Warm Homes: Local Grant Explained
A plain-English guide to the Warm Homes: Local Grant — who qualifies, how to apply, and what to do if you don't.
ECO4, the grant scheme most heat pump installers have relied on for leads, ends on 31 December 2026 and is not being replaced by another supplier obligation scheme. For households in England, its main successor is the Warm Homes: Local Grant, run by local councils. Here's what it actually covers, who it's for, and what to do if it isn't the right fit for you.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is applied for directly on GOV.UK. We send eligible homeowners to the official route on purpose — there's no reason to go anywhere else first.
Apply on GOV.UKWhat is the Warm Homes: Local Grant?
It's a government-funded scheme that pays for home energy upgrades — insulation, an air source heat pump, solar panels, and smart heating controls — for eligible households in England. Unlike previous grant schemes that ran through energy suppliers, this one is administered by your local council, which checks eligibility, arranges a home survey, and organises the work.
The scheme runs until March 2028, giving councils several years to work through applications.
Who is it for?
You're likely to qualify if you:
- Are an owner-occupier or private renter in England
- Live in a home with an EPC rating of D to G
- Have a household income around £36,000 or less, or receive a qualifying benefit
Some postcodes qualify on higher incomes, since parts of the scheme target specific areas identified as having older, harder-to-heat housing. Your council can tell you whether your postcode is one of them.
How it works
- You apply at gov.uk/apply-warm-homes-local-grant.
- Your local council checks your eligibility.
- If eligible, the council arranges a home survey to work out what upgrades your property needs.
- The council allocates the work to an installer it has already procured — one holding TrustMark certification plus either PAS 2030 or MCS accreditation.
You don't select your own installer under this scheme, which is the main practical difference from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme below.
What's covered
- Home insulation (loft, cavity wall, or solid wall)
- Air source heat pumps
- Solar panels
- Smart heating controls
The exact package for your home depends on what the survey recommends — not every household receives every measure.
If you don't qualify
Income or location rules out plenty of homeowners who still want a heat pump. If that's you, two routes are worth knowing about:
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme. £7,500 towards a heat pump for most homeowners, regardless of income — rising to £9,000 if your home is off the gas grid and currently heated by oil or LPG. Claimed through any MCS-certified installer you choose yourself. Read our plain-English guide to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
- Installer finance.Many installers listed on this directory offer their own finance plans to spread the cost of a heat pump — look for “Finance available” on a listing.
Find an installer
Whether you're going through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, or paying for the work yourself, every installer in our directory is MCS certified.
Find an MCS-certified installer near you →
Frequently asked questions
Is the Warm Homes: Local Grant the same as ECO4?
No. ECO4 is a supplier obligation scheme that ends on 31 December 2026 and installers no longer have a direct replacement for it. The Warm Homes: Local Grant is a separate, council-run scheme funded by the government and available in England until March 2028. If you don't qualify for it, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the main alternative route to a grant for a heat pump.
How much is the Warm Homes: Local Grant worth?
The grant covers home upgrades such as insulation, an air source heat pump, solar panels, or smart heating controls, arranged and paid for through your local council rather than as a fixed cash sum. The exact package depends on what your home's survey recommends and what your council has procured. Check your eligibility and the current offer at gov.uk.
What if I don't qualify for the Warm Homes: Local Grant?
You may still be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers £7,500 towards a heat pump for most homeowners regardless of income — or £9,000 if your home is off the gas grid and heated by oil or LPG. It's claimed through an MCS-certified installer rather than a council. Many installers on this directory also offer their own finance options.
Who installs the work under the Warm Homes: Local Grant?
Your local council allocates the work to installers it has already procured. Those installers must hold TrustMark certification plus either PAS 2030 or MCS accreditation. You don't choose your own installer under this scheme — that's the main difference from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, where you can pick any MCS-certified installer yourself.