Warmer Homes Scheme: free energy upgrades (2026)

You need to meet all four of these:

• You own and live in the home. It must be your main residence, where you live most days of the week. You will be asked for proof of ownership, such as a mortgage statement, home insurance policy, title deeds or a solicitor’s letter.
• The home was built and occupied before 2006. That means the ESB meter was connected and the home lived in before 2006.
• You get a qualifying welfare payment (see below). SEAI checks this directly with the Department of Social Protection using your PPSN.
• The home is suitable for upgrades after a survey. Some homes may not qualify for any works.

The qualifying payments are Fuel Allowance (National Fuel Scheme), Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Carer’s Allowance if you live with the person you care for, and Jobseeker’s Allowance or Disability Allowance for over six months if you have a child under seven. The Household Benefits Package on its own does not qualify. If you only recently started getting a payment, wait 5 to 6 weeks after the first payment before applying.

An SEAI surveyor assesses your home and recommends what suits it, based on its age, size, heating and condition. You can’t pick the upgrades yourself, and not every home gets every measure. The most common are:

• Attic insulation
• Cavity, internal or external wall insulation
• Smaller measures such as lagging jackets, draught proofing and energy-efficient lighting
• Occasionally, a renewable heating system or new windows

The scheme does not install oil or gas boilers. If you have had upgrades under the scheme on or after 1 July 2018, you are usually not eligible again.