Heating a poorly insulated home is like leaving a window open all winter. Around a quarter of a home's heat escapes through the roof. The fix is one of the cheapest, fastest home upgrades you can make, and in 2026 there are still government-backed grants that could cover much, or even all, of the cost for Devon homeowners. Here's what's available, who qualifies, and how much you stand to save.
How much can loft insulation actually save you?
Insulating your loft properly keeps heat where you want it, in your home, and the savings are real. Depending on your property, loft insulation typically cuts heating bills by somewhere between £120 and £280 a year, and for larger detached homes the saving can be considerably higher. It also works the other way in summer, helping keep upstairs rooms cooler.
Because the cost is relatively low and the saving repeats every single year, insulation is one of the few home improvements that genuinely pays for itself, and that's before you factor in any grant funding.
The grants available to Devon homeowners in 2026
Several schemes are running in 2026, each with different rules. You don't need to memorise the detail. You just need to know that one of them may well apply to you.
ECO4
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme funds energy-saving upgrades, including loft and wall insulation, and has been extended through to December 2026. It's aimed particularly at homes with a lower energy rating (EPC band E, F or G, and sometimes D) and at households receiving certain benefits. For those who qualify, it can cover a large share of the cost, and in some cases the full amount. Funding is first-come, first-served, so it's worth acting rather than waiting.
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
GBIS is broader. It offers insulation help to homes in lower council tax bands (A–D in England) and crucially does not always require you to be on benefits, so plenty of working households qualify who assume they wouldn't.
Warm Homes: Local Grant
Devon is covered by the Warm Homes: Local Grant programme, delivered locally through Energy Saving Devon. It helps lower-income households in EPC-rated D-to-G homes access fully funded improvements such as insulation, heat pumps and solar.
Grant rules and funding pots change through the year, so the smart move is to check your eligibility now rather than assume you've missed out.
Do you qualify? A quick self-check
You're more likely to be eligible if some of these apply:
- Your home has an EPC rating of D or below (or you've never had an EPC done).
- You're in a lower council tax band.
- Someone in the household receives certain benefits (for some schemes, not all).
- Your existing loft insulation is thin, patchy, or non-existent (the recommended depth is around 270mm, much more than older homes typically have).
Even if you don't tick the benefit boxes, GBIS means it's still worth checking. Many Devon households qualify for partial funding without realising.
Why insulation quality matters
A grant only helps if the work is done well. Poorly fitted insulation leaves gaps, gets compressed, or blocks ventilation and can actually cause condensation and damp in the loft. That's why it's worth using an installer who fits top-grade materials properly, ventilates the loft correctly, and gives you honest guidance on what your home actually needs, including eco-friendly options if that matters to you.
Not eligible for a grant? It's still worth doing
If you don't qualify for funding, loft insulation remains one of the best-value improvements you can make to a Devon home. The upfront cost is modest, the annual saving is ongoing, and a warmer, more efficient home is also a more comfortable and more sellable one.
Find out where you stand
At Devon Home Maintenance, we install eco-friendly home and loft insulation using top-grade materials, and we'll give you straightforward guidance on whether grant funding might apply to your property and what depth and type of insulation your loft really needs.
Want to stop heating the sky and start saving? Call us on 07391092619 or message us through the website for a free chat and quote. We're available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
Grant eligibility and funding are set by the relevant government schemes and can change; we'll always point you in the right direction.