If you’ve ever wanted to keep your house warm and cosy whilst reducing your energy bills, you’ve probably looked into insulation schemes. Across the UK, various energy companies provide insulation for free as part of the government’s Green Scheme.
Unfortunately, this is normally only available for loft insulation and cavity walls, leaving those with solid walls out in the cold. Most homes built before 1920 – and some after – have solid walls, and they’re notoriously bad at retaining heat; in fact, energy escapes at almost twice the rate of cavity walled homes.
However, insulation can be added, and the Energy Saving Trust reports an average of £460 could be saved per year for a detached home. In this article, we’ll be looking at everything there is to know about solid wall insulation grants, giving you handy tips and tricks along the way to make sure you get the most out of the scheme.
Top 7 Things to Know About Solid Wall Insulation Grants
- Solid Wall Insulation Grants are available to help install external and internal insulation
- To qualify, you must be on certain benefits, and at least 50% of your exterior walls must be solid and uninsulated
- Not everyone eligible will receive free solid wall insulation because each energy company has a limited number of grants
- Only some energy companies are participating in the free solid wall insulation scheme. You can find a list of the companies here
- Solid wall insulation could save you up to £425 a year
- The grant may not cover the full cost of the job – you may need to contribute towards the cost of the insulation
- The final round of grants opened on 1 April 2021 and closes on 31 March 2022
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Solid Wall Insulation?
Whilst insulation is rolled out in lofts or pumped into cavity walls, if you want your solid walls insulated you’ll have to pay for some form of internal or external cladding. The latter option is the most common, with between 50mm and 100mm of insulation fitted to the outside of your home and then render or cladding is fixed over the top.
As a result, your home not only becomes more energy efficient, but it gets a little facelift too!
How Can I Get Free Solid Wall Insulation?
Though grants are not widely available for solid wall insulation, some utility companies still have to offer it under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. Introduced in 2013 as a way to replace the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) and the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), ECO funding is normally provided for cases when the cost of insulating far outweighs the potential energy savings.
ECO funding does exist, but it’s generally only awarded to people who are vulnerable or if you’re living in a low-income area. In addition, it’s relatively complicated to work out if you’re eligible for funding.
In general, your income needs to be £16,010 or less and you also need to receive specific benefits, which we will explore further in the next section.
Who is Eligible for Free Solid Wall Insulation?
In this section, we’ll be looking at who is eligible for free solid wall insulation, and the different circumstances that can warrant approval. Firstly, we’ll look at the different types of benefits and what they mean for your eligibility.
| BENEFIT | ELIGIBLE | ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Pension Credit (in addition to State Pension) | Yes | None |
| Child Tax Credit | Yes, but only if you earn £16,010 a year or less | None |
| Child Benefit | Yes, but only if you meet the income requirements based on the size of your family | If you’re a single parent, the income requirements are as follows: 1. For one child you must earn £18.500 or less a year 2. For 2 children you must earn £23,000 or less a year 3. For 3 children you must earn £27,500 or less a year 4. For 4 children you must earn £32,000 or less a yearIf you’re part of a two-parent family, the income requirements are as follows: 1. For one child, combiined income must be £25,500 or less a year |
| Working Tax Credit | Yes, but only if you earn £16,010 a year or less and you meet at least one additional requirement | In addition to receiving Working Tax Credits and earning £16,010 a year or less, you must also meet one of the following ctiteria: 1. You are over 60 2. You have a child under 16 3. you have a child under 20 in full-time education (but not at university) 4. You have Severe Disability Element 5. You have a Disabled Worker Element |
| Income Support or Universal credit | Yes, but only if you meet at least one additional requirement | In addition to receiving Income Support, you must also meet at least one of the following criteria: 1. You have a child under 16 2. You have a child under 20 in full-time education (but not at university) 3. You get Child Tax Credit including a Disability Element 4. You get a disabled child premium 5. You get a pensioner premium |
| Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance | Yes, but only if you meet one additional requirement | In addition to receiving Income Based Job Seeker’s Allowance, you must also meet one of the following criteria: 1. You have a child under 16 2. You have a child under 20 in full-time education (but not at university) 3. You get Child Tax Credit including a Disability Element 4. You get a Disabled Child Premium 5. You get a Pensioner Premium |
| Income-related Employment Support Allowances | Yes, but only if you meet one additional requirement | In addition to receiving Income-related Employmernt Support Allowance, you must also meet one of the criteria: 1. You have a Work Related Activity or Work Related Support component 2. You have a child under 16 3. You have a child under 20 in full-time education (but not at university) 4. You get Child Tax Credit including a Disability Element 5. You get a Disabled Child Premium 6. You get a Pensioner Premium |
Largely, if you receive any of the following benefits you are likely to be eligible, subject to further additional criteria as outlined in the table above:
- Pension Credit (in addition to State Pension)
- Child Tax Benefit
- Child Benefit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income Support or Universal Credit
- Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance
Next up, we’ll consider the different property criteria you may fall into, and what this means for your eligibility.
