insulation or a more efficient heating system.

If you’re eligible, you might be able to get help with certain types of energy efficiency improvements to your home. The main types are:

  • insulation

  • central heating - if your home doesn’t have any already

  • renewable heating - for example, solar panels as part of an electric heating system, heat pumps or biomass boilers

If your home already has renewable heating you can only get help with a new renewable heating installation, not a replacement of the same kind. For example, you can’t get an old air source heat pump replaced with a new air source heat pump. 

Applying to the ECO scheme

Your local council might be able to help you to apply for energy efficiency grants, including the ECO scheme. You can find your local council’s details on GOV.UK.

If your local council can’t help, you should be able to apply through any energy supplier that is part of the ECO scheme - it doesn’t have to be your own supplier. 

Check which suppliers are part of the ECO scheme and how to contact them on the OFGEM website.

If you own your own home or rent from a private landlord, there are some other situations when you might be able to apply through your local council. This is called ECO Flex.

For example, you might be able to apply if:

  • you have a household income of less than £31,000

  • you get Council Tax Reduction - because you have a low income

  • your child gets free school meals - because you have a low income

  • you have a severe or long-term health condition

Not all local councils offer funding in these situations. Contact your local council to see what they offer - ask if there’s ECO funding available in your area and how you can apply for it. Find your council’s details on GOV.UK.

If you’ve spoken to your council and are still not sure if you can apply in your situation, you can talk to an adviser.

Watch out for scams

You might see adverts or get cold calls from companies who say they offer ECO funding. It can be hard to tell if these companies are genuine, and they might set unrealistic expectations about the work, such as how long it might take or what additional work might be needed. It’s best to apply through your local council or energy supplier who will refer you to a genuine company.

You can check what to do if you think something might be a scam.

Check what happens after you apply to the ECO scheme

The council or energy supplier might ask you for evidence to show that you’re eligible - for example, a letter from the benefit office or some payslips. If you’re worried about sending over personal documents, ask to read their privacy policy saying how they’ll use your information. 

The council or energy supplier will arrange a survey on your home and, if your home is suitable, they will arrange for an installer to do the work. You can read our advice about the steps you should go through before you get building work done.

The ECO scheme should normally cover all the costs - but they might ask you or your landlord to pay something towards the work. This depends on the local council or supplier and what they fund. They should tell you how much you’ll have to pay before you agree to the work.

Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)

If you own your home or you rent privately, you might be able to get help insulating your home. If you can get help from GBIS, they’ll offer you insulation for one of the following:

  • your walls

  • your loft or roof

  • your floors

GBIS won’t help you insulate more than one of these.

If you live in a mobile home on a park home site, you might get insulation for your whole home.

In some cases, you might get offered new heating controls - for example, thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) which automatically switch off the radiator when the room is warm enough.

New heating controls are fitted at the same time as the insulation.

Check if you can get help from GBIS

You can only get help from GBIS if both of the following apply:

  • your home has an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G

Find your home's Energy Performance Certificate on GOV.UK.

If your home doesn’t have an EPC, you might still be able to apply. Your home must need insulation to improve its efficiency.

If you rent from a private landlord and your home’s EPC rating is F or G, there's an extra rule. You can only get help from GBIS if your landlord has registered the property as exempt from the ‘minimum standard’ of energy efficiency.

Check if your home is registered as exempt from the minimum standard on GOV.UK. If your home has an EPC rating of F or G and your landlord hasn’t registered it exempt from the minimum standard, talk to an adviser.

Applying for help from GBIS

You should contact your local council, - they might help you apply to GBIS. You can find your local council’s details on GOV.UK

If your local council can’t help, you should be able to apply through your energy supplier if they’re a part of GBIS. 

You can apply for support from the Great British Insulation Scheme on GOV.UK.

Check what happens after you apply to GBIS 

Your council or energy supplier will arrange a survey on your home. If your home is suitable, they’ll arrange for an installer to do the work. 

GBIS will usually cover the cost of the insulation. They might ask you to pay something towards it, if it's a more expensive type of insulation. This depends on your council or energy supplier and what they fund. They should tell you how much you’ll have to pay before you agree to the work.

You might have to get permission or approval before you go ahead with work on your home. Check if you need permission or approval before you get work done on your home.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

You might be able to get a grant towards the cost of replacing your heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler. 

Your current heating system must use oil, gas or electricity. If you already have a heat pump, you can’t use the grant to replace it.

You must own your own home to be able to apply. If you rent from a private landlord, your landlord might be able to apply instead. If you have a social landlord, you can’t apply to this scheme.

You, or your landlord if you rent privately, usually need to pay some of the costs.

Check if you can get help from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on GOV.UK

Connected for Warmth insulation scheme

If your home is in council tax band A, B, C or D, you might be eligible for free loft or cavity wall insulation. 

If you own your home, you can apply for the Connected for Warmth scheme on their website.

If you rent from a private landlord, your landlord needs to apply on your behalf. If you rent from a social landlord, you can’t apply to this scheme.

Find other ways to save energy

There are other things you can do to use less energy at home and save money on your bills.

If you want to save energy and money using your heating, you can:

If you want to save energy and money using your appliances, you can:

If you need help with bills or the cost of living

If you can’t afford your energy bills, you can check our advice on what to do if you’re struggling to pay.

If you don’t have enough money to live on, you can also get help with the cost of living.

Help us improve our website

Take 3 minutes to tell us if you found what you needed on our website. Your feedback will help us give millions of people the information they need.

Adolygwyd y dudalen ar 17 Mawrth 2023