The grant picture for windows changed sharply in 2026, so any older advice you read about "free double glazing" is now out of date. The scheme that used to fund it for most low-income households, ECO4, closed to new applications on 31 March 2026. Help still exists, but it is more targeted, it varies by nation, and the headline figures come with real conditions attached. This guide sets out what is actually available now, who qualifies and how to apply, with no inflated promises. If a grant does not cover you, our costs hub shows what you would pay yourself.
The 2026 schemes at a glance
Funding is devolved, so the right scheme depends on which UK nation you live in. The table below summarises the main options as of 2026, with the England-wide Warm Homes: Local Grant highlighted as the current headline route for most homeowners south of the border.
| Scheme | Nations | Status | Eligibility and cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECO4 | England, Scotland, Wales | Due to end 31 March 2026 (extension consulted on; check GOV.UK) | Was income-related benefits / ECO4 Flex |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | England | Open until March 2028 | Low income, EPC band D to G; up to £30,000 |
| Home Energy Scotland | Scotland | Open, ongoing | Scottish homeowners; up to £8,000 interest-free loan |
| Warmer Homes Scotland | Scotland | Open, ongoing | Homeowners / private tenants on benefits |
| Affordable Warmth | Northern Ireland | Closing around March 2026 | NI residents earning under £23,000/yr; up to £7,500 |
| Nest (Welsh Warm Homes) | Wales | Open | Income / benefit based; glazing not guaranteed |
Highlighted row is the current England headline scheme. Always confirm details on GOV.UK before applying.
England: Warm Homes: Local Grant
With ECO4 winding down, the Warm Homes: Local Grant is the scheme most English homeowners should look at first. It is open until March 2028, delivered by local councils, and offers up to £30,000 towards energy upgrades that can include glazing. It is aimed at lower-income households living in homes rated EPC band D to G, so it targets the colder, less efficient properties where new windows make the most difference. Because it is run locally, the exact application route depends on your council.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Scotland has the most generous standing offer. Home Energy Scotland provides an interest-free loan of up to £8,000 towards windows, with grants of up to £15,000 available for broader measures, and Warmer Homes Scotland supports homeowners and private tenants on qualifying benefits with measures such as secondary glazing and insulation. In Wales, the Nest scheme is mainly about insulation and heating, and double glazing is not guaranteed under it. In Northern Ireland, the Affordable Warmth Scheme offers up to £7,500 for residents earning under £23,000 a year, but it is closing around March 2026, so move quickly if it applies to you.
Are you eligible? A quick checklist
You are more likely to qualify for help in 2026 if most of the following apply to you. None of these guarantees an award, but together they are a good signal that it is worth checking properly.
- You own your home or are a private tenant (rules vary by scheme).
- Your household is on a low income or receives qualifying benefits.
- In England, your home is rated EPC band D to G.
- Your property is poorly insulated or expensive to heat.
- You live in a nation with an open scheme (note ECO4 has closed).
- You have not already had the same measure funded.
To check your own situation against the live schemes without reading all the small print, use our grant eligibility checker, which walks you through the main conditions in a couple of minutes.
How to apply, step by step
The process is broadly the same wherever you live: find the right scheme, confirm you qualify, get your paperwork together and apply through the official channel only.
- Find your scheme. Identify the scheme for your nation, such as the Warm Homes: Local Grant in England or Home Energy Scotland in Scotland.
- Check your eligibility. Confirm you meet the income, benefit and property conditions, including the EPC band where it applies.
- Find your EPC rating. Look up your home's Energy Performance Certificate on the GOV.UK register.
- Gather evidence. Collect proof of income or qualifying benefits and your property details before you start.
- Apply through the official route. Use your local council or the named administrator on GOV.UK or the devolved government site. Never pay anyone to apply for you.
I have seen "you might be eligible for a grant" used as a closing line far too often. Treat the grant and the purchase as two separate questions. Sort your eligibility through the official channel first, and never sign for windows on the strength of a grant nobody has confirmed.
Tom Bradley, FENSA-registered installer
If it turns out you do not qualify, you are in the same position as most households, and the next step is simply to price the work fairly. Read whether double glazing is worth it for your home, and follow how to avoid being overcharged so you get a fair price with or without help.
Frequently asked questions
Only if you qualify for a grant, and only around 15% of households do. Schemes like the Warm Homes: Local Grant in England can fully fund energy upgrades including glazing for low-income households in EPC bands D to G, but there is no general scheme that gives free windows to everyone. Always confirm eligibility before assuming free windows.
ECO4 was scheduled to close to new applications on 31 March 2026, and the government then consulted on a short extension, so check GOV.UK for the current position before relying on it. It is the route that previously funded free double glazing for households on certain income-related benefits, and the Warm Homes: Local Grant now leads in England regardless.
It is the current headline England scheme, open until March 2028. It is delivered by local councils and offers up to £30,000 towards energy upgrades, which can include glazing, for lower-income households living in homes rated EPC band D to G.
Home Energy Scotland offers an interest-free loan of up to £8,000 towards windows, plus grants of up to £15,000 for broader measures. Warmer Homes Scotland supports homeowners and private tenants on qualifying benefits with measures such as secondary glazing and insulation.
In Wales, the Nest scheme focuses on insulation and heating, and double glazing is not guaranteed. In Northern Ireland, the Affordable Warmth Scheme offers up to £7,500 on energy measures for residents earning under £23,000 a year, but it is closing around March 2026, so check before applying.