Northern Ireland
Loft insulation grants in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland sits outside the Great Britain schemes, so much of what you read about free loft insulation does not apply here. This page is for owner-occupiers and private tenants in Northern Ireland looking for the routes that do.
Which route fits your home? A one-minute check
Five questions, no contact details. The result shows the routes your answers point to; the scheme, council or supplier makes the real decision.
Your indicative result
Indicative only, based on the published rules we read on 29 September 2026. Nothing is sent anywhere. Check your EPC band on the GOV.UK register before you apply.
The Affordable Warmth Scheme
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive runs the Affordable Warmth Scheme. It targets households at risk of fuel poverty and takes a fabric-first approach: insulation, ventilation and draught-proofing come first, heating next, then windows, with solid wall insulation last.
| Affordable Warmth rule | Detail (NIHE, read 29 September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Income | Total annual gross household income under £23,000 |
| Who can apply | Owner-occupiers, people with a life interest, and private renters |
| Who cannot | Housing Executive and housing association tenants |
| Loft standard | Installation or topping up of loft insulation to 300mm |
| Grant ceiling | Up to £7,500; up to £10,000 where solid wall insulation is needed |
| Timing | No work before written approval; completion usually expected within three months of approval |
Two features stand out for loft insulation. The first is the 300mm standard, slightly deeper than the 270mm the Energy Saving Trust gives for mineral wool. The second is that the scheme explicitly covers topping up, not only bare lofts.
How the application works
- Contact the NI Energy Advice Service. It checks whether your household meets the entry requirements and, if so, sends you the application forms.
- Gather your documents. Proof that you own or rent the home, that it is your main residence, and your household income, such as payslips, benefit letters and bank statements.
- Return the forms to your local grant office. The home is then assessed and the measures agreed.
- Wait for written approval. The Housing Executive is clear that work must not start before approval is received in writing.
- Work completed. Usually expected within three months of approval.
NISEP
The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme is funded by all Northern Ireland electricity customers through a public service obligation, and the Energy Saving Trust notes that it offers grants for loft insulation. Ask the NI Energy Advice Service which NISEP grants are currently available for your circumstances.
Why loft insulation matters more here
The Energy Saving Trust calculates Northern Ireland figures separately, with their own installation prices and fuel costs (November 2025).
| Home (Northern Ireland) | Bare loft to 270mm | Saving a year | Top-up 120 to 270mm saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached house | £1,500 | £380 | £35 |
| Semi-detached house | £1,100 | £230 | £20 |
| Mid-terrace house | £950 | £210 | £19 |
| Detached bungalow | £1,700 | £370 | £35 |
Installation costs more than in Great Britain, but so does the saving: a mid-terrace saves about £210 a year here against about £140 in the Great Britain table. Detached bungalows carry the highest cost and one of the highest savings.
Not a real household. A retired couple in a detached bungalow near Omagh, heating with oil, with a gross household income of £19,000 and about 100mm of old insulation in the loft. They meet Affordable Warmth’s income and tenure tests, and the scheme’s priority measures include topping the loft up to 300mm. Paying themselves, the EST puts a bare-loft job for a detached bungalow at about £1,700.
If you do not qualify
Paying yourself. Professionally installed insulation carries 0% VAT until 31 March 2027, then 5%; DIY materials are standard-rated. Ask the NI Energy Advice Service about NISEP before you pay. For a dry, easy-to-reach loft, the DIY guide applies in Northern Ireland as anywhere.
Northern Ireland’s rules are different enough that it is worth ignoring any page, advert or caller talking about ECO4, LA Flex or the Great British Insulation Scheme. None of them apply here.
Before you decide
I have read about ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme. Can I use them?
No. Both are Great Britain schemes administered by Ofgem. Northern Ireland has its own programmes, which is why so much online advice does not apply to you.
I rent from the Housing Executive. Can I apply?
No. The Housing Executive says Affordable Warmth is not available to Housing Executive or housing association tenants. Ask your landlord about its own improvement work.
My income is just over £23,000.
Then Affordable Warmth's income test is not met. Ask the NI Energy Advice Service about NISEP grants, and see our cost figures: the EST puts a bare semi-detached loft at about £1,100 in Northern Ireland.
Questions people ask
Is there free loft insulation in Northern Ireland?
For eligible households, yes: the Affordable Warmth Scheme funds insulation, including loft insulation to 300mm, for owner-occupiers and private renters with gross household income under £23,000, up to £7,500 per home.
Does ECO4 apply in Northern Ireland?
No. ECO4 is a Great Britain scheme administered by Ofgem. Northern Ireland's routes are the Affordable Warmth Scheme and NISEP.
How do I apply for the Affordable Warmth Scheme?
Start with the NI Energy Advice Service, which checks whether you meet the entry requirements and sends the forms. You return them with proof of ownership or tenancy, residence and income to your local grant office, and wait for written approval before any work.
What is NISEP?
The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme, funded by all Northern Ireland electricity customers through a public service obligation, which can offer grants for measures including loft insulation.
Sources we checked
- Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Affordable Warmth Scheme — read 29 September 2026
- nidirect, Energy saving grants in your area — read 29 September 2026
- Energy Saving Trust, Roof and loft insulation (last updated 8 May 2026) — read 29 September 2026
- Ofgem, Energy Company Obligation (ECO) — read 29 September 2026
Ask for loft insulation quotes or a second opinion
Tell us a little about your situation. We pass your enquiry to relevant independent firms covering your postcode; they contact you directly. There is no charge to you for this.
What happens next
- We read your enquiry and check which kind of firm can help.
- We pass it to relevant independent firms that cover your postcode.
- They contact you with questions or a quote. You compare, and decide — with no obligation to go ahead.