Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS): Free Insulation for EPC D–G Properties

What Is the Great British Insulation Scheme?

GBIS is the grant scheme most landlords haven't heard of. Unlike ECO4, it doesn't require your tenant to be on benefits. If your property is in Council Tax bands A–D and rated EPC D or below, it potentially qualifies for fully-funded insulation. No income checks on the tenant. No means testing. Just property characteristics.

This makes GBIS particularly valuable for landlords. You do not need your tenant to be on benefits. If the property is in Council Tax bands A–D and has an EPC of D or below, it is potentially eligible for fully-funded insulation.

GBIS vs ECO4: What’s the Difference?

The two schemes serve different purposes and have different eligibility rules:

ECO4 funds a wide range of measures (insulation, heating, controls) but requires the tenant to be on qualifying benefits or referred through LA Flex. It targets fuel poverty specifically.

GBIS funds insulation measures only (no heating, no boilers) but has broader eligibility based on property characteristics rather than occupant income. It targets the least energy-efficient housing stock.

A property can potentially benefit from both schemes: GBIS for insulation, then ECO4 for heating if the tenant qualifies. Stacking schemes in this way can fund a comprehensive upgrade at zero cost.

What’s Covered

GBIS funds insulation measures for properties rated EPC D or below in Council Tax bands A–D:

• Cavity wall insulation (the most commonly delivered measure — typically £1,200–2,500 if self-funded)
• Loft insulation (£600–1,200)
• Internal or external solid wall insulation (£8,000–22,000 — significant cost saving)
• Underfloor insulation (£1,500–3,500)
• Flat roof insulation
• Room-in-roof insulation
• Park home insulation

GBIS does not cover heating, boilers, heat pumps, glazing, draught-proofing, or solar panels. For these, ECO4 or the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) are the relevant funding routes.

Eligibility in Detail

The General Group (no benefit checks):

Property must be in England, Scotland, or Wales. Council Tax band A–D. EPC rating of D, E, F, or G. No income or benefit requirements for the occupant.

The Low Income Group:

Properties in any Council Tax band where the occupant receives qualifying benefits (similar to ECO4 benefits list). This extends GBIS to properties in Council Tax bands E–H that would otherwise not qualify.

For landlords, the General Group route is the most straightforward: check your property’s Council Tax band and EPC rating. If both qualify, contact an accredited installer.

How to Apply

Step 1: Check your property’s EPC rating (enter your postcode at epcfix.co.uk or check the government’s EPC register). The rating must be D, E, F, or G.

Step 2: Confirm the property’s Council Tax band (check on the VOA website). It must be A–D for the General Group route.

Step 3: Contact a GBIS-accredited installer or your energy supplier’s insulation team. Many installers offer free property assessments and handle the GBIS application.

Step 4: The installer assesses which insulation measures are appropriate and installs them. The landlord contribution is typically zero for eligible properties, though some complex installations (e.g., solid wall insulation on heritage buildings) may require a contribution.

GBIS Impact on EPC Ratings

Insulation is the most cost-effective way to improve an EPC rating. The typical SAP point gains from GBIS-funded measures:

• Loft insulation (0mm to 270mm): +8–15 SAP points
• Cavity wall insulation: +10–20 SAP points
• Solid wall insulation: +15–25 SAP points

A property rated Band E (SAP 39–54) that receives cavity wall and loft insulation through GBIS could realistically move to Band C (SAP 69–80), meeting the 2030 MEES requirement entirely through funded measures.

GBIS by Region

GBIS delivery is managed through energy suppliers and their installer networks. Coverage varies by region, with more active delivery in areas with large stocks of older housing:

Northern England (Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Newcastle) has extensive cavity wall and loft insulation delivery due to the prevalence of pre-1950s terraces and semis.

The Midlands (Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester) has strong GBIS activity, particularly for cavity wall insulation in the large inter-war housing stock.

Southern England and London tend to have more solid-wall properties, which are more expensive to insulate and therefore less commonly delivered under GBIS. If your property has solid walls, check availability carefully — funding caps may not cover the full cost.

Wales and Scotland have additional national energy efficiency programmes that can complement GBIS.

Timeline

GBIS currently runs until March 2026, but there are strong indications it will be extended or replaced. The government’s Clean Heat Market Mechanism and Warm Homes Fund consultation both reference ongoing insulation support.

However, relying on extension is a risk. If your property qualifies now, applying now guarantees access to the current scheme’s terms.

Check Your Property’s GBIS Eligibility