Three government grant schemes are currently funding EPC upgrades for UK landlords in 2026: ECO4 (closes 31 December 2026), the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and the Warm Homes Local Grant. ECO4 is the most generous but closes this year. If your property is rated D, E, F, or G, there is money available now.
EPC Grants for Landlords: What's Available in 2026
| Scheme | Maximum Funding | Deadline | Means-Tested? | Available To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECO4 | Up to £14,000 | 31 December 2026 | Tenant income or benefits | England, Scotland, Wales |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme | £7,500 | 31 December 2027 | No | England and Wales only |
| Warm Homes Local Grant | Up to £30,000 (first property) | March 2028 | Tenant income (£36k threshold) | England only |
| 0% VAT on energy measures | ~£2,000-3,000 typical saving | 31 March 2027 | No | England, Scotland, Wales |
All four can stack on a single property. The sequencing of which to apply for first matters.
ECO4: The Biggest Grant, But It Closes in December
ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4) pays for insulation, heating upgrades, and related measures up to £14,000 per property. It is funded by the large energy suppliers (British Gas, E.ON, EDF) who are legally required to deliver a volume of upgrades to meet government targets.
How it works for landlords: ECO4 is tenant-eligibility-gated. Your tenant must receive a qualifying benefit (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Tax Credits, Housing Benefit, or income-based JSA/ESA/Income Support), or you can access it via LA Flex, where your local council refers properties in lower-income areas regardless of individual tenant benefits.
The December 2026 deadline is firm. The government confirmed the extension from the original March 2026 close date, but the scheme ends 31 December 2026 with no further extension planned. The Warm Homes Plan takes over from 2027 but is not yet a direct replacement. If your property qualifies, the window to act is now.
What ECO4 typically covers:
- Loft insulation and cavity wall insulation (most common)
- Solid wall insulation (external or internal)
- Storage heater upgrades
- First-time central heating in off-gas properties
For a detailed breakdown of ECO4 eligibility and the LA Flex route, see our ECO4 grants guide for landlords.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 With No Means Test
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) pays £7,500 toward an air source heat pump, ground source heat pump, or biomass boiler. It is open to landlords directly with no tenant income requirement. The property must be in England or Wales.
Key points:
- You apply through an MCS-accredited installer, not through the government directly
- The installer claims the voucher; you pay the net cost after the grant is applied
- The property must have loft and cavity insulation in place where present (address insulation gaps before applying)
- The grant can be combined with the 0% VAT relief on installation
BUS runs to December 2027. There is no urgency comparable to ECO4, but installer availability is tight and vouchers can expire if installation is delayed. Booking early matters.
Full scheme details: Boiler Upgrade Scheme for landlords.
Warm Homes Local Grant: Up to £30,000 for First Rental Property
The Warm Homes Local Grant replaced the Home Upgrade Grant and runs to March 2028 (gov.uk/apply-warm-homes-local-grant). It is administered by local councils and covers a wider package than BUS: insulation, low-carbon heating, and solar.
Amounts (England only):
- First rental property: up to £30,000 total (up to £15,000 toward energy efficiency measures, up to £15,000 toward low-carbon heating)
- Subsequent rental properties: up to £15,000
Eligibility: Your tenant's household income must be £36,000 or below, or the property must be in a designated low-income area. Properties with EPC ratings D, E, F, or G are eligible.
Landlord conditions: You must sign a declaration that you will not raise rent as a direct result of the grant-funded improvements. Check your council's specific terms before signing; some include post-scheme conditions on the property.
How to apply: Contact your local council's energy efficiency team. The council contacts applicants within 10 working days. Availability varies: some councils have exhausted their round-1 allocation; others have capacity. A quick call confirms whether you are in scope.
Stacking Grants: What You Can Combine
Most guides skip this. You can stack multiple schemes on a single property:
- ECO4 then BUS: A property that gets insulation via ECO4 is better placed for a heat pump via BUS. ECO4 removes the insulation barrier that would otherwise disqualify a BUS application. This is the most common two-step route.
- BUS plus 0% VAT: The VAT saving is automatic. All energy-saving installations carry 0% VAT until March 2027, so this stacks with BUS by default.
- ECO4 and Warm Homes Local Grant: Possible in principle. Councils may assess improvement already delivered and adjust their contribution. Confirm with your council before applying for both.
- Any combination plus 0% VAT: The VAT relief stacks with everything and requires no separate application.
The most time-sensitive sequence: apply for ECO4 first if your tenant is eligible (it closes December 2026), then proceed with BUS for heating once insulation measures are in place.
The Cost Cap and How Grants Interact With It
The MEES cost cap currently sits at £10,000 (raised from £3,500 in January 2026). This is the maximum a landlord is required to spend on EPC improvements before registering a high-cost exemption.
A grant does not change the exemption threshold directly, but it does change whether you reach it. A £12,000 improvement project with a £7,500 BUS grant costs you £4,500 out of pocket, which is below the £10,000 cap. That means you cannot claim a high-cost exemption even though the full project value would have exceeded it. Run the numbers before assuming a grant removes your compliance requirement.
What to Do in the Next 30 Days
- Check ECO4 eligibility now. If your tenant is on qualifying benefits or your property is in a low-income area, this is the highest-value scheme and closes 31 December 2026. Use the grant eligibility checker or contact a local ECO4 installer directly.
- Book a BUS-accredited installer. Even if you are not ready to proceed, getting on an installer's waitlist now avoids delays. The scheme runs to 2027 but installation lead times can run to six months.
- Contact your council for the Warm Homes Local Grant. Availability varies. Some councils have already allocated their round-1 funding; others have capacity. A quick call confirms whether you are in scope before you spend time on the application.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can landlords get EPC grants in 2026? Yes. Three active schemes cover landlords: ECO4 (up to £14,000, closes December 2026), the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500, no means test), and the Warm Homes Local Grant (up to £30,000 for a first rental property, runs to March 2028). Eligibility depends on your property rating, tenant income, and property location.
Do landlords qualify for ECO4? Landlords can access ECO4 if their tenant receives a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Tax Credits, or Housing Benefit. Alternatively, the LA Flex route allows councils to refer properties in lower-income areas without individual benefit requirements. The scheme closes 31 December 2026.
What is the Warm Homes Local Grant for landlords? The Warm Homes Local Grant (gov.uk/apply-warm-homes-local-grant) provides up to £30,000 for a landlord's first rental property: up to £15,000 each toward energy efficiency measures and low-carbon heating. Tenants must earn £36,000 or below, or the property must be in a designated low-income area. Landlords must sign a declaration not to increase rent as a result of improvements. It runs to March 2028.
Can you stack EPC grants on the same property? Yes, in many cases. ECO4 and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can both apply to the same property for different measures: insulation via ECO4, then a heat pump via BUS. The 0% VAT relief stacks automatically with all schemes. Check with your council before combining ECO4 and the Warm Homes Local Grant, as councils may adjust their contribution based on measures already funded.
How much can a landlord get toward EPC upgrades? ECO4 covers up to £14,000, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides £7,500, and the Warm Homes Local Grant provides up to £30,000 for a first rental property. Most landlords access one scheme. ECO4 fully funds common measures such as insulation; BUS covers heat pump installation.
What happens to your grant if you sell the property? ECO4 improvements are tied to the property, not the landlord, so there is no clawback on sale. BUS vouchers must be redeemed within three months of issue; if the property sells before installation is complete, the voucher is void. The Warm Homes Local Grant has a rent-freeze declaration requirement. Check your council's specific terms for any post-scheme conditions.