The short answer
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is a UK government-backed scheme that funds single insulation measures — including loft insulation — in homes that need them. Run through energy suppliers and overseen by Ofgem, it is broader than ECO4: as well as a Low Income Group, it has a General Group that can reach households in lower council tax bands with a lower EPC rating (typically D to G), even without means-tested benefits. It concentrates on one measure at a time rather than a whole-house package, which makes loft insulation a natural fit.
GBIS sits alongside ECO4 and was designed to widen access to basic insulation. Here is how it is structured and who it can help.
GBIS at a glance
- Overseen byOfgem
- Two groupsGeneral Group, Low Income Group
- General Group testLower EPC + lower council tax band
- FocusSingle measures (e.g. loft)
- Sits alongsideECO4
How GBIS differs from ECO4
ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme run in parallel but serve different needs. ECO4 takes a whole-house, fabric-first approach aimed at low-income and vulnerable homes, often delivering several measures to lift a property up the EPC bands. GBIS is deliberately simpler and broader: it funds single measures such as loft or cavity wall insulation and reaches a wider set of households, including some that are not on benefits.
This breadth comes from the scheme's two groups. The Low Income Group works much like ECO4, helping benefit-receiving and vulnerable households. The General Group is the wider route, opening eligibility to homes in lower council tax bands with a lower EPC rating regardless of benefit status — the part of the scheme that lets owner-occupiers and renters who would not qualify for ECO4 still get help.
Who can apply and how it is assessed
Eligibility under GBIS turns mainly on the property's energy rating and, for the General Group, its council tax band. The table shows the two routes.
| Group | Main criteria | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| General Group | Lower EPC band + lower council tax band | Households not on benefits, in less efficient homes |
| Low Income Group | Qualifying benefits / vulnerability | Lower-income and vulnerable households |
| Both | Home needs the insulation measure | Under-insulated lofts, cavities, etc. |
Indicative GBIS criteria for guidance, 2026. Council tax band thresholds differ between England, Scotland and Wales.
Getting loft insulation through GBIS
Because GBIS funds single measures, an under-insulated loft is one of the most common things it pays for. The route is to check eligibility on the official GOV.UK pages or through an energy supplier, after which an approved installer assesses the property. If the loft has little or no insulation, topping it up to the recommended 270mm is a straightforward measure the scheme can fund, either free or at a reduced cost depending on the group and circumstances.
It is worth knowing that the General Group's use of EPC and council tax band rather than benefits is what makes GBIS valuable to middle-income households who keep being told they 'earn too much' for ECO4. If your home sits in a lower council tax band and has a poor energy rating, you may be eligible even on a normal income. As with all these schemes, use official channels rather than doorstep cold-callers, and check the current rules — scheme details and budgets are reviewed periodically.
How GBIS fits with other support
GBIS does not sit alone. It was introduced to run alongside ECO4 and broaden the number of homes that could get basic insulation, so the two schemes are best thought of as complementary rather than competing. A household on a qualifying benefit might be served by either scheme's low-income route; a household on an ordinary income in a less efficient home is the kind GBIS's General Group was specifically designed to reach. When you check eligibility through the official service, the assessment effectively sorts you into the right scheme and group.
For anyone who does not qualify for grant funding at all, the fallback is still favourable: paying privately for installed insulation in Great Britain currently carries 0% VAT under the energy-saving materials relief that runs to 31 March 2027, which lowers the cost. So the overall landscape gives most households a route to a properly insulated loft — a grant for those who qualify, and VAT-relieved private installation for those who do not. Because scheme budgets and rules are reviewed from time to time, it is worth checking the current position rather than relying on older information, and always engaging through GOV.UK or a known energy supplier rather than an unsolicited approach.
Frequently asked questions
How is GBIS different from ECO4?
ECO4 delivers whole-house packages to low-income and vulnerable homes, while GBIS funds single measures like loft insulation and reaches a broader group — including households not on benefits, via its General Group based on EPC and council tax band.
Can I get GBIS help on an average income?
Possibly. The General Group uses your home's EPC rating and council tax band rather than your income, so an average-income household in a lower-band, less efficient home may qualify even without claiming benefits.
What insulation does GBIS pay for?
It funds single insulation measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation. An under-insulated loft topped up to the recommended 270mm is a common measure delivered through the scheme.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific loft. They are guidance, not a quotation.