Last Updated: 8 November 2026
Quick Summary
Heating grants for UK homeowners are government-backed payments towards energy-efficient heating systems, with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme the main scheme currently open alongside insulation and energy efficiency grants. Eligibility depends on your property, existing heating and using a certified installer, and you must wait for approval before any work starts.
- Check your Energy Performance Certificate first, as you cannot apply without a valid one.
- Most schemes are applied for by your installer on your behalf, not by you.
- Work started before grant approval is not funded and there is no appeal.
- Grant funding for underfloor heating is rarely standalone and usually approved as part of a package.
- Ask installers for their certification number in writing before booking any work.
Table of Contents
- Which Heating System Grants Are Open to Homeowners
- Heating Grant Eligibility: Who Qualifies and Who Does Not
- How to Apply for a Heating Grant Step by Step
- Energy Efficiency Grants for Homeowners: What Else Can Be Funded
- Which Electric Heating Systems Fit Grant-Funded Upgrades
- Finding Local Installers and Avoiding Application Mistakes
- Check Your Eligibility and Request a Free Quotation
- Frequently Asked Questions
Which Heating System Grants Are Open to Homeowners
Heating grants for UK homeowners are government-backed payments that can help with the cost of installing an energy-efficient heating system. The main scheme currently open is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, alongside the Great British Insulation Scheme and wider energy efficiency grants for homeowners delivered through local authorities and energy suppliers. Flexel has manufactured its ink-based EcoCloth and EcoFilm elements at its UK factory in Glenrothes since 1978.
The scheme most often confused with a general “heating grant” is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. It pays a grant towards a qualifying low-carbon heating installation. The Ofgem Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance sets out the current grant values and eligibility, and those figures change, so check the live page before you budget.
Three things decide whether any scheme is worth pursuing:
- Whether your property meets the insulation and heating criteria
- Whether the installer is certified under the relevant scheme
- Whether the technology you want appears on the approved list
Heating Grant Eligibility: Who Qualifies and Who Does Not
Heating grant eligibility hinges on three tests: the property, the existing heating, and the applicant. Get any one wrong and the application stalls, usually after you have already paid a survey fee.
On the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, eligibility generally requires a property that meets minimum energy efficiency standards, an existing fossil-fuel heating system being replaced, and a valid Energy Performance Certificate. The government guidance on energy efficiency requirements for homes explains the EPC rules that apply.
Who typically qualifies:
- Homeowners replacing a fossil-fuel system with an approved low-carbon alternative
- Properties with a valid EPC and no outstanding insulation recommendations
- Applicants using an installer certified under the scheme
Who usually does not:
- New-build properties, which are generally excluded
- Homes without a valid EPC
- Anyone using an uncertified installer, however good the quote looks
Watch out: a common mistake is commissioning the work before the grant is approved. On most schemes, work started before approval is not funded, and there is no appeal.
How to Apply for a Heating Grant Step by Step
Applying for heating grants follows a fixed sequence, and the order matters more than the paperwork. Skip a step and you usually have to start again.
Step 1: Check your EPC. [Time: 1-2 weeks]
Book an assessment if yours is missing or expired. You cannot apply without one.
Step 2: Confirm the scheme is open. [Time: 15 minutes]
Schemes pause when funding runs out. Check the official page on the day you apply.
Step 3: Get quotes from certified installers. [Time: 1-3 weeks]
Ask each installer to confirm their certification number in writing.
Step 4: Submit the application. [Time: 1 hour]
Most schemes are applied for by the installer on your behalf, not by you.
Step 5: Wait for approval before any work starts. [Time: varies]
Step 6: Install, then claim. [Time: varies]
The installer completes the work and submits evidence; the grant is paid to them and deducted from your bill.
Energy Efficiency Grants for Homeowners: What Else Can Be Funded
Energy efficiency grants for homeowners go well beyond heating replacements. Insulation, draught-proofing and glazing upgrades are frequently funded, and several local authorities run their own schemes on top of the national ones. The Energy Saving Trust guidance on home energy grants is the clearest starting point for what is currently available.
What is commonly fundable:
- Cavity wall and loft insulation
- Solid wall insulation on hard-to-treat properties
- Draught-proofing and heating controls
- Underfloor heating as part of a wider efficiency upgrade
That last point matters more than most guides admit. Our guide to electric underfloor heating explains how the mats are specified and where they fit.
