The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero first published guidance for local authorities on the Warm Homes: Local Grant on 23 September 20241. The scheme provides funding for local authorities to deliver energy performance and low carbon heating upgrades to low-income homes in England1.
The grant has been allocated £500 million as part of the Autumn Budget1. It will begin delivery in 20251. Households must be in England, be low income, have an Energy Performance Certificate between D and G, and be privately owned, whether owner occupied or privately rented1. Measures could include insulation, solar panels and an air source heat pump if suitable1. Occupants will not contribute to the cost of upgrades1.
"The Warm Homes: Local Grant will begin delivery in 2025"
The guidance states that the expression of interest window for eligible local authorities in England is now closed, and that local authorities had to apply for funding by 1 December 20241. All eligible local authorities that completed and submitted an expression of interest form by that deadline have been allocated funding1. Local authorities within the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority have received an allocation of funding as part of the government's commitment to the Warm Homes and Public Sector Decarbonisation Devolution Programme1.
On eligibility, the guidance distinguishes the Indices of Multiple Deprivation from the IMD: Income Deciles list, noting that households in IMD 1-2 will not necessarily be in Income Deciles 1-2 and vice versa1. Households outside IMD: Income Deciles 1-2 may still be eligible if local authorities have verified that they meet the requirements under eligibility pathway 2 (low income proxies) or 3 (household income threshold)1. Support is available at no cost to all participating local authorities from the Retrofit Information Support and Expertise (RISE) service1.
Why it matters for households
The grant is delivered through councils rather than directly to householders, so a home's access to it depends on whether its local authority took part and was allocated funding1. The scheme is aimed at privately owned homes, both owner occupied and privately rented, in England, with an EPC between D and G1. Because occupants do not contribute to the cost of upgrades, the measures installed under the scheme carry no household charge1. The measures named in the guidance, insulation, solar panels and an air source heat pump where suitable, are the fabric and generation upgrades that reduce a home's reliance on bought-in energy, though the guidance says upgrades should be tailored to individual homes1. The eligibility and income limits sit alongside the postcode list, and the guidance notes that households outside the listed income deciles may still qualify through the other pathways1. For households in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the grant does not apply; separate arrangements exist, including Home Energy Scotland and Warmer Homes Scotland and Nest Wales1.
What happens next
The guidance page records that the expression of interest window opened on 16 October 2024 and closed on 2 December 2024, with funding allocated to eligible authorities that applied by 1 December 20241. Delivery is stated to begin in 20251. The page has since been updated, most recently on 2 July 2026, when the scheme policy guidance was revised to reflect the publication of the Warm Homes Plan and to increase the scheme cost caps, with new and revised guidance on household and measure eligibility and clarifications on Trustmark and MCS requirements1.