Energy Grants for UK Landlords
Schemes and eligibility to check
Live and closed grant routes that matter for rental stock planning: ECO4 (currently open through late 2026 — verify), BUS, local authority routes, and GBIS as historical context only (closed 31 March 2026). Scheme dates, eligibility, funding levels, and EPC impact must be verified before decisions are made. Rules differ by UK nation — do not treat “UK landlord” as one jurisdiction.
Indicative • EPC data where available • Verify eligibility
Scheme status last checked 28 July 2026. Live routes: BUS (England & Wales); ECO4 (Great Britain, to end-2026); Warm Homes: Local Grant (England, where councils still open). All are geography- and eligibility-dependent. Evolving Home does not self-certify grant eligibility.
Evidence and editorial review
What this guidance can—and cannot—tell you
By Evolving Home editorial team
Last reviewed 16 July 2026
Claim status
Live scheme status: ECO4 ends 31 December 2026; GBIS closed 31 March 2026; BUS (standard heat-pump illustrative £7,500; eligibility not assessed) and Warm Homes: Local Grant remain conditional routes. Funding is never inferred from an address alone.
Limitations
- This page does not assess tenant, household, tenure, property or installer eligibility.
- Local-authority availability and landlord contributions vary; a scheme route is not a funding promise.
What to verify
- Live scheme and council availability on the day of application.
- Written eligibility, contribution, scope, installer accreditation and payment terms.
- Whether funding can be used for the proposed work and any landlord-specific conditions.
See the scoring methodology and evidence hierarchy before treating an indicative result as a decision input.
ECO4 — Energy Company Obligation
Open (verify)A major Great Britain supplier obligation (England, Scotland, Wales) funded by large energy suppliers. Government policy has extended ECO4 in its existing form through 31 December 2026; there is no successor supplier obligation announced in the same form after that. Targets lower-income households and fuel poverty; private landlords may access support when tenants and property criteria are met.
Official date / status note: Current policy end date: 31 December 2026 (verify on GOV.UK / Ofgem before relying on it)
What's covered
- •Loft insulation (270mm)
- •Cavity wall insulation
- •Solid wall insulation (internal or external)
- •Floor insulation
- •Heat pump installation
- •Solar PV
- •First-time central heating
- •Heating controls
Eligibility / status
- •Your tenant receives a qualifying benefit (Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Tax Credits, etc.) — or LA flexible eligibility where available
- •Property has an EPC rating of D, E, F or G (scheme rules apply)
- •Landlord consent required (you must agree to the works)
- •Property in Great Britain — England, Scotland or Wales (confirm current geography with the installer)
How to investigate (verify live rules)
Contact a TrustMark-registered ECO4 installer, or your energy supplier. They assess tenant eligibility and property suitability. Do not budget works until an installer confirms live eligibility.
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
ClosedNot open for new applicationsHistorical context only. GBIS was a complementary insulation scheme to ECO4, typically focusing on a single insulation measure with a broader eligibility base than ECO4. The scheme ended on 31 March 2026; GOV.UK states the eligibility service has closed and installations had to be complete by that date.
Official date / status note: Closed 31 March 2026
What's covered
- •Loft insulation
- •Cavity wall insulation
- •Solid wall insulation (in some cases)
- •Roof / floor insulation measures (scheme-dependent)
Eligibility / status
- •Scheme closed — new applications via the GOV.UK eligibility service are not available
- •Some energy suppliers may still complete residual work under prior arrangements; check with them, not this page
Application status
Do not start a new GBIS application. For insulation funding after 31 March 2026, check ECO4 (while open), local authority routes, and current GOV.UK guidance instead.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
Open (verify)An installer-led government grant for eligible low-carbon heating in England and Wales. Standard air-to-water and ground-source categories are £7,500; residential air-to-air is £2,500; rural off-gas biomass is £5,000. Eligible off-gas oil/LPG properties may receive £9,000 for air-to-water or ground-source heat pumps (time-limited; confirm on GOV.UK).
