Government insulation scheme
Free home insulation. The rules changed in 2026. Here's what you can still get.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed to new referrals on 31 March 2026. But free and heavily subsidised insulation is still available through ECO4 — which runs until December 2026. If you were looking for GBIS, this is the page you need.
Alliant Energy is a TrustMark-registered, MCS-certified installer approved to carry out government-funded insulation and energy efficiency measures. We serve homes across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.
Scheme status
What happened to the Great British Insulation Scheme?
GBIS launched in 2023 as a standalone scheme sitting alongside ECO4. It was designed to help households in England with lower EPC ratings (bands D to G) get cavity wall and loft insulation, regardless of income — a broader eligibility than ECO4.
By the time the referral service closed on 31 March 2026, GBIS had funded upgrades for around 98,600 homes across England. The scheme achieved close to its target and was not extended.
What's available now
What you can still get in 2026.
Through ECO4 and its Local Authority Flex (LA Flex) route, eligible households can receive a range of free energy efficiency upgrades — fully funded by energy suppliers, at no cost to you.
Cavity wall insulation
Fills the gap between inner and outer walls with insulating material. Most effective single measure for reducing heat loss.
EPC D–G, qualifying benefit or LA Flex
Loft insulation
Insulating material laid between and over joists in the loft. Prevents up to 25% of heat loss through the roof.
EPC D–G, qualifying benefit or LA Flex
Solid wall insulation
Internal or external insulation for homes without a cavity. Higher cost — more commonly funded through ECO4 than GBIS was.
Qualifying benefit + EPC D–G
Air source heat pump
Replaces a gas boiler with a low-carbon heating system. Runs on electricity, produces 3–4 units of heat per unit used.
EPC D–G + qualifying benefit
Heating controls upgrade
Smart thermostats, TRVs and room controls that reduce waste by heating rooms only when needed.
Often bundled with insulation
Solar PV (in some cases)
Solar panels, typically installed alongside insulation as part of a whole-house package.
Subject to LA Flex criteria
All measures are fully installed by TrustMark-registered, PAS 2030-compliant contractors. Zero cost to the householder for qualifying installations.
Eligibility
Do you qualify for free insulation through ECO4?
ECO4 has two eligibility routes. You only need to meet one of them.
Route 1 — Qualifying benefits
You receive at least one of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings Credit)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Housing Benefit
- Child Tax Credit (household income below £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit (household income below £16,190)
Route 2 — LA Flex
Your local council may extend eligibility to households that are low-income, fuel-poor or vulnerable, even without a qualifying benefit. Typical thresholds range from £31,000 to £38,000 gross household income depending on family size and location.
Your home must also have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G (band D only applies to some measures). We can check your property's current EPC rating for free as part of your eligibility assessment.
How it works
Four steps.
Free eligibility check
Call us or request a callback. We'll ask a few questions about your household, income and current EPC rating. Takes 10 minutes. No forms to fill in at this stage.
Home survey
If you're eligible, we book a free home survey. One of our surveyors visits to assess your insulation type, roof condition, wall construction and heating system. This takes around an hour.
Measure recommendation
We present a written recommendation of what you qualify for and what we'd install. You decide what you want. There's no obligation to proceed.
Installation
If you go ahead, we schedule the installation. Most insulation measures are completed in one day. All work is carried out by our TrustMark-registered, fully insured teams and backed by installation guarantees.
What comes next
What comes after ECO4? The Warm Homes Plan.
The UK government has committed £15 billion to the Warm Homes Plan — the successor to ECO4. It's designed to upgrade 5 million homes over the next few years, with a focus on low-carbon heating (heat pumps) alongside insulation.
The Warm Homes Plan is expected to roll out in phases from 2026 onwards. Eligibility is likely to be similar to ECO4, with expanded provision for owner-occupiers and a greater emphasis on whole-house retrofits.
ECO4 ends December 2026. If you're eligible now, don't wait for the Warm Homes Plan — apply while ECO4 funding is available. Supply is not guaranteed to last until the December deadline.
Why Alliant
Why choose Alliant Energy for government-funded work?
Government-funded schemes require your installer to hold specific accreditations. Using an unaccredited contractor risks losing your funding, failing your installation inspection, and being liable for remedial work costs. Alliant holds every accreditation required.
TrustMark registered
Mandatory for all government-funded energy efficiency work from 2024 onwards. Without it, installations don't qualify for ECO4 / Warm Homes funding.
MCS Certified
Required for any solar PV, heat pump or renewable technology installed under a funded scheme.
NAPIT approved
Electrical competence scheme approval — required for heating controls, solar and EV charging installations.
PAS 2030 compliant
The retrofit installation standard. Required by all ECO4 and Warm Homes Plan specifications.
ISO 9001 certified
Quality Management System — ensures consistent installation standards and audit trails.
RECC member
Renewable Energy Consumer Code — consumer protection for funded renewable energy installations.
We serve homes across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and beyond. We work directly with households — not as a referral middleman.
FAQ
Common questions.
Is the Great British Insulation Scheme still open?
No. The GBIS referral service closed on 31 March 2026. New applications are no longer being accepted. However, ECO4 is still running until 31 December 2026 and covers many of the same measures — including cavity wall and loft insulation — for eligible households.
What is ECO4 and how is it different from GBIS?
ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4) is a government scheme funded by the large energy suppliers. It targets low-income and fuel-poor households specifically. GBIS had broader eligibility (including mid-range EPC properties without a qualifying benefit) but is now closed. ECO4 remains open until December 2026.
What if I applied for GBIS before it closed?
If you were already in the GBIS pipeline before 31 March 2026, your energy supplier may still be processing your installation. Contact your energy supplier or the installer you were working with to confirm the status of your application.
Do I have to pay anything?
If you qualify under ECO4 or LA Flex, the installation is fully funded — zero cost to you. For households that don't qualify but want insulation, we offer competitively priced private installations. Ask us for a quote.
How long does an installation take?
Most insulation measures (cavity wall, loft) are completed in one day. Solid wall insulation and heat pumps take longer — typically two to five days depending on the property. We give you a precise timeline before any work begins.
Will you install solar at the same time?
Yes. Where eligibility allows under LA Flex, solar PV can be included as part of a whole-house energy package. Even where it isn't funded, many customers choose to add solar to their installation — our packages start from £5,999 with 0% VAT.
What areas do you cover?
We install across the North West — Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and surrounding areas. If you're not sure whether we cover your postcode, call 0800 088 4286 or use our online checker.
ECO4 ends December 2026. Check your eligibility now.
Funding is available now — but it won't last indefinitely. Energy suppliers close their allocation when targets are met, which can happen months before the official end date. If you think you qualify, the best time to apply is today.
Alliant Energy will handle the eligibility check, home survey, measure recommendation and installation. One point of contact. No referral fees. No middlemen.
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