Warm Homes Local Grant (WHLG)

Government-Funded Energy Efficiency Improvements for Eligible Households

The Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) is a government-funded energy efficiency scheme designed to help low-income households in England improve the energy efficiency of their homes, reduce energy bills and enjoy warmer, healthier living conditions.

Launched in 2025, the scheme forms part of the UK Government’s wider Warm Homes Plan, supporting households experiencing fuel poverty and helping improve the energy performance of properties that are expensive to heat.

Through participating local authorities, eligible households may be able to access fully funded home energy efficiency improvements, including insulation, low-carbon heating systems and other measures designed to reduce household energy consumption.

At Energy Advice Portal, a Fairway Energy service, we provide free, impartial advice to help residents understand the Warm Homes: Local Grant, explore potential eligibility and identify available assistance.

Introduction to the Warm Homes: Local Grant

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is a government initiative administered through participating local authorities in England.

The scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency of privately owned and privately rented homes, particularly those occupied by households on lower incomes or experiencing fuel poverty.

Many households across England live in properties with poor insulation, inefficient heating systems or high energy costs. These challenges can place significant financial pressure on residents, particularly older people, families with young children and those with additional health or support needs.

The Warm Homes: Local Grant seeks to address these issues by funding improvements that make homes more comfortable, affordable to heat and environmentally sustainable.

Unlike schemes funded through energy supplier obligations, the Warm Homes: Local Grant is supported by government funding and delivered through local authorities and their appointed delivery partners.

Key Points

• Government-Funded Scheme: Supported by the UK Government and delivered through participating local authorities in England.
• Focus on Fuel Poverty: Designed to help low-income households living in energy-inefficient properties.
• Energy Efficiency Improvements: Funding may be available for insulation, heating upgrades and other suitable measures.
• Low-Carbon Heating: Eligible improvements may include air source heat pumps and other low-carbon technologies.
• Owner-Occupiers and Private Tenants: Both groups may qualify, although different funding conditions can apply.
• Property Eligibility: Generally targets homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G.
• Local Delivery: Availability depends on participating local authorities, funding allocations and local delivery arrangements.

Eligibility for the Warm Homes: Local Grant

Eligibility is determined by several factors, including household income, property energy efficiency and local authority requirements.

Household Income and Financial Circumstances

The scheme primarily supports households on lower incomes.

Households may qualify through an annual gross household income of £36,000 or less, receipt of qualifying means-tested benefits, or other eligible routes such as approved postcode-based criteria. Property and tenure requirements also apply.

Residents receiving certain means-tested benefits may also be eligible, while some households may qualify based on their postcode or other recognised indicators of financial vulnerability.

Eligibility is assessed in accordance with the scheme’s requirements and the relevant local authority’s delivery arrangements.

Property Energy Efficiency Rating

The Warm Homes: Local Grant generally focuses on properties with an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.

These properties typically have lower energy efficiency standards and may require more energy to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.

An EPC provides information about a property’s energy performance and recommendations for potential improvements.

If you’re unsure of your home’s EPC rating, our advisors can help explain how to find this information.

Property Ownership and Tenure

The scheme is primarily available to eligible:

• Owner-occupied households.
• Privately rented households, subject to landlord consent and applicable funding conditions.

Private landlords may be required to contribute towards the cost of improvements, depending on the number of properties involved and the relevant scheme rules.

Social housing is generally not eligible for funding through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, as separate government programmes support energy efficiency improvements within the social housing sector.

Location and Local Authority Participation

The Warm Homes: Local Grant operates in England through participating local authorities.

Funding availability, application arrangements and delivery timescales may vary depending on where you live.

Residents should check whether their local authority is participating and whether funding is currently available in their area.

Objectives of the Warm Homes: Local Grant

The scheme has several important objectives.

Tackling Fuel Poverty

One of the primary aims is to help households struggling with the cost of heating their homes.

By improving insulation and heating efficiency, the scheme seeks to reduce energy consumption and make household energy costs more manageable.