| ELIGIBLE IF OWNER OCCUPIED HOME? | YES |
|---|---|
| Eligible If Privately Rented Home? | Yes |
| Eligible If Council Home? | Yes, but only if EPC rating is E, F, or G |
This means that if you are the owner or a tenant in a privately rented home, you will be eligible. If it’s a council home you live in, the EPC rating must be E, F or G to be eligible.
I Live in a Council Home or Flat. Can I Get Free Solid Wall Insulation?
If you currently live in a council home or flat, you are eligible for free solid wall insulation if your EPC rating is E, F or G. Otherwise, you won’t qualify for the grant.
In these cases, it’s best to look into alternative methods to save money with your heating or look at other potential money-saving activities.
I’m Renting My Home. Can I Still Apply for Funding?
It is possible for homeowners who rent their homes to apply for funding and be successful in receiving a grant for solid wall insulation. In these cases, it’s more likely that the funding will be approved if the tenant applies for the scheme with the landlord’s permission, so it’s best to speak to your tenants if that is your situation to make sure this is clear before applying so that nothing holds up the process.
I’m a Pensioner. Am I Eligible for a Free Solid Wall Insulation Grant?
There are two schemes available for eligible pensioners to help with their heating bills. The first is the Affordable Warmth Scheme which gives cavity wall insulation for pensioners who receive:
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-Related ESA
- Income-Based JSA
Secondly, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Obligation (CERO) similarly offers cavity wall insulation for pensioners who are not eligible for the Affordable Warmth Scheme because they don’t receive state benefits or tax credits.
These schemes can apply to pensioners who are homeowners, tenants with private landlords, council house tenants or housing association tenants.
I Think I’m Eligible for a Grant. Will I Definitely Get Free Solid Wall Insulation?
Unfortunately, due to the high demand the scheme receives, it’s not possible for all eligible applicants to be successful in their application, regardless of their status or eligibility. Later in this article, we’ll be looking into the different routes you can take if you are either unsuccessful in applying, or simply aren’t eligible for this scheme, which will help you to save money on your heating bills in the colder months.
These cover the Warm Home Discount Scheme, Cold Winter Payment and Winter Fuel Payment.
Which Energy Companies Participate in the Energy Companies Obligation Scheme?
In 2013, the government launched the ECO scheme to help low-income citizens keep their homes warm, make their homes more energy efficient, and reduce carbon emissions.
Several companies are participating in the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) scheme:
- British Gas
- Bulb
- E (Gas and Electricity) Ltd
- E.ON Energy including Npower
- Ecotricity
- EDF Energy
- ESB Energy
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO (including SSE Energy Services
- Scottish Power
- Shell Energy (formerly First Utility and Hudson)
- So Energy
- The Co-operative Energy
- The Utility Warehouse
- Utilita Energy Ltd
For more information on the eligible suppliers and their contact details, see this page from Ofgem.
Do I Need to Apply Through My Own Energy Provider?
No, it’s not necessary to apply through your own energy provider – you can get in touch with any on the eligible list as provided by Ofgem. It may be easier to contact your own company if they are on the list, but it is largely up to you.
This gives you a good chance of finding a match with one company if you struggle to get your own supplier to award it to you, as each company will have limited grants available.
When Can I Apply for a Solid Wall Insulation Grant?
Due to high demand, it’s best to apply for a solid wall insulation grant as soon as the grant opens each year. They typically open on the 1st of April and close on the 30th of March of the following year.
It’s recommended that you apply as soon as you can, and especially take note of schemes in the off-peak seasons for heating such as spring and summer.
How Do I Apply for a Solid Wall Insulation Grant?
To begin with, you will need to send in an initial enquiry for the grant holders to look at. If successful, someone will then come out to your property to survey it to ensure it’s able to receive the grant.
How Long Does the Application Process Take?
