Insulation Grants in Wolverhampton & the Black Country

Free under ECO4 for eligible homesFree eligibility checkSaves around £500+/year

Insulation grants are government-backed funding schemes that pay for some or all of the cost of insulating a home, aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing fuel poverty. In Wolverhampton and the Black Country in 2026, three schemes are active. The ECO4 scheme, which runs until 31 December 2026, fully funds insulation for households that receive a qualifying benefit or qualify through their council's LA Flex route. The Warm Homes Local Grant provides up to £30,000 per household for insulation, heating and related measures, targeted at lower-income homes in EPC bands D to G. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 toward an air source heat pump and is a natural next step once a home is well insulated. Around 59% of Wolverhampton homes fall within the eligible EPC bands. Black Country Insulation checks which scheme fits your home, free of charge, and handles the full application on your behalf.

ECO4: the main free insulation scheme

The Energy Company Obligation, now in its fourth phase (ECO4), is the scheme that funds most free insulation in our area. It requires the larger energy suppliers to pay for energy efficiency improvements in lower-income and vulnerable households, and it runs until 31 December 2026. Under ECO4, eligible homes can receive cavity wall, loft, solid wall and floor insulation, often combined with heating improvements, at no cost.

There are two ways to qualify. The first is benefit-based: if you or someone living with you receives a means-tested benefit, your home is very likely eligible. Qualifying benefits include Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit and Housing Benefit. The second is the LA Flex route described below, for households without a qualifying benefit.

LA Flex: qualifying without a benefit

Local Authority Flexible Eligibility lets councils open ECO4 funding to households that need help but do not claim a qualifying benefit. Each Black Country council publishes its own Statement of Intent setting local criteria, which typically include a household income below a set threshold, a resident with a health condition made worse by living in a cold home (such as respiratory or cardiovascular conditions), or living in a recognised fuel-poverty area. City of Wolverhampton Council, Walsall Council and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council each run their own LA Flex scheme, and Telford & Wrekin Council runs a separate one outside the Black Country Consortium. We identify the right route for your address and handle the council declaration for you.

Warm Homes Local Grant: up to £30,000

The Warm Homes Local Grant is the successor to the Home Upgrade Grant and provides up to £30,000 per household toward insulation, heating and related energy measures. It targets lower-income households in properties rated EPC D to G, delivered through local authority partners across the West Midlands. Because the funding ceiling is high, this is the scheme that can cover a complete solid wall insulation project, the most expensive measure, for an eligible home. It is the highest-value grant route available and the one most worth checking if you live in an older, hard-to-heat property.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme: the heat pump next step

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays a £7,500 grant toward the cost of installing an air source heat pump, replacing a gas or oil boiler. It is not insulation funding, but it is the logical next step once a home is well insulated, because a properly insulated house needs far less heat and runs a heat pump efficiently and cheaply. Many households start with grant-funded insulation and move to a heat pump afterwards. We can advise on how the two fit together.

Are you eligible? 59% of Wolverhampton homes are

City of Wolverhampton Council reports that around 59% of local homes sit in EPC bands D to G, the bands that grant funding targets. That is a very large share of the city's housing, and similar figures apply across Walsall, Dudley and Telford. The single best way to find out whether your home qualifies, and for which scheme, is a free eligibility check. We assess your benefits status, income, property and EPC band, identify the right funding route, and complete the application paperwork on your behalf.

For a deeper read on eligibility, see our ECO4 eligibility guide and our roundup of free insulation grants in Wolverhampton.

Insulation Grants near you

We fit insulation grants across the Black Country and Telford. Choose your area for local detail and grant routes:

Frequently asked questions

Am I eligible for free insulation under ECO4?

You are likely eligible if you or someone in your household receives a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit. If you do not claim a benefit, you may still qualify through your council's LA Flex route on the basis of a low household income, a health condition affected by cold, or living in a fuel-poverty area. We check your eligibility free.

What is LA Flex?

LA Flex, or Local Authority Flexible Eligibility, is a route that lets councils extend ECO4 funding to households that do not claim a qualifying benefit but still need help. Each Black Country council, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Dudley, publishes its own Statement of Intent with its own income and health criteria. We help you apply through the right council.

When does ECO4 end?

ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026. As the deadline nears, surveyor and installer availability tightens, so we recommend booking an eligibility check and survey well in advance to secure funding before the scheme closes.