Heating Grants Portsmouth: Warmer Homes & Heat Pumps

Portsmouth City Council leads a Warm Homes: Local Grant consortium with £34.8 million of funding for councils across the South East. Locally it runs as Warmer Homes, delivered by Agility Eco.

Portsmouth at a glance

Renting: 28.6% of households rented privately and 18.0% rented from the council or a housing association in 2021. Source
How homes are heated: 75.8% of households heat with mains gas only and 11.5% with electricity only. Oil-only heating was recorded in just 32 homes, and 2.4% (2,091) had no central heating. Source
Local grant: Portsmouth City Council leads a Warm Homes: Local Grant consortium of councils across the South East with £34,807,254 of funding. The scheme runs as Warmer Homes, delivered by Agility Eco. Source
Energy ratings: About 50% of homes with an EPC in Portsmouth are rated band D or below (median score 69, band C), against 47% across England. Based on certificates lodged in the 10 years to March 2025. Source

Who can get Warmer Homes

You may qualify if your household income is £36,000 or less, you receive a means-tested benefit, or you live in a lower-income area, and your home is rated EPC D to G. Owners and private tenants can apply.

Council and housing association tenants aren't eligible. Private tenants need the landlord's permission, and landlords contribute after their first property.

The scheme is oversubscribed, so new applications go on a waiting list.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

£7,500 towards an air or ground source heat pump, or £2,500 for air-to-air. There's no income test, and your MCS installer applies. For the full eligibility rules, see our Boiler Upgrade Scheme guide.

Social housing tenants

About 18% of Portsmouth households rent from the council or a housing association. These homes are not covered by the local grant; upgrades come from the landlord's own programmes, so ask them directly about insulation or heating work.

ECO4

Energy suppliers fund ECO4, which takes referrals until the scheme ends on 31 December 2026. Its sister scheme for insulation, GBIS, stopped at the end of March 2026, so anyone offering GBIS work now is out of date.

If an installer approaches you about ECO4, check they are TrustMark registered and never pay a fee up front.

Grants and Portsmouth homes

Victorian and Edwardian terraces

Solid-walled terraces often rate D or E. Expect loft and internal wall insulation to be offered before a heat pump.

Converted houses and purpose-built flats

Flats in converted houses may need freeholder consent for external work.

1930s semis on the mainland side

Semis may qualify for cavity wall insulation and are good heat pump candidates.

Areas covered

Engineers who cover Portsmouth work across areas including Southsea, Fratton, North End, Copnor, Milton, Eastney, Hilsea, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington.

View Portsmouth on Google Maps

Questions people in Portsmouth ask

I was cold-called about a free boiler. Is it legitimate?

Genuine schemes never charge to check eligibility. Contact the council or Warmer Homes directly to confirm.

What if I don't qualify?

Portsmouth City Council's Switched On Portsmouth service gives energy advice and may know of other help.

Is there a grant for a new gas boiler in Portsmouth?

Not under Warmer Homes or the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which fund low-carbon heating and insulation rather than gas boilers. ECO4 has funded boiler replacements for some low-income households, but only until the end of 2026.

Sources

Also nearby: Heating grants in Southampton, Heating grants in Brighton, Heating grants in Bournemouth

All heating grants locations →