Landlords in England and Wales can currently get help with EPC improvements through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, ECO4 and, in England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant. But eligibility rules are different for each scheme, spread across multiple government websites, and change regularly. EPCGuide's free grant eligibility checker tells you which grants your property may qualify for in under two minutes, based on your property details and tenant circumstances.
Check your grant eligibility now and see exactly which schemes apply to your property, how much funding you could receive, and how to apply.
How EPCGuide's Grant Checker Works
The tool asks you a short series of questions: your property type and location, current EPC band, heating system, whether your tenant receives means-tested benefits, and your property's estimated value. It then checks your answers against the current eligibility criteria for all four major grant schemes.
What you get back is a personalised report showing which grants you may qualify for, the estimated funding amount for each, and direct links to application portals. The checker also flags schemes with approaching deadlines (ECO4 closes December 2026) and warns about common disqualifying factors before you waste time on an application.
EPCGuide's checker uses the latest eligibility rules as of May 2026, including the April 2026 Boiler Upgrade Scheme regulation changes. No signup or email required.
The Four Main EPC Grants for Landlords in 2026
Four government-backed schemes have funded EPC improvements for private landlords. Three are open (the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, ECO4 and, in England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant) and the Great British Insulation Scheme has closed. Each has different eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and application routes.
1. Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides upfront grants toward replacing fossil fuel heating with low-carbon alternatives. Following the April 2026 regulation changes, the scheme has been simplified and extended into 2030, but Ofgem cannot issue new vouchers after 31 December 2029 (SI 2022/565 reg 15(7)(c), as amended by SI 2026/390).
What you get:
- £7,500 toward an air source heat pump
- £7,500 toward a ground source heat pump
- £2,500 toward an air-to-air heat pump (newly eligible from April 2026)
- £5,000 toward a biomass boiler (off the gas grid, rural properties only)
- Until March 2027, an extra £1,500 (£9,000 in total) toward an air source or ground source heat pump where the property is heated by oil or LPG and has no mains gas connection
Eligibility for landlords:
- Property must be in England or Wales
- Existing heating system must use fossil fuels (gas, oil, LPG, electric, coal)
- Installation must be carried out by an MCS-certified installer
- Property must have an existing heating system being replaced (new builds are excluded)
Key change for 2026: The valid-EPC requirement was removed by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which came into force on 28 April 2026. The older condition that disqualified properties with outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations was removed earlier, on 8 May 2024.
Your installer applies for the grant on your behalf and the value of the grant is taken off the amount you pay for the installation (GOV.UK). Full application details are in EPCGuide's BUS application guide.
2. Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)
ECO4 is a Great Britain energy efficiency scheme funded by energy suppliers through a levy on energy bills, not by direct government spending. Ofgem says it is not a grant scheme: suppliers decide which measures they fund and the level of funding they provide, and in some cases you may be asked to contribute to the cost.
What it can cover in a rented home (Ofgem ECO4 delivery guidance v4.0, paras 3.76 to 3.79):
- The package must include at least one of solid wall insulation, first-time central heating, a district heating connection or renewable heating, plus further ECO measures
- Replacing, upgrading or repairing a boiler, central heating system or electric storage heater is generally not eligible in a rented home
- Suppliers decide the level of funding, so ask for the terms in writing before you agree to anything
Eligibility for landlords:
- The property must have an initial rating of E, F or G (delivery guidance v4.0, para 3.74)
- The tenant must be a member of the Help to Heat Group, or declared eligible by the local authority. Ofgem lists these benefits: Child Benefit, Pension Guarantee Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit Savings Credit. Income requirements apply to some of them
- The property must be in Great Britain
- Landlord permission is required: the supplier must obtain it for any measure in a rented property (para 3.81)
Critical deadline: ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 (Ofgem). Government has decided not to continue the Energy Company Obligation after it ends, and has committed additional grant funding for low-income households through the Warm Homes Plan (DESNZ response, 21 January 2026). There is no guarantee the replacement funding will work the same way. If your tenant qualifies, apply now. EPCGuide's ECO4 guide explains the deadline and how to apply before it closes.
ECO4 applications are made through energy suppliers or their appointed installers, not through a government portal. The installer surveys your property, confirms eligibility, and arranges the work.
3. Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS): closed
GBIS has closed. The scheme ended on 31 March 2026, so it is no longer available (GOV.UK: installations had to be complete by that date). The details below describe how it worked. Landlords should now look at ECO4, ECO4 Flex, or the Warm Homes: Local Grant instead.
GBIS ran alongside ECO4 using the same delivery network but with slightly different eligibility rules. It focused specifically on insulation measures.
