Free Room in Roof Insulation Grants 2025

Insulating the room in your roof is a simple yet highly effective way to boost your home’s energy efficiency. By preventing heat from escaping through the roof, you can keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, while significantly reducing your energy bills. To help make this improvement more affordable, the UK government offers Room in Roof Insulation Grants to eligible households. If you receive qualifying benefits or have a low household income, you may be entitled to a 100% grant for Room in Roof Insulation.

The grant funding is now part of two main government schemes: the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS). Major energy suppliers provide funding for insulation in private, domestic households under these schemes. These companies include British Gas, E. ON, Npower, SSE, EDF, Scottish Power, and others.

Many older properties with original loft/attic rooms or ‘Rooms-in-Roof’ were not insulated at the time of construction. Even if insulation was installed, it’s often inadequate by modern standards. Loft conversions carried out more than 30 years ago are likely to be poorly insulated, if at all, resulting in cold rooms that are difficult or impossible to heat efficiently.

To qualify for these grants, you typically need to:

1. Receive qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, or Pension Credit
2. Have a household income of less than £31,000 per year
3. Own or privately rent your home
4. Have a property with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D to G

100% grants are subject to a no-obligation survey. In most cases, the survey is free, but you may be asked to pay a small contribution, depending on the size and energy efficiency of the property.

The upcoming Warm Homes: Local Grant Plan, launching in spring 2025, will provide additional grants of up to £15,000 per property for energy performance upgrades, including various types of insulation.

Remember, these grants are specifically for habitable rooms in the roof, not just loft spaces used for storage. For regular loft spaces, you would require standard loft insulation.

You may qualify for Room in Roof Insulation Grants through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme or the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Income threshold: Your household’s gross annual income is below £31,000.
2. Benefits: You or someone in your household receives qualifying benefits such as:
   • Universal Credit
   • Housing Benefit
   • Child Benefit (subject to income thresholds)
   • Pension Credit
   • Employment Support Allowance
   • Child Tax Credits
   • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
   • Working Tax Credit
   • Income Support
3. Property characteristics:
   • Your home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G.
   • You live in a property within Council Tax bands A to D in England, or A to E in Scotland and Wales.
4. Vulnerable groups:
   • Pensioners over 70 years old.
   • Households with members whose health conditions are exacerbated by living in a cold home, such as cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
5. Property type:
   • Your home was originally built with roof rooms or has a converted loft.
   • The loft room has minimal or no existing insulation.
   • A fixed staircase leads to the room(s), rather than a pull-down loft ladder.
6. Ownership status:
   • You can be a homeowner or private tenant.

Additionally, to be eligible for Room in Roof Insulation specifically:

• At least two-thirds of the roof space must qualify to be insulated as part of the work.

See our who qualifies page for more details.

Note: Room in roof insulation can reduce heat loss through the roof by up to 25%, leading to substantial savings on energy bills. Homeowners can expect to save between £150 to £400 annually, depending on the size of the space and insulation quality.

Is it really Free?
If you receive a qualifying benefit, in most cases it is free but a small contribution is sometimes required, depending on the energy-efficiency of the property.

What if I don’t qualify?
Even if you’re not entitled to a grant, we can still help to organise a survey and quote.

Is the survey Free and how long does it take?
Yes, the survey is free and it typically takes up to two hours.

Will I have to clear the room out?
Yes, the room will need to be empty before the work begins. It does not need to be removed before the survey.

How long does the work take?
Most installations are completed in one day.

What about skirting boards, radiators, sockets and light fittings?
Skirting boards are removed but you will need to replace them. Light fittings and switches are removed and replaced. Radiators are not removed but insulated around, unless you remove and replace them.

Is decoration included in the grant?
No, the walls and ceilings will be ready for decoration when the job is complete.

Will I receive a guarantee?
From 1st July 2020 it will become compulsory for installers to issue a 25 year guarantee. This will be provided by organisations such as GDGC.