Insulation Grant Criteria

The two main considerations are whether the householder is likely to qualify for an Insulation grant and also whether the property is suitable to have insulation installed.

Grants to cover the entire cost are available to householders receiving income-related benefits or tax credits. You must also own the property or rent it from a private landlord.

Council or Housing Association tenants may be entitled to grant assistance providing they own half or more of the property.

Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation are generally free of charge to anyone in receipt of a qualifying income benefit or tax credits.

Roof Room and Internal Wall Insulation are also free to people receiving benefits.

Grants of up to 25% can be claimed towards the cost of installing External Wall Insulation, regardless of income or benefits.

The property must also be privately owned/rented, occupied at the time of the survey and there must be a gas or electricity bill in the occupier’s name.

To qualify for free cavity, internal wall, loft or roof room insulation, someone living in the property needs to be in receipt of at least one of the benefits listed below:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit (not the single person’s 25% Council Tax reduction)
• Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-Related Employment Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Pension Credit Savings Credit
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Benefit *

* Household income limits apply. See table below.

You could also qualify for grant funding if your gross annual household income is £31,000 or less.

If you are applying for a grant and using Child Benefit as the qualifying benefit, your income from all sources (before tax) must not exceed the limits shown below.  The amounts vary depending on whether you are a single claimant or part of a couple and the number of children for whom you are responsible.

To qualify for a Cavity Wall Insulation grant, it may sound obvious but the property must have cavity walls. Typically, it will be brick-built and constructed between 1924 and 1982. Before 1924 it will more likely be solid brick and after 1982 it should already be insulated. However, we can help with uninsulated properties built up to 2005. See our Cavity Wall Insulation page for more details.

Loft Insulation Grants are for blankets of insulation laid on the floor of a loft. As long as you have a loft that is accessible and has less than 100mm of material already fitted then you should be entitled to a grant to have it insulated to a depth of 270mm. Visit our Loft Insulation page for further information.

You can apply for a Room in Roof insulation grant if the property was originally built with roof rooms or the loft has been converted. As long as there is minimal or no insulation present and there is a fixed staircase leading to the room(s), and not a pull-down loft ladder or similar, you should qualify for a grant. Visit our Room in Roof Insulation page for further information.

External and Internal Wall Insulation are typically installed in properties that have solid walls or those that are System Built. In other words, they do not have a cavity that can be insulated. It may be possible to have External Wall or Internal Wall Insulation in a cavity wall property if it is not possible or practical to install Cavity Wall Insulation. See our External Wall Insulation and Internal Wall Insulation pages for details.