Creating Warmer, Healthier Homes

Cold and poorly insulated homes can negatively affect comfort, health and wellbeing.

The scheme aims to improve living conditions by helping households maintain warmer indoor temperatures and reduce unnecessary heat loss.

Improving Financial Wellbeing

Energy efficiency improvements can help reduce household energy expenditure over time.

This is particularly important for residents experiencing financial hardship or struggling with wider cost-of-living pressures.

Reducing Carbon Emissions

By supporting energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon heating technologies, the scheme contributes to reducing emissions from domestic properties.

Supporting Vulnerable Households

The scheme prioritises households that may be disproportionately affected by high energy costs, helping improve access to energy efficiency improvements for residents who might otherwise struggle to afford them.

What Improvements Are Available?

The Warm Homes: Local Grant can fund a range of energy efficiency measures, depending on the property’s existing condition, technical suitability and the recommendations of an assessment.

Insulation Improvements

Improving insulation can significantly reduce heat loss and help homes retain warmth.

Potential measures include:

• Loft insulation.
• Cavity wall insulation.
• Solid wall insulation.
• Underfloor insulation.
• Other suitable insulation improvements.

The measures recommended will depend on the construction and condition of the property.

Heating System Improvements

Eligible households may receive assistance with upgrading inefficient heating arrangements.

Depending on the property and scheme requirements, improvements may include:

• Air source heat pumps.
• Other eligible low-carbon heating technologies.
• Heating controls and associated improvements.

Not every heating technology is eligible, and installations must meet the relevant technical and funding requirements.

Renewable Energy Technologies

Some properties may be suitable for renewable energy installations, including solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

These systems can help households generate electricity and reduce their reliance on purchased energy.

The availability of renewable energy measures depends on property suitability, funding arrangements and the outcome of the assessment.

Whole-House Energy Efficiency

Rather than focusing on a single improvement, the scheme can support a coordinated approach to improving a home’s overall energy performance.

This may involve combining insulation, heating and renewable energy measures to achieve more effective and lasting results.

How Does the Warm Homes: Local Grant Work?

The scheme follows a structured process to identify eligible households and determine suitable improvements.

1. Initial Enquiry

Residents can enquire about the scheme through their participating local authority or relevant advice services.

An initial assessment helps establish whether the household may meet the scheme’s eligibility requirements.

2. Eligibility Assessment

Household income, property details, tenure and other relevant circumstances are reviewed to determine potential eligibility.

Supporting documentation may be required.

3. Home Energy Assessment

Where appropriate, a property assessment is arranged to identify suitable energy efficiency improvements.

This considers factors such as insulation, heating systems, property construction and existing energy performance.

4. Recommended Improvements

Following the assessment, eligible measures are identified based on the property’s requirements, technical suitability and available funding.

5. Installation of Energy Efficiency Measures

Approved improvements are undertaken by appointed delivery partners and qualified installers in accordance with the relevant scheme requirements.

6. Completion and Aftercare

Following installation, appropriate checks and documentation help ensure the improvements have been completed to the required standards.

Residents may also receive information about operating new heating systems or making the most of their energy efficiency improvements.

Benefits of the Warm Homes: Local Grant

The scheme has the potential to deliver several important benefits for eligible households.

Lower Household Energy Costs

Improved insulation and more efficient heating systems can reduce the amount of energy required to heat a property.

Actual savings depend on the measures installed, household energy usage and future energy prices.

Improved Household Comfort

Reducing heat loss can help homes maintain more consistent indoor temperatures, particularly during colder months.

Better Health and Wellbeing

Warmer, more comfortable homes can support improved living conditions, especially for residents vulnerable to the effects of cold temperatures.

Reduced Environmental Impact

Energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon technologies can help reduce household carbon emissions.

Reduced Financial Pressure

For households experiencing fuel poverty, funded improvements may help make heating costs more manageable without requiring substantial upfront expenditure.

Supporting Vulnerable Residents

At Energy Advice Portal, we recognise that accessing government-funded energy efficiency schemes can sometimes feel complicated.

