Heating Grants Sunderland: Heat Pumps and ECO4

Sunderland has a high share of people who own their homes outright, 31.4% of households in 2021. Many are older and on fixed incomes, which can make them eligible for help that's linked to benefits or income rather than mortgage status.

Social tenants, 26.6% of households, are usually covered by their landlord's own improvement work rather than these schemes.

Sunderland at a glance

How homes are heated: 79.9% of Sunderland households heat with mains gas only and 4.8% with electricity only. 1.3% are on a heat network and 240 homes use solid fuel alone. Oil-only heating covers 144 households. Source
Tenure: 31.4% of Sunderland households owned outright in 2021. 26.6% rented from a social landlord, most of them (15.4% of all households) from a housing association rather than the council, and 14.8% rented privately. Source
Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 towards an air or ground source heat pump and £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump in England and Wales. Homes heated by oil or LPG with no mains gas get an extra £1,500 until March 2027. Source
Energy ratings: About 47% of homes with an EPC in Sunderland 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

ECO4

Energy suppliers fund insulation and heating upgrades for lower-income and vulnerable households. Ofgem says ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026, so apply soon if you think you qualify. Contact your energy supplier or an approved installer.

The Great British Insulation Scheme ended on 31 March 2026.

Warm Homes: Local Grant

This pays for insulation, heat pumps, solar panels or smart controls through councils. The home must be privately owned with an EPC rating of D to G, and household income usually £36,000 or less. Some benefits and postcodes qualify regardless of income.

Apply through GOV.UK. It depends on Sunderland City Council having funding at the time, which we couldn't confirm on an official council page.

If you rent privately, your landlord can apply on the home's behalf, but may need to pay part of the cost.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Owners and landlords can get £7,500 towards an air or ground source heat pump, or £2,500 for air-to-air. There's no income test. Read our Boiler Upgrade Scheme guide for the details.

Avoiding scams

Genuine schemes never charge to check eligibility. Hang up on cold callers asking for a fee for a free boiler.

Sunderland homes and what they need

Single-storey cottages and two-storey terraces

Solid walls often put these homes in EPC D or E, within the local grant's range. Loft and internal wall insulation are likely offers.

Interwar and post-war semis

Many are good candidates for cavity wall insulation and a heat pump with the national grant.

Newer estate homes

Most will already be EPC B or C, so the means-tested schemes won't apply, but the Boiler Upgrade Scheme does.

Areas covered

Engineers who cover Sunderland work across areas including Roker, Seaburn, Fulwell, Ashbrooke, Millfield, Hendon, Southwick, Doxford Park, Washington and Houghton-le-Spring.

View Sunderland on Google Maps

Questions people in Sunderland ask

Do I need an EPC?

For the Warm Homes: Local Grant, yes. You can find yours on GOV.UK. If you don't have one, it can be checked when you apply.

Is there a Sunderland-only boiler grant?

We didn't find one on an official page. Most help comes through the national schemes above. If someone claims to offer a council boiler grant, check it with Sunderland City Council directly before giving any details.

Sources

Also nearby: Heating grants in Newcastle, Heating grants in Middlesbrough

All heating grants locations →