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Guidance
Can I Get a Grant For Cavity Wall Insulation?
- From: James Parker
- Published 24 December 2024
Nearly three-quarters of all homes in the UK are made with cavity walls. Yet according to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, up to 29% of these houses lack suitable insulation. This leads to rising energy bills and big home carbon footprints. It also lets heating systems work overtime, constantly compensating for the lost heat.
That’s where cavity wall insulation comes in. A quick, non-disruptive, and highly efficient change that can save upwards of £405 in energy bills. It will also cut domestic CO2 emissions by 1.1 tonnes yearly in a single UK home. This all sounds great. But sadly, not every household can front the hefty costs in one go.
To help fuel-poor and energy-inefficient homes improve their efficiency, the UK has initiated two key grant schemes. That offers free cavity wall insulation. The Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) are proactive in the UK. Read on to determine the outcome of your query, ‘Can I get a grant for cavity wall insulation?’
Are There Any Grants for Cavity Wall Insulation?
The two main insulation grant schemes in the UK have different requirements for who can apply. To make sure you get the most out of your energy-saving grant money, you need to know how the ECO4 and GBIS schemes are different.
ECO4 Scheme
ECO4 is the fourth step of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme. It focuses on making the whole house more energy efficient. The application for the ECO4 scheme may include other ways to save money on heating. Cavity wall insulation must be installed if it hasn’t been done already. ECO4 is the most generous grant scheme out there right now.
The Great British Scheme (GBIS)
The Great British Insulation Scheme (ECO+) offers a single-measure installation. If you qualify for cavity wall insulation, only this can be installed. No other insulation measure can be placed (e.g., loft insulation, outdoor wall insulation, or basement insulation).
What is Cavity Wall Insulation?
Not all homes have cavity wall insulation. It only became popular in houses built from the 1930s onwards (Prior to 1920, homes were mostly made with solid walls). If your house were made after the 1920s, it would likely have cavity walls, two different walls with a gap in between. The outer wall is called the outer leaf. The inner wall is called the inner leaf. The distance of the hole is usually at least 40mm. However, the width can change based on the land and how and when it was made.
A quick check to see if you have cavity walls is to check the outside of your house. If the bricks are all the same size and are put lengthways. You likely have a cavity wall. If the brickwork is a different size. This generally shows that you have solid walls.
Even though these walls were famous in the 1930s, cavity wall insulation was only widely used in buildings from the 1990s. If your home was built between the 1930s and 1990s and hasn’t put cavity wall insulation, you could be qualified for a free insulation grant.
Check Eligibility For ECO4 Grant!
If you or any of your household is on benefits, you may be eligible for Free Insulation Grant.
Types of Cavity Wall Insulation Available
Cavity wall insulation material has three main types as follows:
- Mineral wool is the original material, and it first became famous in the 1950s. Mineral wool is made by burning and spinning volcanic rocks into strands (similar to wool).
- Polystyrene beads – Expanded polystyrene beads (EPS) are made of a carbon polymer that initially measures 0.5mm in diameter but is then filled with air via a steaming process to increase their size to 3-5mm.
- Polyurethane foam—Also known as PUR insulation, this heating technology has been available since the mid-80s and is present in newer buildings. It is a plastic carbon-based polymer formed into an inert polymer and is the highest energy-rated insulator of all three materials.
Can I Get a Grant for Cavity Wall Insulation?
If you are a low-income household in the UK. Two government back schemes are available to provide free cavity wall insulation for your home. You can get by participating and meeting the qualifying criteria. Below are the eligibility requirements details. Ensure you meet the specifics.
The ECO4 scheme offers a ‘whole-house’ approach to increasing your home’s energy efficiency.
ECO4 grant may include other energy measures as part of the grant application, and cavity wall insulation installation is required as part of ECO4 (if the home doesn’t have it put already). The funding you receive is based on factors such as your home’s energy performance certificate (EPC) rating, your benefits, and whether you are considered vulnerable.
Eligibility Criteria For ECO4 Scheme
Eligibility criteria for the cavity wall insulation under the ECO4 scheme involve:
- Homeowners or private tenants
- Low-income households who receive any of the specific benefits, including:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support (IS)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (PCGC)
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)
- Child Benefit*
- Properties with an EPC rating of lower D, E, F, & G.
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) Eligibility Criteria
The GBIS, ECO+ differs from the ECO4 scheme as only a single insulation measure is installed. The qualifying criteria are split into two categories for the GBIS: the ‘general’ group and the ‘low-income’ group. Find details below table:
Household Category | General Group | Low-Income Group |
Owner Occupiers | 1. Must be living in a Council Tax band A-D home in England or A-E in Scotland and Wales 2. If the household owns the home and EPC D or below, then the household can receive any qualifying insulation measure. | If the household owns the home and its EPC is D or below, it can receive any qualifying insulation measure, plus heating controls. |
Private Rented | A private tenant with a home EPC D or E can receive any qualifying insulation measure other than cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. | Private renters with a home EPC rating D or E can receive any qualifying insulation measure. |
Social Housing | All social renters are included in the low-income group. | If the household lives in EPC E or below social housing, it can receive any qualifying insulation measure. If the home is EPC E, F, or G, only a qualifying innovation measure is allowed. |
Benefits of Cavity Wall Insulation
Given how much heat can escape your home with uninsulated cavity walls. And installing cavity wall insulation can result in significant energy savings. According to the Energy Saving Trust, your yearly bill savings can be anywhere from 125 for a mid-floor flat to 455 for a separate house*.
Another benefit is a decrease in your carbon footprint. The energy saving trust says that cavity wall insulation saves 305 kg of CO2 per year, up to 1,100 kg of CO2 for a separate house*.
Note: Based on homes in England, Scotland, and Wales.
How Does Cavity Wall Insulation Reduce Heat Loss?
Cavity wall insulation increases your home’s core temperature. It can be done by stopping heat from escaping through the walls. If you have a home with cavity walls, there is a space between the outside and inside block walls. Filling this gap with the proper insulation makes a thermal barrier. That keeps you snug and comfortable inside your home in winter.
Summary
Government backed schemes like the GBIS and ECO4 scheme are a cornerstone in the nation’s trip towards environmental sustainability. You can get a free cavity wall insulation grant through these schemes. By increasing your property’s energy efficiency, cavity wall insulation plays an integral part in lowering the demand for fossil fuels. Thereby, it also decreases carbon emissions. This aligns with the UK’s resolve to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This aims to improve air quality and fight global climate change. Additionally, the insulation minimises energy waste. It also ensures that houses stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer without excessive energy consumption. As we move towards a better future, the role of cavity wall insulation in building energy efficiency cannot be ignored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. If you qualify for an ECO4 or GBIS grant, you could be eligible for a free government cavity wall insulation grant. Check your eligibility now via our free eligibility check —— and start saving on your heating bill!
Registered installers typically provide a 25-year guarantee for cavity wall insulation, supported by Trustmark (a government-endorsed quality scheme). For more information on the types of guarantees provided, visit the —– website: freegovernmentgrants.co.uk
Depending on the size of your home, installing cavity wall insulation will take, on average, half a day to two days.
No, but you will need your landlord’s consent if you are a private or housing association tenant.
No, but you will need your landlord’s consent if you are a private or housing association tenant.
If correctly installed by experts, cavity wall insulation will remain effective for the life of the building. And it requires no further maintenance.
