UK landlords can currently access up to £37,500 in government grants for EPC improvements on a single rental property, combining the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, ECO4, and 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 qualifies 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 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 currently fund EPC improvements for private landlords in England and Wales. 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 to 2030.
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 (rural properties only)
Eligibility for landlords:
- Property must be in England or Wales
- Must have a valid EPC (the previous requirement for no outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations was removed in April 2026)
- 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 EPC requirement was removed entirely by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which came into force on 28 April 2026. Previously, properties with outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation were disqualified. That restriction no longer applies.
The grant is paid directly to your installer, who deducts it from the invoice. You never handle the money yourself. Most installations take one to three days. Full application details are in EPCGuide's BUS application guide.
2. Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)
ECO4 is the largest energy efficiency grant scheme in the UK, funded by energy suppliers rather than direct government spending. It covers insulation, heating, and other energy efficiency measures at no cost to the landlord or tenant.
What you get:
- Full cost of loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, underfloor insulation
- Full cost of heating system upgrades (boiler replacement, first-time central heating)
- Full cost of secondary measures (draught-proofing, heating controls, hot water tank insulation)
- Typical value: £3,000 to £15,000 per property depending on measures installed
Eligibility for landlords:
- Property must have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G
- Tenant must receive a qualifying means-tested benefit (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, or Housing Benefit)
- Property must be in England, Wales, or Scotland
- Landlord consent is required (you sign a form agreeing to the works)
Critical deadline: ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026. After that date, the scheme will be replaced by the Warm Homes Plan from April 2027. If your tenant qualifies, apply now. There is no guarantee the replacement scheme will offer the same level of funding. 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. Typical turnaround from application to completion is six to twelve weeks.
3. Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
GBIS runs alongside ECO4 using the same delivery network but with slightly different eligibility rules. It focuses specifically on insulation measures.
What you get:
- Cavity wall insulation
- Loft insulation
- Solid wall insulation (in some cases)
- Room-in-roof insulation
- Flat roof insulation
- Typical value: £1,500 to £8,000 per property
Eligibility for landlords:
- Property must have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G
- Tenant must receive a qualifying benefit, OR the property must be in Council Tax bands A to D (England) or A to E (Scotland and Wales)
- Property must not already have the insulation measure being applied for
The Council Tax band route is significant for landlords because it does not require your tenant to be on benefits. If your rental property is in a lower Council Tax band, you may qualify for free insulation regardless of your tenant's income. This makes GBIS more widely accessible than ECO4 for many landlords.
4. Warm Homes: Local Grant
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is administered by local councils and regional delivery partners. It launched in 2025 and runs until 2028, with £3.4 billion in total funding allocated by the government.
What you get:
- Up to £30,000 for your first rental property
- Up to £15,000 for each additional rental property
- Covers insulation, heating, ventilation, and renewable energy measures
- Full funding for first property; 50% landlord contribution required for additional properties
Eligibility for landlords:
- Varies by local authority. There is no single national eligibility criteria
- Typically requires the property to be in a deprived area (based on Index of Multiple Deprivation)
- Tenant income usually must be below £36,000 gross household income, or tenant must be receiving qualifying benefits
- Property must have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G
- Some local authorities require the landlord to commit to keeping the property in the private rented sector for a set period after works
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 significantly by council. Some areas have exhausted their allocation already.
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: Yes. You can receive a BUS grant for a heat pump and ECO4 funding for insulation on the same property. This is one of the most valuable combinations, potentially covering £15,000 or more in total improvements.
- BUS + GBIS: Yes. Same logic as above. BUS covers the heating system, GBIS covers insulation.
- ECO4 + GBIS: Generally no for the same measure. You cannot claim both ECO4 and GBIS for cavity wall insulation on the same property. However, you can claim different measures through each scheme.
- Warm Homes + BUS: Yes, in most cases. The local authority grant covers building fabric improvements while BUS covers the heat pump.
- Warm Homes + ECO4/GBIS: Depends on local authority rules. Some councils allow it, others require you to exhaust Warm Homes funding first.
The maximum realistic grant stack for a single property in 2026 is approximately:
- BUS: £7,500 (heat pump)
- ECO4: £10,000 to £15,000 (insulation and secondary measures)
- Warm Homes: £15,000 to £30,000 (additional measures, depending on property position in portfolio)
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). This is the most common rejection. Universal Credit alone qualifies, but your tenant must consent to their benefit status being verified. If your tenant is not on benefits, look at GBIS (Council Tax band route) or Warm Homes 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 C or above. All four schemes target properties rated D or below (except BUS, which removed its EPC condition in April 2026). If your property is already band C, you are not eligible for ECO4, GBIS, or Warm Homes funding.
Wrong property type for the measure. Cavity wall insulation requires a cavity. Properties built before the 1920s typically have solid walls. The installer survey determines eligibility, but knowing your wall type in advance avoids wasted appointments.
Local authority funding exhausted (Warm Homes). Some councils allocated their Warm Homes budget within months of the scheme launching. If your local authority has no remaining budget, you must wait for the next funding round or look at ECO4/GBIS 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.
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 and GBIS, 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 £10,000 Cost Cap
Government grant funding does not count toward the £10,000 cost cap that landlords must meet for the 2030 EPC C deadline. This is a crucial distinction.
If you spend £3,000 of your own money on improvements and receive £7,500 in BUS funding, your personal spend toward the cap is £3,000, not £10,500. The cap only measures what comes out of your pocket. This means grants effectively extend your total improvement budget well beyond £10,000.
If your property cannot reach EPC C even after spending £10,000 of your own money (on top of any grants received), you can register a cost cap exemption. The cost cap guide explains the exemption 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 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?
Yes. ECO4 covers the full cost of insulation and heating upgrades for properties where the tenant receives qualifying benefits. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers up to £7,500 toward a heat pump. The Warm Homes: Local Grant can cover up to £30,000 for a landlord's first qualifying property. In the best case, combining schemes means a landlord pays nothing out of pocket for substantial improvements.
What benefits does my tenant need for ECO4 eligibility?
Your tenant must receive at least one of: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, or Housing Benefit. 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 closes on 31 December 2026. No new applications will be accepted after that date. The replacement scheme, the Warm Homes Plan, is expected to launch in April 2027 but details are not yet confirmed. Landlords with eligible properties should apply now rather than waiting for a replacement scheme that may have different rules.
Can I get grants for multiple rental properties?
Yes, but amounts may differ. The Warm Homes: Local Grant provides up to £30,000 for your first property and £15,000 for additional properties, with a 50% landlord contribution required for second and subsequent homes. ECO4, GBIS, and BUS have no portfolio limits. You can apply for each property individually, provided each meets the eligibility criteria.
Do EPC grants count toward the £10,000 cost cap?
No. Government grant funding is excluded from the £10,000 cap. Only money you spend personally counts. This means a landlord who receives £7,500 in BUS funding and £5,000 in ECO4 funding still has the full £10,000 personal cap available for additional improvements if needed.
What if my local authority has no Warm Homes funding?
Some councils have already allocated their Warm Homes budget. If your area is not currently participating, check back quarterly as new funding rounds are released. In the meantime, ECO4 and GBIS operate nationally and are not dependent on local authority participation. Use EPCGuide's grant eligibility checker to see which national schemes you qualify for.