What it covered:
- Cavity wall insulation
- Loft insulation
- Solid wall insulation (in some cases)
- Room-in-roof insulation
- Flat roof insulation
Now that GBIS has closed, landlords whose tenants are working should look at ECO4 Flex, where the council can refer a low-income household who is not on a qualifying benefit.
4. Warm Homes: Local Grant
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is England only and is delivered by local councils from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028 (Warm Homes: Local Grant policy guidance for local authorities, updated July 2026).
What you get:
- Cost caps of £16,600 per home for energy performance upgrades and £16,600 per home for low carbon heating, which can be averaged across a council's project
- One rented home fully funded per landlord; the landlord pays at least 50% for each further home
Eligibility for landlords:
- Varies by local authority. There is no single national list of participating councils
- The household must meet one of three routes: a listed postcode in the two most income-deprived deciles of the Index of Multiple Deprivation, a specified means-tested benefit, or an annual gross household income below £36,000 (or the "after housing costs" threshold)
- The specified benefits are Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit (savings and guarantee) and Universal Credit
- The property must have an EPC rating in bands D to G. Privately rented homes rated F or G need a registered exemption
- Landlords must declare that they do not intend to raise rents as a direct result of the upgrades
How to check: Enter your postcode at the GOV.UK Warm Homes checker to see if your area is participating and what the local eligibility criteria are. Availability varies by council.
EPCGuide's Warm Homes guide tracks which local authorities are currently accepting applications.
Which Grants Can You Combine?
Grants can be stacked, but not all combinations are permitted:
- BUS + ECO4: Only in sequence. Ofgem says ECO4 funding must not be blended with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and any measure outside the ECO4 project at the same property must be installed either before the project starts or after it is complete.
- BUS + Warm Homes: Local Grant: Yes, for different measures. BUS covers the heat pump, Warm Homes covers insulation and fabric measures.
- Two grants for the same measure: No. The same individual measure cannot be funded twice. You cannot claim, for example, both ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant for cavity wall insulation on the same property.
- Warm Homes + ECO4: ECO4 projects at the same property must happen wholly before or wholly after the Warm Homes: Local Grant work (policy guidance, updated July 2026, section 8.1).
- GBIS: No longer available. GBIS closed on 31 March 2026 and cannot be stacked with other schemes.
EPCGuide's grant eligibility checker automatically identifies valid combinations for your property.
Common Reasons Landlords Are Rejected
Understanding disqualifying factors saves time. The most frequent reasons grant applications fail:
Tenant does not receive qualifying benefits (ECO4). Universal Credit is on Ofgem's list, but income requirements apply to some benefits, and your tenant must consent to their benefit status being verified. If your tenant is not on benefits, look at ECO4 Flex (council referral on low-income grounds) or the Warm Homes: Local Grant instead.
Property already has the measure installed. You cannot get a grant for cavity wall insulation if your property already has it. The installer survey will identify existing measures. This is why an up-to-date EPC is important: it records what is already installed.
Property EPC is too high. ECO4 in a rented home needs a starting rating of E, F or G, and the Warm Homes: Local Grant needs D to G. BUS removed its EPC condition in April 2026. If your property is already band C, you are not eligible for Warm Homes funding, and ECO4 needs a starting rating of E or below.
Wrong property type for the measure. Cavity wall insulation requires a cavity. Older properties often have solid walls. The installer survey determines eligibility, but knowing your wall type in advance avoids wasted appointments.
Local authority funding exhausted (Warm Homes). Each council has a fixed allocation, so it can run out. If your local authority has no remaining budget, you must wait for the next funding round or look at ECO4 instead.
How to Apply: Step by Step
The application process differs by scheme, but here is the practical sequence most landlords should follow:
Step 1: Check your EPC. Look up your property at GOV.UK Find an Energy Certificate. Note your current band and the recommended improvements listed on the certificate. If your EPC is more than a few years old, the recommendations may be outdated, but the band gives you a starting point.
Step 2: Run the eligibility checker. Use EPCGuide's grant eligibility checker to identify which schemes apply. This saves you checking four different government websites and navigating local authority rules. For a comparison of every scheme in one place, see our guide to landlord energy grants.
Step 3: Apply for the highest-value scheme first. If you qualify for multiple schemes, start with the one offering the most funding. For most landlords, this means ECO4 (if your tenant qualifies) or Warm Homes (if your area is participating). BUS is typically applied for alongside or after insulation work, since a heat pump performs best in a well-insulated property.