The honest limitation: grant funding for underfloor heating is rarely standalone. It is usually approved as part of a package, so plan the whole upgrade before applying for a piece of it.
Which Electric Heating Systems Fit Grant-Funded Upgrades
Infrared panels and electric underfloor heating are the two categories most often specified, because both heat directly rather than warming air that escapes through gaps.
Infrared panels work by emitting far-infrared energy that warms surfaces and people rather than the air. Flexel’s EcoSun PC panels use our EcoCloth element, an ink-based emitter manufactured at our Glenrothes factory since 1978.
Our domestic infrared heating panels range covers domestic infrared heating panels.
If you are weighing systems for an older property, our roundup of the best heating systems for older homes sets out the trade-offs before you commit.
| System | Best for | Grant fit | Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared panels | Rooms used intermittently | Strong, as part of a package | Room-by-room |
| Electric underfloor heating | Kitchens and bathrooms | Good with insulation work | Zoned |
| Storage heaters | Off-peak households | Limited | Whole-home |
| Radiators on a wet system | Whole-house retrofit | Depends on heat source | Zoned with valves |
Finding Local Installers and Avoiding Application Mistakes
Finding local installers is the step where most applications quietly fail.
What to ask before you book anyone:
- Can you give me your certification number in writing?
- Have you completed applications under this scheme before?
- Will you handle the paperwork, or do I?
- What happens if the grant is refused after installation?
That last question separates the professionals from the order-takers. A good installer will not start work without written approval.
Three common mistakes:
- Choosing on price alone. The cheapest quote often excludes certification, which disqualifies the whole job.
- Applying for the wrong technology. Not every system on the market appears on an approved list.
- Ignoring the EPC recommendations. Outstanding insulation recommendations can block a heating application outright.
A free infrared heating design service removes most of the guesswork: a tailored layout shows what the system needs to deliver before you apply, which makes the installer conversation far shorter.
Check Your Eligibility and Request a Free Quotation
Eligibility checks take minutes; a badly planned installation takes months to unwind. Start with your EPC, confirm the scheme is open, then get a design before you get a quote.
Flexel has been manufacturing ink-based EcoCloth and EcoFilm elements at our Glenrothes factory since 1978, and its products are approved to international standards including EN 60335-2-96 and IEC 60800. We supply domestic infrared panels and electric underfloor systems.
Before you apply, read our electric heating advice and industry news for the current position on scheme changes.
A grant application is only as strong as the system specification behind it. If you are planning a heating upgrade and want a system that is straightforward to install, easy to zone and backed by a manufacturer that has been building elements in the UK for over four decades, we can help. Flexel offers a free quotation, EcoSun PC infrared panels with EcoCloth elements, and EcoFlex underfloor heating kits approved to EN 60335-2-96 and IEC 60800. Get started with Flexel and build your grant application on a specification that holds up.
To discuss your next project Contact Us to get the conversation started.
Flexel: Heating people first since 1978
Frequently Asked Questions
What heating grants are available to homeowners?
Support comes through government schemes such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Great British Insulation Scheme, plus local authority programmes like the Home Upgrade Grant and Energy Company Obligation funding delivered through suppliers. Each scheme sets its own rules on property type, existing heating and household circumstances. Because schemes open and close, check the government eligibility checker and your council’s website before assuming you qualify.
Who is eligible for help with heating improvements?
Heating grant eligibility usually depends on three things: the property, the household and the current heating system. Owner-occupiers and some private tenants qualify for certain schemes, while others target low-income households or homes off the gas grid. You will typically need a valid EPC, proof of ownership or tenancy, and evidence of income or benefits for means-tested schemes.
How do I apply for a heating grant?
Start by confirming which scheme fits your property and circumstances, then gather your EPC, proof of address, ownership documents and any benefit or income evidence. Most routes require an approved installer to survey the property and submit the application, so choose an installer registered with the relevant scheme first. Keep copies of every document and note reference numbers.
How can I check whether a heating grant is still open?
Schemes change frequently, so check the government’s official eligibility checker and your local authority’s grant page rather than relying on older articles. Ask any installer you contact which schemes they are currently approved to deliver, and confirm the funding is still available before paying for a survey. If a scheme has closed, ask about successor programmes and energy efficiency grants for homeowners delivered through suppliers, which often run on rolling deadlines.