Official date / status note: Confirm current scheme horizon and funding on GOV.UK / Ofgem before budgeting
What's covered
- •Air-to-water, ground-source and water-source heat pumps: standard £7,500 categories
- •Residential air-to-air heat pumps: £2,500 category
- •Eligible biomass boilers (rural, off-gas): £5,000 category
- •Off-gas oil/LPG uplift (time-limited, not universal): Eligible off-gas oil/LPG properties may receive £9,000 for air-to-water or ground-source heat pumps (time-limited; confirm on GOV.UK).
Eligibility / status
- •Property in England or Wales
- •Technology, existing-system and property criteria depend on the grant category
- •Installation by MCS-certified contractor
- •Ofgem must receive a properly made installer application and owner consent
- •Eligibility is not assessed on this page — confirm on GOV.UK / with the installer
How to investigate (verify live rules)
Contact an MCS-certified heat pump installer. They will apply for the voucher on your behalf before installation. The grant is typically deducted from the invoice; confirm cashflow and category before committing. Confirm current funding on GOV.UK.
ECO4 Flex (local authority flexible eligibility)
Varies by councilUnder ECO4's Flexible Eligibility mechanism, local councils can refer households that don't meet standard eligibility criteria. This is especially useful for fuel-poor tenants who don't receive qualifying benefits but are in energy-inefficient homes.
Official date / status note: Subject to local authority and ECO scheme status
What's covered
- •Same improvements as ECO4 (insulation, heating upgrades)
- •Referrals processed via council — access to ECO4 funding
Eligibility / status
- •Tenant is in fuel poverty or has a low income
- •Council determines eligibility based on their Statement of Intent
- •Private-tenure household in a participating area — check the council's ECO4 Flex criteria
How to investigate (verify live rules)
Contact your local council's energy efficiency or housing team. Ask whether it participates in ECO4 Flex and check its current Statement of Intent before relying on a referral route.
Warm Homes: Local Grant
Open in England (local funding applies)A live GOV.UK application route for eligible low-income households in privately owned EPC D–G homes in England. The council surveys the home and chooses agreed measures; local funding must still be available and a landlord may need to contribute.
Official date / status note: Live national checker; delivery depends on local-authority funding
What's covered
- •Insulation measures
- •Low-carbon heating systems
- •Solar PV
- •Multiple measures in a single visit
Eligibility / status
- •Household income usually £36,000 or less, certain benefits, or a qualifying postcode route
- •EPC Band D–G
- •Home in England and privately owned by the occupier or landlord
- •Council funding, survey and approval still required
How to investigate (verify live rules)
Use the live GOV.UK eligibility checker. The local council normally follows up for evidence and a survey; do not instruct work before the council confirms it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can private landlords get ECO4 grants?
Potentially, but indirectly. ECO4 works through tenant eligibility and property criteria. Funding level, required consent, access, and scope should be confirmed with current scheme guidance and the installer before assuming works are fully funded.
Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme apply to rental properties?
BUS can be available to private landlords where a published technology, property and replacement-system category is met. Standard air-to-water and ground-source categories are £7,500; residential air-to-air is £2,500; rural off-gas biomass is £5,000. Eligible off-gas oil/LPG properties may receive £9,000 for air-to-water or ground-source heat pumps (time-limited; confirm on GOV.UK). An MCS-certified installer applies, but eligibility and the total price must be confirmed on GOV.UK / with the installer — not on this page.
Do I have to pay anything back if I sell the property?
These schemes are normally structured as grants rather than loans, but landlords should confirm any scheme-specific conditions, clawback rules, and sale implications before committing.
What if my tenant doesn't qualify for ECO4?
GBIS is closed (ended 31 March 2026) and is not a current application route. Check ECO4 Flexible Eligibility where available, the live Warm Homes: Local Grant checker for eligible EPC D–G privately owned homes in England, and any nation-specific support. None is guaranteed—confirm with the council, administrator or installer before budgeting.
Will grants still be available after 2026?
ECO4 is currently extended to 31 December 2026 in its existing form; no like-for-like successor has been announced here. BUS has been extended to 2030 on current Ofgem guidance (April 2026 update). GBIS closed 31 March 2026. Always re-check GOV.UK, Ofgem, your local authority, and qualified installers before assuming eligibility, funding level, or timing.