Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) Explained: Everything You Need to Know

Last updated date: August 17, 2024

Previously called Energy Company Obligation+ (ECO+), the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is a UK government program to help residents in England, Wales and Scotland to reduce their energy bills. It is associated with the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, however rather than looking at a ‘whole house’ approach, the Great British Insulation scheme focusses on delivering single insulation measures.

The Great British Insulation scheme is administered by Ofgem, and is the first scheme launched by the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

What is the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)?

The UK government has committed to Net Zero by 2050, and to support this target a number of energy efficiency grant schemes have been legislated. The Great British Insulation Scheme will focus purely on the installation of insulation measures (such as loft insulation and cavity wall insulation). The UK government estimates that the scheme will make around 300,000 homes more energy efficient, and those receiving insulation upgrades will see their bills reduce by around £300-400 on average per year.

How much funding can I access via the GBIS?

The Great British Insulation Scheme has a total funding pool of £1 billion, and the amount each applicant receives will depend on which insulation measure is installed. The good news is if you are eligible via the ‘low-income’ group your installation costs may be fully funded. If you fall into the ‘general’ group you can still access funding towards the installation of insulation (though you will have to contribute towards the total cost). The installer will apply for the funding on your behalf and claim it back directly from the energy company.

Eligibility: Who Can Benefit from the GBIS?

The Great British Insulation Scheme has two eligibility streams. The first is a general group that anyone can apply for. The second targets low-income households. If you claim certain benefits, or your total household income is below a certain threshold, you may qualify for the low-income stream but if you don’t you can access grants through the general group.

General Group	Low Income Group
To qualify for the general group, you must:	To qualify for the low-income group, you must:
live in a home in council tax bands A to D (England)	receive qualifying benefits or meet flex eligibility rules
live in a home in council tax bands A to E (Scotland and Wales)	have an EPC rating of D to G
have an EPC rating of D to G
If you rent your home you must have an EPC with a D or E rating
If you qualify, you’ll receive one insulation upgrade, though you may need to contribute a small portion towards the installation costs, typically around 10% of the total.	If you qualify, you’ll receive one insulation upgrade, and owner-occupied households could also receive heating controls.

Your Energy Performance Certificate rating (EPC rating) is considered when you apply for a Great British Insulation Scheme grant. The free grant checker on Energy Saving Genie’s website can find out your EPC rating whilst checking your eligibility for any government grants.

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for the GBIS

To apply for a Great British Insulation Scheme grant you’ll need to go through the following steps:

Apply for a grant online (you may need to provide information about your household and your property)
Your property will be assessed and if eligible a registered installer will arrange to survey your property
Once the assessment is complete, you’ll be advised of insulation options, including any installation costs (if applicable)
If you decide to go ahead, an installation date will be agreed for a convenient time. If you need to pay anything towards the cost of the installation, the registered installer will ask for payment before the installation
The registered installer completes the installation of your new installation, and applies for any funding directly with their funder.

How Long Do I Have To Wait For My Free Great British Insulation Grant?

Waiting times are usually between 2-4 weeks for insulation installation. Timings may vary depending on the type of insulation, how long the grant application process takes, the demand for installers are in your area and the funding available.

What Grants are Available under GBIS?

There are a range of insulation options available to keep heat in and make your home more energy efficient.

In theory the grants being offered as part of the Great British Insulation Scheme include:

Cavity Wall Insulation
External Wall Insulation
Flat Roof Insulation
Internal Wall Insulation
Loft Insulation
Room-in-Roof Insulation
Solid Floor Insulation
Underfloor Insulation

However, at the current rates we are generally only seeing loft insulation and cavity wall insulation as fully-funded grants.

Do I need to pay money towards my installation?

In some cases installations will be fully funded and won’t require any payments towards the installation but in other cases you’ll need to contribute. The main factors affecting funding is the insulation measure (some measures are more expensive than others) and the eligibility group (the low-income group get a higher funding rate).

GBIS FAQs: Your Questions Answered

Can anyone access the LEAP scheme?

Why should I insulate my home through the GBIS?

Insulation is important for many reasons, the following are just a few:

Insulating your home helps to prevent heat loss during colder months, and keeps cooler air inside when the weather is warmer.
There are also health benefits from insulating your home, including preventing damp that causes mould and mildew.
Insulation is more climate friendly, as you don’t need to waste energy heating your home.

Can privately rented and social housing properties benefit from the scheme?

Yes, both privately rented and social housing properties can apply. As long as you have the permission of the landlord and the tenants meet certain eligibility criteria (e.g low income, EPC rating D or below or Council Tax bands A-D in England and A-E in Scotland and Wales).

How do I find out my EPC rating?

You can check the EPC rating of your property the UK Government EPC Register or on our free grant checker. If you don’t have an EPC listed in the register, installers will arrange the assessment for you (installers don’t advise getting an EPC while you have an application in progress).