Energy Grants Available in Sunderland
If you live in the Sunderland council area, you could qualify for thousands of pounds in free energy improvements through government-funded schemes. With 18.2% of households in North East experiencing fuel poverty and average energy bills of £2,100/year, these grants can make a significant difference.
ECO4 Scheme in Sunderland
The ECO4 scheme provides completely free energy improvements to eligible households in Sunderland. This includes loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, boiler replacements, first-time central heating, solar panels, and heat pumps.
To qualify, you need to receive a qualifying benefit (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, or Working Tax Credit) and your home needs an EPC rating of D or below.
With 42% of homes in North East rated EPC E or below, many Sunderland properties are strong candidates for ECO4 funding.
ECO4 has been extended to December 2026 — but funding is first-come, first-served. Check your eligibility now.
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) in Sunderland
Don't receive qualifying benefits? You may still qualify through GBIS. This scheme covers free insulation for homes in council tax bands A-D (England) or A-E (Scotland/Wales) — no benefits required.
In Sunderland, approximately A-C (78% of properties) are in qualifying council tax bands for GBIS. This makes a large proportion of Sunderland residents eligible for free loft insulation or cavity wall insulation.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme — £7,500 Grant
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump. Unlike ECO4, this grant has no means testing — any homeowner with a valid EPC can apply. Your MCS-certified installer applies for the grant on your behalf.
Sunderland Housing Profile
Understanding your area's housing stock helps identify which energy measures are most relevant:
- Terraced houses (35%): Often have party wall heat loss and benefit from loft + cavity wall insulation
- Semi-detached (30%): Higher heat loss through exposed walls — ideal for cavity or solid wall insulation
- Detached (15%): Highest potential savings from insulation (up to £590/year for loft alone)
- Flats (20%): Can qualify for individual measures; landlord consent needed for rented flats
35% of properties in North East have solid walls — these lose up to 45% of heat and can benefit from external or internal wall insulation through ECO4.
Sunderland Council LA Flex
Even if you don't receive qualifying benefits, Sunderland Council operates Local Authority Flex (LA Flex) provisions. This allows the council to refer households that are:
- In fuel poverty (spending more than 10% of income on energy)
- Living with health conditions worsened by cold homes
- On low incomes but not receiving standard qualifying benefits
- In areas identified as deprived by the council
Contact Sunderland Council's housing or energy efficiency team to ask about LA Flex referrals.
Estimated Savings for Sunderland Homes
- Loft insulation: saves £355-590/year
- Cavity wall insulation: saves £195-595/year
- Solid wall insulation: saves £430-640/year
- Boiler replacement: saves £300-400/year
- Solar panels: saves £800-1,100/year
- Heat pump: saves £100-300/year vs gas (more vs oil/electric)
Multiple measures combined through ECO4 can save over £1,500 per year.
Check Your Eligibility
Our free eligibility checker cross-references your details against all active schemes. Enter your Sunderland postcode, answer a few questions, and find out which grants you qualify for in 60 seconds.