Home energy grants in Derry City and Strabane
If you live in the Derry City and Strabane council area, these are the heating and insulation schemes open to you right now. Most NI energy grants are run region-wide by the Housing Executive and the Utility Regulator rather than by councils, so the same schemes apply wherever you are — but how you access them locally differs.
Schemes open to Derry City and Strabane residents
The main NI grant for low-income owner-occupiers: free heating and insulation improvements worth up to £7,500, with nothing to repay.
A yearly pot of energy-efficiency funding, at least 80% of which is reserved for lower-income 'priority' households. Grants are first come, first served and popular schemes run waiting lists.
An automatic winter payment for people of State Pension age. From winter 2025/26 it is paid to everyone of pension age, but is recovered through tax from anyone whose individual income is over £35,000.
Automatic payments triggered when the average temperature in your area is recorded, or forecast, at 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.
Housing Executive tenants cannot use Affordable Warmth or NISEP, but the Housing Executive runs its own programme of boiler replacement, heating conversion and insulation for its properties.
Local support in Derry City and Strabane
Affordable Warmth applications from Derry City and Strabane are handled by your local Housing Executive grant office once the NI Energy Advice Service (0800 111 4455) has confirmed you appear to qualify. You don't need to go through the council.
Oil buying clubs and fuel stamps. Many NI councils and community groups run oil-buying clubs that bulk-purchase heating oil at a discount, and some operate fuel-stamp savings schemes so you can spread the cost of a fill. Check the Derry City and Strabane council website or your local advice centre for what's running in your area.
Benefits check. Make the Call (0800 232 1271) is free and NI-wide. It's the fastest way to find out whether you qualify for Pension Credit or Universal Credit — which in turn opens the door to NISEP priority funding and Cold Weather Payments.
Housing Executive tenants in Derry City and Strabane get heating and insulation upgrades through the Housing Executive's own programme rather than these grants — contact your local office.