GBIS: free home insulation in Great Britain — who qualified

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) was a government programme that helped households in Great Britain insulate their homes for free or at a reduced cost — covering walls, lofts, roofs and floors. It was run by the government and administered by Ofgem, the energy regulator. Here is what the scheme was, who qualified, how people applied, and what has changed.

What was the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)?

It was a subsidy scheme for insulating homes with a poor energy-efficiency rating. Large energy suppliers paid for the work under an obligation to the government, so for the household the insulation was free or came with only a partial contribution. According to Ofgem, the scheme began in April 2023. It funded a range of measures: cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, solid wall, pitched and flat roof, under-floor and solid floor, park homes and room-in-roof. For low-income owner-occupiers, simple heating controls such as a room thermostat could be fitted alongside the insulation.

ADV · A003We build websites for tradespeople and sole traders — £219Customers see your work and prices and message you straight away. Ready in 3 days, £219 instead of £438.Advertise here

Who qualified for free or subsidised insulation?

There were two routes. The first was the General Group: the home needed an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D to G and had to sit in a lower council tax band. In England that meant bands A to D; in Scotland and Wales, bands A to E. The second was the Low Income Group: households receiving at least one qualifying benefit.

• General Group — judged on the home's EPC rating (D to G) and council tax band (A–D in England, A–E in Scotland and Wales).
• Low Income Group — judged on benefits received, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Benefit, Income Support and tax credits.

One caveat: being eligible did not guarantee that a supplier or installer would agree to fund the work at your property.

How did you apply through gov.uk?

Applications were made online. You first checked your eligibility through the official government service, then your energy supplier arranged an assessment of the property. After the assessment you were told whether you had to pay anything towards the work, and you could decline if you disagreed with the assessment or the cost. You needed to own the home or have the owner's permission. The details were published on gov.uk.

How did GBIS differ from ECO4?

The main difference is scope: GBIS offered insulation only and reached a wider pool of homes — including the General Group, which qualified on council tax band and EPC rating rather than income. The ECO4 scheme (Energy Company Obligation) targets low-income households and pays not just for insulation but also for replacing or repairing boilers and heating systems. In short, GBIS was about walls and roofs; ECO4 also covers the heating itself.

The scheme is now closed — what next?

The scheme is closed to new installations. According to Ofgem, GBIS ran from April 2023 and ended in April 2026; the gov.uk page states that installations had to be completed by 31 March 2026, when the scheme ends. The eligibility checker has closed. If you want to insulate your home now, look at schemes that are still open: the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) continues, and energy-saving advice and other grants are gathered on gov.uk. You can also check what help is available with your energy supplier and your local council.