SUSTAINABILITY

Greener home finance

Support for home energy efficiency improvements

 

What you'll discover:

  • Different ways you could pay for energy-efficient home improvements
  • How Barclays Greener Home Reward could help you make energy efficiency-related improvements
  • How you could get a lower interest rate with a Barclays Green Home Mortgage.

Could your home be more comfortable and potentially cheaper to heat? 

Many houses and flats could benefit from more efficient heating systems [PDF, 2.3MB], draught-proofing or energy-saving insulation. 

To help cover the cost, there are grants and upgrade schemes available for extra support. There are also finance options to consider, so you could find the right lending solution for you.

And if you’re thinking of buying a new build property – to live in or let out – a Barclays Green Home Mortgage could get you a lower interest rate for choosing a more energy-efficient new build home. Subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. T&Cs apply.

Here’s some information about finance options. For some parts, we’ve taken expert help from Energy Saving Trust.  

If you find a scheme that looks like it could suit your circumstances, remember to always check its website for full details and eligibility information.

Energy efficiency home improvements

If you have cash you can spare for home improvements, this could be an option.

However, before you start, check out the grants and upgrade schemes below to see if you’re eligible for support towards the costs of upgrades. You should also consider speaking to an independent financial advisor or credit broker.

If dipping into your savings isn’t something you can do, and you’re still keen to go ahead with improvements, borrowing could be an option – from borrowing more on your mortgage to a personal loan or credit card. Before exploring what type of borrowing might be suitable for your circumstances, it can be helpful to ask yourself: 

  • How much do I need to borrow?
  • When do I need it?
  • How will I pay it back?

All lending is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Terms and conditions apply to all of our products. You must be 18 or over and a resident in the UK to apply for lending with us.

Financial grants and schemes for making home energy efficiency improvements

Consider if these grants, loans and other schemes could help you improve your current home.

  • What is it? A Government scheme to help you pay for the cost of replacing your old boiler with a heat pump or biomass boiler
  • What help could I get? You could receive £7,500 towards the cost of a heat pump or £5,000 towards a biomass boiler
  • Who’s eligible? Visit the Government website for full details.

We’ve taken expert help from Energy Saving Trust in this section.

  • What is it? A scheme that requires energy companies to fund the installation of energy-efficiency measures in the homes of people who receive certain benefits and live in private housing, or who live in social housing 
  • What help could I get? You could get help with the cost of:
    • Adding insulation to your loft, walls or floor
    • Repairing or upgrading your boiler or storage heaters
    • Installing central heating for the first time
    • Possibly renewable heating or electricity generation 

We’ve taken expert help from Energy Saving Trust in this section.

  • What is it? A Government initiative, designed to complement the Energy Company Obligation. The difference is that this scheme will focus only on insulation measures and be open to more households 
  • What help could I get? You could get help with the cost of insulation, such as loft or cavity wall insulation, that could help you use less energy at home. The exact amount of help you’ll get will depend on your income 
  • Who’s eligible? Visit the Government website for more details.

We’ve taken expert help from Energy Saving Trust in this section.

 

  • What is it? Grants and interest-free loans to help you pay for a wide range of energy-efficient home improvements and renewable heating systems. For example, you could get help with the cost of wall, loft or floor insulation or installing a heat pump or solar panels.
  • What help could I get? For each type of energy-efficient improvement, there’s a maximum grant or loan amount available. For example, you could get a maximum grant of up to 75% of the cost of improvement (to a maximum of £7,500) for a heat pump, with an optional interest-free loan available to help you cover any further cost. Rural and island homes can get an extra £1,500 on top of both the clean heating and energy-efficient grants, meaning rural households can claim up to £18,000 in grant funding.
  • Who’s eligible? Visit Home Energy Scotland for more details. 

We’ve taken expert help from Energy Saving Trust in this section.

If you’re a homeowner or a tenant in Northern Ireland, you could be eligible for funding to help improve your property’s energy efficiency. 

Visit the Government website to find details on support available for low income households.

You can also visit Energy Saving Trust to learn more about current schemes.

We’ve taken expert help from Energy Saving Trust in this section.

The Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme aims to make Welsh homes warmer and more energy-efficient. It’s open to all householders in Wales, subject to income and health criteria. It can also give free, impartial advice on lowering your carbon footprint, energy tariffs and benefit entitlement.

You can visit the Nest website for more details.

We’ve taken expert help from Energy Saving Trust in this section.

Barclays Greener Home Reward

We could help you with the cost of adding solar panels, insulation or a heat pump, and more. 

With our Greener Home Reward, eligible existing Barclays residential mortgage customers can receive up to £2,000 to help make selected home energy efficiency related improvements, with no need to apply for additional borrowing. See our Greener Home Reward terms and conditions [PDF, 102KB] for the full requirements and eligibility criteria.

You could get a Barclays Green Home Mortgage

You may be able to apply if:  

  • You’re buying a new build property directly from the builder or developer
  • The property has an energy efficiency rating of A or B.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a landlord or moving home, we could give you a lower mortgage rate for buying a more energy-efficient new build home.

Find out more about Barclays Green Home mortgages. Subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. T&Cs apply.

All information provided by Government and Energy Saving Trust is up to date as of October 2024.

This article isn’t advice and is for general guidance only. Details for each scheme may change, so always check individual websites for the most up-to-date information. Always do your own research and check eligibility requirements before taking any action. We’re not responsible for the content of the websites mentioned in this article.