Warm Homes Plan 2026:
The Complete Yorkshire Guide

The Warm Homes Plan is the Labour government's flagship energy efficiency programme, announced in 2024 as the successor to ECO4. It proposes £13.2 billion of investment over the parliament to upgrade 5 million homes with insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels. It will replace the current ECO4 scheme and is expected to launch in mid-2026. YEERS is tracking the consultation process and will register as an approved installer as soon as the scheme opens.

The Warm Homes Plan is expected to begin accepting applications in mid-2026, following the end of ECO4 in March 2026. The exact launch date depends on parliamentary legislation and DESNZ (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) consultation outcomes. The government has indicated an intention to avoid a gap between ECO4 ending and the Warm Homes Plan launching. YEERS will update this page as soon as official dates are confirmed.

The eligibility criteria for the Warm Homes Plan have not been finalised. Based on government announcements and the consultation documents, the scheme is expected to cover: households with EPC ratings of D or below (possibly extending to C); household income thresholds likely raised from ECO4's £31,000 to around £36,000; private renters and owner-occupiers; households in social housing (via a separate Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund strand). The Warm Homes Local Grant (already live) targets households earning under £36,000 with EPC D–G.

Yes, these are two separate but related schemes. The Warm Homes Local Grant is already live (launched April 2025) and provides grants of up to £15,000 per household for energy efficiency improvements including solar, insulation, and heat pumps, for households earning under £36,000 with EPC D–G. It is administered through local authorities. The Warm Homes Plan is the broader, larger successor to ECO4 that will launch mid-2026. YEERS can help you access both. If you are eligible for the Warm Homes Local Grant now, there is no benefit in waiting.

Yes. Solar PV is expected to remain a core funded measure under the Warm Homes Plan, as it was under ECO4. Solar panels are one of the most cost-effective ways to improve an EPC rating, and the government has committed to expanding solar uptake through the scheme. The exact grant values per measure are subject to the final scheme design, but indicative figures suggest solar grants may be higher than under ECO4 given the increased overall budget.

Yes, heat pumps are central to the Warm Homes Plan. The government has a target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028. Heat pumps will be covered under the Warm Homes Plan (likely with a contribution towards the cost rather than fully funded), and they are also currently eligible under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) which provides a £7,500 grant. YEERS installs Mitsubishi Ecodan and Vaillant arotherm+ heat pumps and can help you apply under whichever scheme offers the best terms.

If you are currently eligible for ECO4 (EPC D–G, income under £31,000 or qualifying benefit), we strongly recommend applying now rather than waiting. Reasons: ECO4 funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and installer slots are genuinely limited; energy bills are rising and every month without solar or insulation costs you money; the Warm Homes Plan's launch date is not guaranteed; and being on ECO4 does not prevent you from accessing additional Warm Homes Plan measures later if eligible. If you are borderline — for example, income just over £31,000 — it may be worth checking the Warm Homes Local Grant criteria or waiting for the expanded Warm Homes Plan income threshold. Contact YEERS for personalised advice.

Yes. Hull has been identified as a priority area under multiple government energy schemes due to its exceptionally high fuel poverty rate (20%) and the fact that it is one of England's most deprived local authorities. Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority has been allocated Warm Homes Local Grant funding, and Hull City Council is an active delivery partner. Areas like Bransholme, Orchard Park, East Hull, and Goole are likely to receive targeted outreach. YEERS is working with local authority partners to ensure Hull households can access funding as quickly as possible.

The Warm Homes Plan is expected to include a strand for private landlords, likely requiring them to contribute a proportion of the cost (similar to the current ECO4 landlord contribution rules). The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) legislation is also tightening — it is expected that rental properties will need to achieve EPC C by 2030, creating a strong commercial incentive for landlords to upgrade. YEERS can advise landlords in Hull and East Yorkshire on the most cost-effective route to EPC C compliance.

Several schemes are live right now in Hull and Yorkshire: ECO4 (until March 2026) for EPC D–G homes with income under £31,000 or qualifying benefits; Warm Homes Local Grant (from April 2025) for income under £36,000 with EPC D–G — up to £15,000; Boiler Upgrade Scheme — £7,500 grant towards heat pump installation; 0% VAT on all residential solar and heat pump installations until 2027; Smart Export Guarantee — ongoing payments for solar electricity exported to the grid. YEERS can check your eligibility for all applicable schemes in one call.