Grant comparison table
Start by matching the scheme to the job you need done. ECO4 and Warm Homes: Local Grant can fund whole-home improvements for eligible households; BUS is for heat pumps; Warm Home Discount is bill support; VAT relief and SEG only reduce the cost or improve the payback of self-funded solar.
| Scheme | What it covers | Who it usually fits | Best next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECO4 | Insulation, heating controls, heating upgrades and sometimes solar as part of a package | Benefits-linked households, EPC D-G homes, and LA Flex referrals | Read ECO4 guide |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | Council-led insulation, low-carbon heating, controls and sometimes solar | Lower-income private households in England with EPC D-G homes | Check WHLG |
| LA Flex | Flexible eligibility route into ECO4-backed measures | Low-income or health-vulnerable households not receiving passport benefits | Check LA Flex |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme | Air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and eligible biomass boilers | Property owners replacing fossil heating | Compare BUS |
| Warm Home Discount | Electricity bill rebate | Eligible households needing winter bill support, not building work | Check WHD |
| Solar VAT relief | Zero-rate VAT on qualifying energy-saving materials | Self-funded solar, batteries and related installs where rules apply | Compare solar routes |
| Smart Export Guarantee | Export payments for eligible renewable electricity sent to the grid | Solar owners comparing supplier export tariffs | Check SEG context |
| Free insulation grants | Loft, cavity wall, solid wall and room-in-roof insulation routes | Homes with high heating demand and qualifying household or property signals | Compare insulation |
| EV charger grants | Home, landlord, workplace and on-street chargepoint support | Renters, flat owners, landlords, workplaces and local authorities | Check EV grants |
| GBIS | Former single-measure insulation referral route | Closed to new GOV.UK referrals; use alternatives | See closure notes |
How to choose the right route
If you need bill help, start with Warm Home Discount and supplier hardship support. If you need fabric upgrades such as loft, cavity or solid wall insulation, compare ECO4, LA Flex and Warm Homes: Local Grant. If the goal is replacing a boiler with a heat pump, compare BUS with any council-led package before signing installer paperwork. Solar support is different again: some households get solar through ECO4 or WHLG, while private buyers usually rely on VAT relief, SEG and quote comparison rather than a universal solar grant.
Use the grant stacker
The grant stacker helps you see which routes can sit together and which ones should be treated as alternatives. Use it after reading the table so you do not apply for two schemes that fund the same measure.
Open grant stacker full screen
Common mistakes
- Using a closed GBIS route instead of ECO4, LA Flex or WHLG.
- Assuming every solar install has a direct grant. Most private solar economics rely on VAT relief, SEG and quote quality.
- Choosing BUS before checking whether a whole-home route would also fund insulation.
- Ignoring EPC and tenure. Many grants need both household and property eligibility.
- Paying for a survey before checking the official or council route.
FAQs
What is the best energy grant in 2026?
It depends on your property and household. ECO4 is strongest for eligible whole-house upgrades; BUS is strongest for heat pumps; WHLG depends on council delivery.
Can I apply for more than one grant?
Sometimes. Bill rebates, VAT relief and SEG can sit alongside home-improvement routes, but duplicate insulation funding cannot usually be claimed twice for the same measure.
Should I start with ECO4 or WHLG?
Check both if you are low income and your home needs major energy upgrades. ECO4 is supplier-led, while WHLG is council-led and only applies in England.
Where does LA Flex fit?
LA Flex is a council flexible eligibility route into ECO4. It is useful when the household is vulnerable or low income but does not receive passport benefits.
Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme income-tested?
BUS is primarily a technology grant for eligible low-carbon heating installs, not a household income route like ECO4 or WHLG.
Is GBIS still open?
The GOV.UK referral route closed on 31 March 2026. Use the GBIS page only to understand alternatives and closure context.