The time period can vary due to demand and the time of year you apply, but once you are successfully admitted to the grant you should have a surveyor out to your house within a week, and the building work will take anywhere up to two weeks to complete. In any case, it’s a good idea to try to get the work done before the colder months settle in – and while heating might not be on our minds in the heat of the summer months, it’s a good time to carry out some maintenance and future-proofing of your systems to make things a little easier once the temperatures start to drop.
How Do I Know If I Have a Solid or Cavity Wall?
It’s likely that if your house was built before the 1920s, your walls are solid rather than having a cavity. There are ways to distinguish the two types from one another:
Solid walls don’t have a gap like cavity walls do, therefore there is no space to fill with cavity wall insulation, as there is no cavity.
Conversely, cavity walls have a gap between two layers of the wall – hence the term ‘cavity’ wall. This can then be filled with cavity wall insulation.
There are also visual checks you can complete to find out what kind of wall your property has. If you are in doubt, and even if you apply for funding and are accepted, you will have a building surveyor visit you to check the materials are correct for the solid wall insulation – if they’re not, there are plenty of other schemes available for cavity wall insulation if that is what you have instead.
Will I Need Planning Permission for Solid Wall Insulation?
For external wall insulation, you do not typically need planning permission to get started. This rule will only differ if you live in a conservation area, have a listed building, or live in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
I Can’t Claim Funding. What Should I Do?
If you can’t claim funding, you should contact your local council as soon as possible to see if they can help with negotiation with energy firms.
If you’re not able to claim funding via the ECO scheme, it’s imperative you contact your local council, and do so quickly. Several years ago, when funding became widely available, many local boroughs were able to coordinate with energy firms and develop their own insulation initiatives.
However, recent financial pressure means that many councils have cut back on these schemes or are abandoning them altogether. It means that it’s essential to do your research quickly or you could miss out on the opportunity of funding in just a few days.
Grants and financial support vary widely. For instance, in some boroughs, up to £5,000 has been offered to help cover solid wall insulation. In a lot of cases, this can almost completely cover the costs of installation. For example, if you have a three-bed terraced house, the average cost for externally insulating solid walls is £6,000. With the grant, it would mean you’d only have to pay £1,000 from your own pocket.
In other boroughs, councils have negotiated cheaper prices with energy firms and local installers. It means that the average cost of solid wall insulation might be several thousand pounds cheaper. In addition, finance options might be available, allowing you to increase the efficiency of your home for a small monthly fee instead of having to pay everything upfront.
Overall, though grants are not widely available, it’s worth taking the time to check with your local council to see if funding is available. If not, then utilise local contractors to get the best deal possible.
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Are There Other Ways to Reduce My Energy Bills?
If you find that you are ineligible for solid wall insulation grants or other government-funded schemes, there are a few other ways to help reduce your energy bills. Let’s take a look at them.
Cold Weather Payment
If you’re receivingspecific benefits, you can be eligible to get a payout of £25 for each seven-day period of ‘very cold weather’ between the dates of 1st of November and 31st of March.
These benefits involve:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
‘Very cold weather’ is classed as anything zero degrees celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
Winter Fuel Payment
For those born on or before 5 October 1954, a grant of £100 to £300 is available to subsidise heating bills.
This will be granted automatically if you’re eligible and receive the State Pension or another social security benefit; the terms of which you can see here.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Schemeopens for applications on 18 October 2021 and can give you £140 off your electricity bill for the 2021 to 2022 winter period.
To be eligible for this scheme, you must either receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or be a low-income homeowner and meet your energy supplier’s criteria.
Additional Resources
In this section, we’ve linked some additional resources and further reading if you would like to know more about further schemes in more detail at your own pace.
Ofgem Information on the Energy Companies Obligation
The Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) is a government-run scheme, operating in Great Britain, to tackle fuel poverty and carbon emissions.
If you want to find out more about the ECO in detail, take a look at Ofgem’s dedicated page.
Ofgem Guidance on the Energy Companies Obligation
Alongside the general information provided by ECO, you can also read the full guidance documentation. This concerns supplier administration and delivery, which is for suppliers and the supply chain, in general, to adhere to.
If you want to find out more about the ECO guidance in detail, take a look at Ofgem’s dedicated page.
Energy Savings Trust Guide to Solid Wall Insulation
This is a good page to look at and refer to for key information about solid wall insulation and what can happen. This goes through wall types, the savings, costs and financial support available, as well as other schemes that might help you to save money on your home’s heating.
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