Residents may be unsure about eligibility requirements, available funding or the steps involved in obtaining assistance.

Others may face additional barriers, including digital exclusion, mobility difficulties, social isolation or financial hardship.

Our experienced energy advisors provide free, personalised guidance to help households understand their options and identify relevant sources of assistance.

Through our dedicated telephone helpline and home-visiting arrangements, where available and appropriate, we aim to make energy advice accessible to residents who may otherwise struggle to access the information they need.

The Role of Local Authorities

Local authorities play a central role in delivering the Warm Homes: Local Grant.

Participating councils are responsible for administering their allocated funding and arranging delivery through approved partners.

Their responsibilities may include:

• Identifying potentially eligible households.
• Assessing applications and eligibility.
• Coordinating property assessments.
• Managing delivery partners and installation programmes.
• Monitoring project quality and compliance.
• Reporting programme outcomes.

Local delivery helps ensure funding is directed towards households and properties that meet the scheme’s requirements.

The Wider Social Impact

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is about more than improving the energy performance of individual properties.

By targeting households experiencing fuel poverty and financial hardship, the programme can contribute to wider social and community benefits.

These include improved financial wellbeing, healthier living environments, reduced energy consumption and greater access to energy efficiency improvements.

For local authorities and community organisations, the scheme also provides opportunities to engage with vulnerable residents and address some of the challenges associated with cold homes and high energy costs.

At Energy Advice Portal, we share these objectives through our commitment to accessible, community-based energy advice and practical assistance for households that need it most.

Challenges and Considerations

Although the Warm Homes: Local Grant offers valuable opportunities, several factors can affect access to funding.

Funding Availability: Local authorities operate within allocated budgets, meaning funding may be limited or subject to application windows.

Eligibility Requirements: Not every household or property will qualify, even where residents are experiencing financial difficulties.

Property Suitability: Certain improvements may not be technically appropriate for every home.

Landlord Consent: Privately rented properties require the necessary permissions before improvements can proceed.

Installation Timescales: Assessments, approvals and installation schedules may vary depending on local delivery arrangements.

Residents should seek reliable information and avoid assuming that an initial enquiry guarantees funding or installation.

How Energy Advice Portal Can Help

Understanding energy grants and government-funded schemes can be confusing, particularly when eligibility criteria and funding arrangements vary.

At Energy Advice Portal, a Fairway Energy service, our experienced advisors provide free, impartial guidance to help residents better understand the assistance potentially available to them.

We can help you:

• Understand the Warm Homes: Local Grant and its general eligibility requirements.
• Explore whether your household may qualify for energy efficiency assistance.
• Find information about available government-funded and government-backed schemes.
• Understand your home’s energy efficiency and potential improvements.
• Identify practical ways to reduce energy consumption and manage household costs.
• Access information about other relevant energy advice and financial assistance services.

Where appropriate, we can also signpost residents towards participating local authorities and other relevant organisations.

Our aim is to make energy advice straightforward, accessible and reassuring, particularly for households experiencing fuel poverty or additional vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is an important government initiative designed to help eligible low-income households in England improve their homes, reduce energy costs and enjoy warmer, healthier living conditions.

Through government-funded insulation, low-carbon heating and other energy efficiency improvements, the scheme aims to tackle fuel poverty while supporting the transition towards more sustainable housing.

For residents living in poorly insulated or expensive-to-heat properties, the programme may provide an opportunity to access improvements that would otherwise be difficult to afford.

At Energy Advice Portal, we’re committed to helping households understand the assistance available and access reliable, impartial guidance about their energy needs.

Find Out More About the Warm Homes: Local Grant

Could your household qualify for government-funded energy efficiency improvements?

Our friendly, experienced advisors are here to help you understand the Warm Homes: Local Grant, explore potential eligibility and identify available support.

Contact Energy Advice Portal today for free, impartial energy advice.

Eligibility, funding availability and installation of measures are subject to scheme requirements, local authority participation and individual property assessments. Enquiring about the scheme does not guarantee funding or approval.