GBIS has closed: what you can get instead
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026 and was not extended. If you wanted free or cheap insulation, these are the routes open today.
- No benefits? Use the income or postcode route (England) — no scheme uses council tax bands any more. The closest replacement is the Warm Homes: Local Grant: household income of £36,000 or less, or a home in one of the most deprived postcodes, in a home rated EPC D–G. Check the postcode route.
- In Scotland or Wales? — the Warm Homes: Local Grant is England only. In Scotland, Warmer Homes Scotland funds insulation and heating (Home Energy Scotland, 0808 808 2282); in Wales, Nest does the same for free if you get a means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, or have a low income, and your home is rated EPC E or below, or D with certain health conditions (0808 808 2244).
- ECO4, while it lasts — ECO4 can still fund work where a local installer has capacity, but only until 31 December 2026, and the work has to be finished, not just booked. There are no new targets and no ECO5. What replaces ECO4.
- Paying yourself? — Insulation, heat pumps and solar panels installed in your home carry 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 (5% after that). Installers quote the cost you pay.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England & Wales) — £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump for most homeowners replacing fossil-fuel heating — no income or benefits test, and since 28 April 2026 no valid EPC needed. Homes heated by oil or LPG with no mains gas connection get £9,000 off an air source or ground source heat pump until 31 March 2027. The installer claims it and takes it off the quote; you pay the rest. Boiler Upgrade Scheme guide.
Sources, checked 10 October 2026: GOV.UK Warm Homes: Local Grant, GOV.UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme, SI 2026/390, Ofgem ECO, HMRC VAT Notice 708/6, GOV.UK Warm Home Discount, Home Energy Scotland, gov.wales Nest.
ECO4 vs GBIS: Quick Comparison
| Feature | ECO4 | GBIS |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Must receive qualifying benefits | Council tax bands A-D (no benefits needed) |
| EPC requirement | D, E, F, or G | No EPC requirement |
| What you get | Insulation, boilers, solar, heat pumps, first-time central heating | Insulation only (loft + cavity wall) |
| What it funds | Several measures, which can be fully funded for eligible households | Up to £1,800 (insulation only) |
| Deadline | 31 December 2026 (extended) | Closed 31 March 2026 |
| Homeowners | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Private tenants | ✅ Yes (with landlord consent) | ✅ Yes (with landlord consent) |
When to Apply for ECO4
- You receive qualifying benefits (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, JSA, ESA, etc.)
- You want MORE than just insulation (boiler, solar panels, heat pump)
- Your home has an EPC of D or below
- You need several measures funded together, such as insulation plus heating
ECO4 is the bigger, more comprehensive scheme. If you qualify, always apply for ECO4 first — it covers more measures and has higher funding per household.
When GBIS Was the Better Choice
Before it closed on 31 March 2026, GBIS suited you if:
- You DIDN'T receive qualifying benefits
- You were in council tax bands A-D (England) or A-E (Scotland/Wales)
- You mainly needed insulation (loft or cavity wall)
- You wanted a simpler, faster application process
GBIS closed to new GOV.UK referrals on 31 March 2026. If this describes your household today, check the LA Flex scheme and the Warm Homes: Local Grant (April 2025 – March 2028) — the live routes that can qualify you without benefits.
Could You Get BOTH?
While both schemes ran — yes, but not for the same measures. If you qualified for ECO4 and had your cavity walls insulated, you couldn't then get GBIS to do the same work. But you could get ECO4 for a boiler replacement and GBIS for loft insulation, for example.
In practice, if you qualify for ECO4, it covers everything GBIS did and more. GBIS was the fallback for people who didn't qualify for ECO4 — a role now filled by the LA Flex scheme and the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Can You Stack With the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Yes! The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is completely separate. You can get ECO4 insulation AND a £7,500 heat pump grant through BUS. This is the ideal combination — insulate first, then install a heat pump into a well-insulated home for maximum efficiency.
Not Sure Which You Qualify For?
Our eligibility checker tests you against ALL active schemes simultaneously. Enter your postcode, answer a few questions, and see exactly what you're entitled to.