What help is available for home improvements?
If you need to repair, adapt or upgrade your home, several grant schemes and support services may be able to help. The exact assistance depends on your circumstances, where you live in the UK, and what work you need done. Most funding falls into two broad categories: adaptations for disabled people and energy efficiency improvements.
Be aware that many schemes are means-tested or linked to receiving certain benefits. Funding pots also open and close, so always check current availability before making plans. Your local council is often the best starting point, as it administers or can direct you to most of the help described below.
Tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application.
Try our Grant Eligibility Finder free, here on this site →Grants for disability adaptations
The Disabled Facilities Grant helps pay for essential adaptations so disabled people can live more independently at home. This is a statutory grant available through local councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland operates a separate Scheme of Assistance.
Adaptations covered can include ramps, grab rails, stairlifts, widened doorways, level-access showers, and sometimes heating or control adaptations. In certain cases, funding may stretch to an extension. Owner-occupiers, tenants and landlords with a disabled tenant can all apply.
For adults, the grant is means-tested based on income and savings. However, there is no means test when the adaptation is for a disabled child or young person under 19. Receiving a Disabled Facilities Grant does not affect your other benefits. For current eligibility rules and how to apply, visit GOV.UK or contact your council directly.
Home Improvement Agencies can help you through the application process. These local services, sometimes called Care and Repair or Staying Put, support older, disabled and vulnerable people to repair, adapt and maintain their homes. Foundations is the national body for these agencies in England. You can search for your nearest agency at findmyhia.org.uk. Wales and Scotland have their own Care and Repair networks.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Help with heating and insulation
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides upfront grants towards heat pumps and biomass boilers for homes in England and Wales. This scheme is not income-tested. An MCS-certified installer applies for and redeems the voucher on your behalf, discounting it directly from your quote. Your property will generally need a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Check the Ofgem website for current grant amounts and full eligibility.
Warm Homes: Local Grant replaced the Home Upgrade Grant in April 2025. Running until March 2028, it supports low-income households living in poorly performing privately owned homes in England. The scheme covers energy performance upgrades including insulation and solar panels, as well as low-carbon heating. Your local council assesses eligibility and delivers the programme.
ECO4, the Energy Company Obligation, provides insulation and heating upgrades for low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households across Great Britain. It operates through obligated energy suppliers rather than direct government funding. You may qualify if you receive certain benefits, or your council may refer you through its flexible eligibility route. ECO4 is winding down toward the end of 2026, with funding increasingly limited. Check with suppliers or approved installers for current availability.
The Great British Insulation Scheme, which offered free or subsidised loft and cavity wall insulation, was scheduled to end on 31 March 2026. Verify whether any availability remains before assuming you can apply.
Other council assistance and practical tips
Some councils offer discretionary home repair assistance or handyperson services for minor repairs and safety checks. Provision varies widely, so contact your council or local Home Improvement Agency to find out what exists in your area.
- Start with your council. It administers the Disabled Facilities Grant, Warm Homes: Local Grant and any local repair schemes.
- Never pay a fee to apply for these schemes. Legitimate grants do not require upfront application charges.
- Be cautious of unofficial websites. Use GOV.UK, Ofgem and your council for accurate, up to date information.
- Remember that devolution matters. Many schemes are England only or cover England and Wales only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own programmes.
Funding streams can close or change at short notice. Always verify a scheme is still accepting applications before assuming you can access it.
All my windows and doors allow cold and damp in creating mould and damage to paintwork. Also on some of the handles they no longer close. Is there anything available to help replace windows please
Our house is 120 years old and we need a new roof. We are also desperate to make our house more energy efficient. We sold 2 houses, (ours and my parents) in 2005. To release my parents from their mortgage. So there were 7of us and now 6, as my Dad passed away in March. Ideally we would like to put in solar panels and a new roof which is insulated. We have stone walls without a cavity. Please can you give us any advice if we are eligible for any green grants, conservation grants etc.
Many thanks
We are really struggling with finance
We have a leak on our roof and now Cellinig has a crack
This house built 1901
I'm a 28 year old woman living with my 2 children. Im a mum student and part time worker as and when they need me.Things haven't always been that easy through life which I dont want to go into over this as its very personal.
My child is currently going through an assessment also for a disability
When I first moved into my house I was working so I put all my money into it for decorating however since then I have had carpets lifted up off the stairs which are now dangerous through trip and fall hazards.
I have a kitchen that is full of damp also which is being ripped out however for the damp not to come back i need an extractor hood about the oven. The walls will just be plain plaster i will have to start from scratch and all my flooring will be removed.
If anyone can help please let me know
Monday 14 th a new kitchen is being fitted by the housing association meaning easier accessability however ido not have Money for the built in appliances our washer dryer has blown up and the cooker I cannot use as the kitchen is allowing a built in microwave and oven we need a large fridge freezer and also integrated dish washer please I enhanced daily living component and enhanced mobility component Personal Independance Payment and imagraid as I tried to get loans I am late in applying can you please help we have no savings cannot get a loan and are only on an Iva because I tried to keep working which failed bismally at due to my illness please can you help.
Thanks in advance ,Any advice would be appreciated,
Angela.
I have parents to look after, whom have illnessses.
Kind regards
Many thanks Rebecca
I am not sure where to apply for some help.
I have a number of disabilities that affect my daily life. I am looking for someone to help me decorate a couple of rooms in my house. I tried to do this myself but I have ended up injuring myself. I would be so grateful for some assistance. Any advice welcome ??
My daughters dad passed away suddenly last year and I thought getting her bedroom decorated would lift her mood, ana a TV on her wall.
IF at all possible for some help we would be over the moon.
Sincerely mo
We are all electric, to cut a long story short I would like to no if we could get a grant for having a biofuel system put in. As I feel the cold greatly, which in turn is making me ill and my husband is suffering from depression. Brought on by us not being able to have a form of heating other than storage heaters. Can anyone shed some light on this for me. Thank you.
I am 72 years old sold a house in good repair. Had what I thought would be enough to fix the house.
Then I moved the carpet. Found fungi growing out of the floor and the walls. I replaced the windows with a loan.
Now all my pension is tied up with the pay back.
I was hoping that the roof would last till I had paid back the loans. But it will not see this winter out.
Is there any way I can get some help to replace the roof that is made of Slate and probably is the original roof. The house is 100 years old inner terraced cottage. Single story.
Thank you in advance all advice is greatly relieved. I am in receipt of DLA. Don't know if this makes a difference.
am willing to repay if a fund out there will help us, anyone know of any it is our own house. and we are over both in our 70's
Wondering if anyone could help us find out any more info about any help we would be able to recieve to get a terrace house in Bolton up to a rentable standard. After a few bad choices we have ended up with a house which has had to be ripped apart due to previous tenants without leases wrecking the inside. We now have a damp empty shell of a house without a bathroom or kitchen. My parents have a failing business abroad and urgently need rental from the property yet cannot afford the renovation costs to get this done. We estimate it will probably be around £8000-£10,000. We have successfully applied for council tax exemption as we were being forced into a debt situation with paying council tax on an empty home but now need to get the work done ASAP as the exemption isn't for long. We are very low on cash as we are in debt with the council already after not having leases fro previous tenants and are paying backdated council tax charges. Unfortunately we have emailed Bolton at home and have heard nothing back, maybe Bolton council don't offer any grants of his sort? Also this house does predate 1900. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
She finds it very difficult to shower, we have to do it for her. We had a seat fitted to allow her to be swung over the bath which she still has to use. We wanted to know if there would be any grants/help to renovate the small bathroom so a walk in shower could be incorporated?
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