The total amount of funding available for local authorities to deliver the Warm Homes: Local Grant was announced on 21 November 2024, according to the scheme's guidance for local authorities1. The scheme has been allocated £500 million as part of the Autumn Budget1. It provides funding for local authorities to deliver energy performance and low carbon heating upgrades to low-income homes in England1.
The grant will begin delivery in 2025 and is aimed at households that are in England, are low income, have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G, and are privately owned, whether owner occupied or privately rented1. Measures could include insulation, solar panels and an air source heat pump if suitable1. Upgrades should be tailored to individual homes so that the most appropriate measures are installed, and occupants will not contribute to the cost of upgrades1.
The expression of interest window for eligible local authorities in England is now closed, and local authorities had to apply for the 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.
"The total amount of funding available for local authorities to deliver the scheme has been announced."
Eligibility is set out through postcode lists and income measures. The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) combines multiple elements of deprivation, including unemployment, health and income, and the IMD: Income Decile eligible postcode list separates out the income element and shows all postcodes in Income deciles 1-21. This list is different to the IMD 1-2, and households in IMD 1-2 will not necessarily be in Income Deciles 1-2 and vice versa1. Households outside the IMD: Income Deciles 1-2 may still be eligible for support if local authorities have verified that they meet the requirements under eligibility pathway 2 (low income proxies) or 3 (household income threshold)1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total allocation | £500 million, as part of the Autumn Budget1 |
| Delivery start | 20251 |
| Application deadline for local authorities | 1 December 20241 |
| Eligible households | In England, low income, EPC D to G, privately owned (owner occupied or privately rented)1 |
| Possible measures | Insulation, solar panels, air source heat pump if suitable1 |
| Occupant contribution | None1 |
Why it matters for households
The scheme routes funding through councils rather than directly to households, so a home's access to council and local authority energy grants depends on whether its local authority took part and was allocated funding1. The measures named, including insulation, solar panels and heat pumps, are the fabric and generation upgrades that reduce a home's reliance on bought-in energy, which is the practical basis of grants, schemes and household energy independence1. Because occupants do not contribute to the cost, the grant covers the full cost of installed upgrades for eligible homes1. Eligibility is not limited to the published postcode list: households outside the IMD: Income Deciles 1-2 may still qualify where a local authority has verified they meet pathway 2 or pathway 3 requirements1. The guidance does not state how individual households apply, and no per-household funding figure has been reported1.
What happens next
Delivery of the Warm Homes: Local Grant is due to begin in 20251. Grant recipients are required to complete and submit a Delivery Assurance Check form as part of their Mid-Mobilisation Review1. Support is available at no cost to all participating local authorities from the Retrofit Information Support and Expertise (RISE) service1.