The UK Government has formally launched the Warm Homes Plan, describing it as the biggest home upgrade programme in British history, with £15billion of public investment pledged to improve energy efficiency, cut household bills, and tackle energy price rises.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband say the plan significantly expands on earlier commitments and stated that millions of households could benefit from insulation, solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps over the rest of the decade.
We reveal if you're entitled to this support and how you can access it.
What is the Warm Homes Plan?
The Warm Homes Plan is the government’s flagship strategy to upgrade the UK’s housing stock and reduce long‑term energy costs.
It brings together grants, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, as well as fully funded upgrades for low‑income households, government‑backed loans for homeowners, and new standards for all new homes.
The government says the programme will:
- Deliver £15bn of public investment by 2030
- Upgrade up to 5 million homes
- Help lift up to one million families out of fuel poverty
- Cut household energy bills by hundreds of pounds a year
The announcement builds on measures already confirmed in the Budget, including an average £150 reduction in energy bills from April 2026 and the extension of the Warm Home Discount to around six million households.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “A warm home shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a basic guarantee for every family in Britain. Today’s plan marks a turning point – slashing energy costs and lifting up to a million people out of fuel poverty.”
How the funding will work: the three pillars
The government has set out three core strands of the Warm Homes Plan:
1. Direct support for low‑income households
Low‑income families and those in fuel poverty will receive fully funded home upgrades, backed by £5bn of public investment. Depending on the property, this could include:
- Free insulation upgrades
- Fully funded solar panels and batteries (average value £9,000–£12,000)
- Low‑carbon heating such as heat pumps
For social housing, upgrades may be delivered on a street‑by‑street basis, improving whole neighbourhoods at once.
2. 'An offer for everyone'
For homeowners who do not qualify for fully funded support, the plan introduces:
- Government‑backed zero and low‑interest loans for solar panels, batteries and heat pumps
- A £7,500 universal heat pump grant, continuing and expanding existing support
- The first national support offer for air‑to‑air heat pumps, which can also provide summer cooling
The government says these measures will help triple the number of homes with solar panels by 2030, driving what it describes as a “rooftop revolution”.
A government spokesperson has confirmed: “The Warm Homes Plan ensures the benefits of heat pumps, solar and batteries are available to families of every income, supported by loans and grants.”
3. New protections for renters
The plan also includes reforms aimed at renters, responding to evidence that 1.6 million children currently live in cold, damp or mouldy private rented homes.
New rules will require landlords to improve energy efficiency over time, supported by funding and transitional support. Ministers estimate this could lift around 500,000 families out of fuel poverty by the end of the decade.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “It is a scandal that millions of people do not have the security of a home that is warm, affordable and safe. This investment marks a national effort to turn the tide on fuel poverty.”
What does this mean for new homes?
The Warm Homes Plan is also closely linked to changes in building standards. The government confirmed that:
- Solar panels will be standard on new homes
- The Future Homes Standard will be implemented in early 2026, ensuring new properties are cheaper to run
Ministers said this would reverse the impact of the scrapping of the Zero Carbon Homes standard, which they claim left more than a million homes with higher running costs over the past decade.
Who is eligible and when can households apply?
Eligibility will depend on the type of support:
- Low‑income households: fully funded upgrades via local authorities and national schemes
- Social housing tenants: improvements delivered through landlords and councils
- Homeowners: access to grants for heat pumps and government‑backed loans for solar, solar batteries and insulation
- Private renters: benefit from landlord upgrades under strengthened minimum standards
Detailed application guidance and local authority delivery plans are expected to be published as the scheme rolls out through early 2026.
What happens next?
The government says the Warm Homes Plan will now move into delivery phase, with funding flowing to local authorities, social landlords and finance providers.
Adam Scorer, Chief Executive of National Energy Action, said: “People struggling in fuel poverty desperately need the Warm Homes Plan. Today’s commitment to lift a million households out of fuel poverty is a landmark moment.”
With record demand for clean energy technologies already reported and costs continuing to fall, ministers say the Warm Homes Plan is intended to make upgrades accessible not just to the poorest households, but to anyone who wants to reduce their energy bills and improve their home’s comfort over the coming years.
As the Warm Homes Plan moves into its delivery phase, households, landlords, and local authorities can begin preparing to access grants, loans and upgrades.
With funding now confirmed and support available for every type of household, the government says millions of homes will become warmer, cheaper to run, and more energy-efficient in the coming years.
Homeowners are encouraged to check eligibility and take advantage of the programme as details are rolled out locally throughout 2026.
