Great British Insulation Scheme: what it was and where to look now
This scheme is closed — it ended on 31 March 2026. You cannot apply.
England, Wales and Scotland only.
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) was a government scheme that helped people get free or cheaper home insulation through their energy supplier, to cut heating bills. The online service GOV.UK used to check eligibility for GBIS has closed, and installations must be complete by 31 March 2026, when the scheme ends. GOV.UK’s own guidance says some energy suppliers are still accepting applications directly, so it is worth asking your supplier before assuming you have missed it — this page explains what to check.
“The service to check if you're eligible for free or cheaper home insulation has closed. Installations must be complete by 31 March 2026, when the scheme ends.”
What the scheme covered while it ran
GBIS ran across Great Britain — England, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland — and worked through participating energy suppliers rather than through a government application form. A household applied, or was referred, and if eligible, the energy supplier arranged an assessment of the property to decide what insulation would help and what, if anything, it would fund.
“It is designed to deliver improvements to the least energy-efficient homes in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce energy bills.”
The scheme did not promise the insulation would be entirely free. After the assessment, the supplier told the household whether it would need to contribute towards the cost of the work, and the household could choose not to go ahead if it did not agree with the assessment or the price.
Known quality problems with some installations
“There are quality issues with some solid wall insulation fitted through the Great British Insulation Scheme. Check what to do if you're concerned about insulation you've had fitted through a government scheme.”
This is a specific, documented problem with some solid wall insulation installed under the scheme, not a general warning about the scheme as a whole. If you had solid wall insulation fitted through GBIS and are concerned about its quality — for example damp, condensation or render cracking after installation — GOV.UK sets out a dedicated process for checking and reporting this, separate from a routine complaint about service.
If you already applied before the scheme closed
If your application was already in progress, GOV.UK’s guidance is that your energy supplier should still carry it through: the supplier arranges the assessment, tells you whether the work has a cost attached, and you decide whether to proceed. If you have questions about an application you already made, contact the energy supplier you applied to directly — GOV.UK does not run a separate GBIS helpline of its own.
Where to look for insulation help now
The online service GOV.UK used to check eligibility for GBIS has closed, and installations must be complete by 31 March 2026, when the scheme ends.
“The service to check if you’re eligible for free or cheaper home insulation has closed. Some energy suppliers are however still accepting applications. Check with your supplier.”
That means GBIS is not necessarily closed to new applications — contact your own energy supplier directly and ask whether it is still taking them, rather than assuming the door has shut. If your supplier is not accepting new applications, or you are not eligible through it, two other routes cover similar ground.
If you are on a qualifying low-income benefit, ECO4 is an ongoing obligation on energy suppliers to fund insulation and heating measures — it works in a similar way to GBIS did, through a supplier assessment, and it runs until 31 December 2026.
If you live in England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant is delivered by your local council rather than by an energy supplier, and can fund insulation as well as an air source heat pump, with the council organising and paying for agreed work. It has different eligibility rules from GBIS, based on income, certain benefits or a qualifying postcode area, so check its own criteria rather than assuming GBIS eligibility carries over.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is only available in England. If you live in Scotland or Wales, check what your own devolved government currently funds for home insulation instead.
“The Warm Homes: Local Grant is only available in England. You might be able to get funding from a different scheme if you live in Scotland, live in Wales or live in Northern Ireland.”
Common questions
Can I still apply for the Great British Insulation Scheme?
The online service GOV.UK used to check eligibility for GBIS has closed, but GOV.UK also says some energy suppliers are still accepting applications directly. Ask your own energy supplier whether it is still taking new GBIS applications before assuming you have missed it. If it is not, or you are not eligible through it, look at ECO4 or, if you live in England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant instead.
What happens if I already applied to GBIS before it closed?
GOV.UK’s guidance is that the energy supplier you applied to should still carry your application through, including the assessment and any decision on cost. Contact that supplier directly with questions about your specific application.
I had solid wall insulation fitted under GBIS and I am worried about the quality — what do I do?
GOV.UK has identified quality issues with some solid wall insulation fitted through the scheme and sets out a specific process for checking and reporting concerns, separate from a general service complaint. Start there if this applies to your installation.
Did GBIS cover Northern Ireland?
No. Ofgem, which ran GBIS, describes it as designed to help homes in Great Britain — England, Wales and Scotland. It was never available in Northern Ireland.
What replaced the Great British Insulation Scheme?
No single scheme replaced it. For ongoing insulation help through a supplier obligation, look at ECO4. For council-delivered insulation and heat pump funding in England, look at the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Was GBIS insulation always free?
Not always. After the assessment, the energy supplier told applicants whether they needed to contribute towards the cost, and applicants could choose not to proceed if they disagreed with the assessment or the price.
Related guides
Information on this page was checked against the official guidance on 25 August 2026. The source page was last updated on 28 October 2024.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Money Decisions UK is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not arrange, recommend or introduce any credit, debt or mortgage product.