If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your home’s energy system, the government’s new Warm Homes Plan might be the right moment to start.
Touted as the biggest home energy upgrade in British history, the plan aims to help millions of households cut their bills and reduce their carbon footprint. It includes support for insulation, low-carbon heating systems, solar panels, battery storage and other energy-saving improvements.
Whether you’re a homeowner wanting to take control of your energy use, or a landlord looking to meet future standards, this guide will help you understand what the Warm Homes Plan means, what to expect, and how to start preparing now.
What is the Warm Homes Plan?
The government has committed £15 billion to the Warm Homes Plan to help cut energy bills, improve energy efficiency, and lift families out of fuel poverty. It’s a long-term programme designed to improve the performance of homes across England by supporting upgrades like insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels, and battery storage.
The funding will target homes that need the most improvement, with a focus on lifting as many as one million families out of fuel poverty by 2030. It’s also part of the UK’s broader drive toward net zero, with more support for lower-carbon energy systems and better building performance.
Most of the plan is expected to roll out from 2026 onwards, but it’ll be delivered at a local level. That means your local council or regional retrofit programme will play a key role in how and when support becomes available.
Is solar included in the plan?
Yes. Solar panels and battery storage are both included in the scope of the Warm Homes Plan. While insulation and heating upgrades remain the top priority, the government recognises that solar can play a valuable role in reducing household energy bills, especially when paired with electric heating systems.
The support won’t look the same in every area. Local councils, combined authorities and housing associations will be responsible for running delivery schemes. In some places, that might include grants for solar panels. In others, it could involve part-funded packages or support for full whole-house retrofit plans that include solar as one element.
It’s also expected that the Warm Homes Plan will work alongside existing schemes like ECO4 and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, helping to unlock more funding when several measures are installed together.
What does this mean for landlords?
If you rent out property, particularly HMOs or older homes with low EPC ratings, this plan could be a turning point.
There’s growing pressure on landlords to improve energy efficiency, with the government still committed to a future where most private rentals need to reach at least an EPC C rating. Although previous proposals to enforce that standard were delayed, the direction of travel hasn’t changed.
The Warm Homes Plan offers a potential route to make those improvements more affordable. Landlords may be able to access support for upgrades like solar panels, battery systems, smart heating controls, insulation and low-carbon heating.
Ross, who runs Solar First, is a landlord himself. He knows how tricky it can be to retrofit properties while keeping them compliant, cost-effective and comfortable for tenants. That’s why we’ll always take a practical, realistic approach to what’s worth doing and how to do it well.
How will the scheme work in practice?
Most of the delivery will happen through local programmes. Councils, housing providers and retrofit partnerships will identify which homes are eligible, what types of upgrades are available, and who qualifies for help.
To access funding, you’ll usually need to work with accredited installers. The process will likely follow PAS 2035, a recognised government framework for assessing and delivering energy improvements. That means taking a “whole-house” approach, where insulation, ventilation, heating and solar are all considered together to create the right solution for each home.
This isn’t a quick fix scheme. But done properly, it’s a chance to make homes warmer, more efficient and cheaper to run for years to come.
Do I need to wait to get started?
Not at all. Even though the main rollout is expected later in 2026, it makes sense to start planning now.
We can help you understand where your property currently stands, what’s possible with solar and battery storage, and what other upgrades might improve your EPC rating. That puts you in a better position to access support when local schemes open, or to go ahead independently if the numbers already make sense.
There’s no pressure. Just honest advice from a local team that’s been delivering tidy, accredited work for years.
Why Solar First?
We’re a trusted installer covering Rutland, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire. We’ve helped homeowners, landlords and businesses make smart upgrades that reduce their bills and improve long-term energy performance.
We won’t oversell you something you don’t need. We won’t walk away the moment the system’s turned on. And we’ll always give you clear recommendations before you decide.
Whether you’re getting ready for the Warm Homes Plan or just want to explore your options, we’re here to help.
What should I do next?
If you’re interested in solar panels, battery storage or upgrading your property’s energy efficiency, let’s have a chat. We’ll walk you through what’s possible, how the Warm Homes Plan might apply to you, and whether it’s worth waiting or acting now.