Step 4: Get installer quotes. For BUS, you need an MCS-certified heat pump installer. For ECO4, the energy supplier's appointed installer handles the survey and quoting. For Warm Homes, the local authority will direct you to their approved contractors.
Step 5: Coordinate timing. If you are combining grants (for example, ECO4 for insulation followed by BUS for a heat pump), plan the insulation work first. Insulating before installing a heat pump means the heat pump can be smaller and cheaper, and the property retains more heat.
How Grants Affect the MEES Cost Cap
Under the rules in force, government grant funding does not use up the MEES cost cap. Under the proposed £10,000 cap, Boiler Upgrade Scheme money would not count, but other third-party funding, such as ECO4 or local grants, could. That distinction matters more than most landlords realise.
The cap in force is £3,500 including VAT per property, measured against the band E minimum that has applied to all existing tenancies since 1 April 2020. Government has proposed a £10,000 cap measured against band C from 1 October 2030, but that needs legislation which has not been made.
If you spend £3,000 of your own money on improvements and receive £7,500 in BUS funding, your spend toward the cap is £3,000, not £10,500. Under the rules in force the cap measures only what comes out of your pocket, so grants effectively stretch your total improvement budget well past the cap figure.
Under the rules in force, if your property still cannot reach the required band after you have spent the cap of your own money, on top of any grants received, you can register an 'all relevant improvements made' exemption. The cost cap guide explains the process.
For tax purposes, grant-funded improvements are not deductible as expenses (since you did not pay for them). Only your personal expenditure qualifies for tax relief.
Try EPCGuide's Free Grant Eligibility Checker
Finding out which grants you may qualify for should not involve reading four different government websites and calling your local council. EPCGuide's grant eligibility checker consolidates all four schemes into a single two-minute questionnaire.
You get a clear answer: which schemes apply, how much funding you could receive, which combinations work, and where to apply. Updated for May 2026 eligibility rules including the BUS April 2026 changes.
Check Your Grant Eligibility Now
Want to see what upgrades will cost before and after grants? Use the EPC cost calculator for a full cost breakdown. Or read the complete guide to EPC compliance costs for landlords.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can landlords get free EPC upgrades through government grants?
Sometimes. ECO4 can fund measures in a rented home with an eligible tenant, but Ofgem says suppliers decide the level of funding and you may be asked to contribute. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 toward an air source or ground source heat pump, or £9,000 until March 2027 where the property is heated by oil or LPG and has no mains gas connection. In England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant can fully fund one qualifying property per landlord, within cost caps of £16,600 for energy performance and £16,600 for low carbon heating per home, averaged across the council's project. Whether you pay anything depends on the scheme and the measures.
What benefits does my tenant need for ECO4 eligibility?
Your tenant must receive at least one of the benefits Ofgem lists: Child Benefit, Pension Guarantee Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit Savings Credit. Income requirements apply to some of them. Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit ended on 5 April 2025. The tenant must consent to their benefit status being verified as part of the application.
Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme available to landlords?
Yes. Private landlords in England and Wales can apply for BUS grants. The property must have an existing fossil fuel heating system being replaced, and installation must be carried out by an MCS-certified installer. As of April 2026, the previous EPC requirement has been removed, making more properties eligible.
When does ECO4 end?
ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 (Ofgem). Government has decided not to continue the Energy Company Obligation after it ends, and has committed additional grant funding for low-income households through the Warm Homes Plan. Landlords with eligible properties should apply now rather than waiting for replacement funding that may have different rules.
Can I get grants for multiple rental properties?
Yes, but the terms differ. The Warm Homes: Local Grant fully funds one property per landlord, and the landlord pays at least 50% for each further home. There is no limit on how many eligible homes a landlord can upgrade, provided the landlord stays within the subsidy limit in the guidance. ECO4 is assessed property by property, and BUS pays one grant per property, so you can apply for each property individually, provided each meets the eligibility criteria.
Do EPC grants count toward the MEES cost cap?
Not under the rules in force. Grant funding does not use up the cap in force, so a landlord who receives £7,500 in BUS funding and £5,000 in ECO4 funding still has their full personal cap allowance available against it. The cap in force is £3,500 including VAT, measured against band E. Government has proposed £10,000 against band C, which is not yet law, and under that proposed cap BUS money would not count, but other third-party funding, such as ECO4 or local grants, could.
What if my local authority has no Warm Homes funding?
Each council has a fixed allocation, so some may have used theirs. If your area is not currently participating, ask your council whether it expects to open further rounds. In the meantime, ECO4 operates across Great Britain and is not dependent on local authority participation. Use EPCGuide's grant eligibility checker to see which national schemes you qualify for.