Retrofit & Insulation
Updated October 2025 Great British Insulation Scheme (was ECO+ grant scheme)
You may be able to get free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills.
You might get support if your home:
- has an energy performance certificate (EPC) of D to G - check your EPC
- is in Council Tax bands A-D in England or A-E in Scotland or Wales - check your Council Tax band
You can be a homeowner, landlord or tenant (either renting privately or from a housing association). If you’re a tenant, speak to your landlord before you apply. You’ll need their permission before any insulation can be installed.
Cost of living support
An extra £500 million to be paid into the 'Household Support Fund’, check LCC for support.
All the big energy firms also offer schemes and grants to help with your energy costs, to replace faulty or old boilers, and to make your home more energy-efficient (Energy Company Obligation).
Installations of energy saving materials only, are VAT free until 2027
Retrofit in homes: The process of making changes to existing buildings so that energy consumption and emissions are reduced. These changes should also provide the benefit of a more comfortable and healthier home with lower fuel bills.
A Fabric First approach focuses on improving the performance of the building fabric before adding extra systems.
Benefits include:
- making homes more comfortable and easier to keep warm and healthy, as well as protecting the building fabric and reducing the need for maintenance.
- Reducing energy demand first makes it easier for efficient building services to meet household needs. This results in lower energy bills andcarbon emissions. It reduces the size of the ‘kit’ needed, which helps reduce costs and embodied environmental impacts. So, you can install a smaller heat pump or a simpler heating system for example.
- It helps to reduce both overall energy demand and peak demand - which supports the decarbonisation of the whole energy system as it means less capacity is needed overall. A fabric first approach also opens more opportunities for demand response and shifting the load, meaning we can make better use of renewable energy sources.
BUILD TIGHT VENTILATE RIGHT!!!!
What is a Retrofit Assessment?
Its an in-depth assessment of a property, based on the following criteria;
- An Occupancy Assessment (Details the occupants in the property and how they currently use the building, such as water/ heating usage).
- An Energy Assessment (an in-depth report which is shows how your home performs currently in terms of energy efficiency and what improvements can be done for your property).
- A Condition Assessment of the property (looks at the current ventilation system in the property and if any remedial work needs to be done before the retrofit work can start).
A site visit is done and three reports are completed which is the start point for all retrofit work.
- The retrofit assessment will list measures that should be done in order.
- There will be some low, medium and high-cost measures that are suitable for your property.
- Examples of low costs quick wins include draughtproofing (Doors, windows, letterboxes), LEDS bulbs, hot water cylinder jacket insulation.
- Medium cost measures include, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, Room in the roof insulation, replacement doors/windows.
- Higher cost measures include external wall insulation, internal wall insulation, change a heating system, solar pv, solar thermal.
- This shows the importance of the Retrofit Assessment and site visit. Each property is different, and a good assessment is the starting point for any retrofit journey.