Start with the route owner—not a company promising “free funding”.
In England that may be a council, energy supplier or MCS installer. Wales adds Nest, Scotland starts with Home Energy Scotland, and Northern Ireland starts with NI Energy Advice. This finder separates those routes and explains who takes the first formal step.
UK home-energy grant route finder
Use broad bands only. Your answers are processed on this page, are not included in analytics and are not sent to Hearthline, an installer or a funding provider.
Which official door should you try first?
Complete every field. “Unsure” is acceptable—the result will be more cautious.
Start with the first strong route you can verify.
Get the evidence in the right order.
Prepare copies, but only send sensitive documents through the organisation’s official channel.
Five decisions before you apply or request quotes
- Confirm the scheme is openUse the official page on the day you act. Old articles still recommend the Great British Insulation Scheme, which closed to new applications on 31 March 2026.
- Identify who actually appliesWarm Homes is council-led after your online start; ECO is supplier-delivered; BUS is installer-led; Home Energy Scotland and Nest begin with official advice services.
- Wait for written permissionNorthern Ireland Affordable Warmth and Scottish funding explicitly warn against starting work before a written approval or offer. Treat that as the safe default everywhere.
- Separate schemes by measureOfgem says ECO4 funding cannot be blended with another government scheme for the same ECO4 project. Ask the delivery body to confirm any proposed combination in writing.
- Keep the grant out of the sales pitchFirst confirm the official route, then assess the home and compare written scopes. A deadline or “free grant” claim is not a reason to sign during a doorstep visit or cold call.
The highest-value rule: do not start early
A contractor may be ready before the scheme is. If the required approval, voucher or written funding offer is missing, starting work can remove eligibility or leave you paying the full amount.
The four-nation route map
This is a route comparison, not an exhaustive list of local council offers. Local availability and property assessment can change the answer.
Three different front doors
- Warm Homes: Local Grant: privately owned EPC D–G homes; income usually £36,000 or less, with benefit and postcode routes.
- BUS: an MCS installer applies for eligible heat pumps or biomass.
- ECO4: contact an obligated supplier, even if it is not your own supplier.
One official first stop
- Home Energy Scotland: use the funding finder or call 0808 808 2282.
- Owner-occupiers: may be routed to Scottish Government Grant and Loan.
- Lower-income households: may be assessed for Warmer Homes Scotland or local area-based support.
Advice, assessment and installer routes
- Nest: free impartial advice and possible assessed improvements for qualifying private homes.
- BUS: installer-led heat-pump support.
- ECO4: supplier or council Flex route, subject to delivery decisions.
Confirm the transition first
- Affordable Warmth: current published threshold is gross household income below £23,000.
- NI Energy Advice: 0800 111 4455 for current referrals.
- Changing policy: a Warm Healthy Homes Fund is under consultation, so recheck before acting.
What would be left after confirmed support?
Do not estimate eligibility here. Enter the amount shown in a written official offer or in the installer’s BUS deduction, then compare the remaining cost with the complete written scope.
Quote minus confirmed support.
The £9,000 BUS amount is temporary to 31 March 2027 and only for certain eligible off-gas properties. An installer must confirm it.
This is the amount left after confirmed support only; finance costs, extras and ineligible work may increase it.
Grant claim scam check
Select every warning sign you have seen. One red flag is enough to pause and contact the scheme through its official page.
No listed warning sign selected
Still verify the organisation using contact details on the official scheme page. This check cannot prove that a caller or installer is genuine.
Common grant questions
What home-energy grants are available in the UK in 2026?+
The main routes covered here are Warm Homes: Local Grant in England, BUS in England and Wales, ECO4 in Great Britain, Nest in Wales, Home Energy Scotland funding routes and Affordable Warmth in Northern Ireland. Councils and local programmes may add other offers.
Can I apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme myself?+
No. It is installer-led. An MCS-certified installer applies after the property owner agrees a quote. Ofgem contacts the property owner for consent and the grant should be deducted from the amount the owner pays.
Does receiving a qualifying benefit guarantee ECO work?+
No. Ofgem says eligibility does not guarantee that a supplier or installer will offer measures. ECO is a supplier obligation, not a fixed-value grant, and a contribution may sometimes be requested.
What happened to the Great British Insulation Scheme?+
It closed to new applications on 31 March 2026. Existing applications may still be processed, but new applicants should not use websites presenting it as open.
Can two schemes pay for the same work?+
Do not assume so. Ofgem states that ECO4 funding must not be blended with other government schemes for the same ECO4 project. Ask both delivery bodies to confirm sequencing and eligible measures in writing.
Does Hearthline see my answers?+
No. The finder runs in your browser and does not save or send the seven answers. Aggregate analytics can count that the tool was used, but not which answers you selected.
Official sources and review notes
Scheme status and thresholds were checked against the named official pages on 3 August 2026. Hearthline’s weekly audit now warns when the structured grant register is more than 30 days old.
- GOV.UK: Warm Homes: Local Grant eligibility and application
- Ofgem: Boiler Upgrade Scheme amounts and installer-led process
- Ofgem: ECO4 homeowner and tenant guidance
- GOV.UK: Great British Insulation Scheme closure
- Welsh Government: Nest advice and improvement route
- Home Energy Scotland: official funding finder
- NIHE: Affordable Warmth eligibility, process and approval rules
- nidirect: current NI support and proposed replacement fund
- Hearthline methodology, limits and review policy