The local picture
Home energy in Cheltenham
Most homes in Cheltenham are on mains gas, but a significant minority rely on electric, oil or LPG heating. Both groups can qualify for support: boiler replacements for gas homes, and heat pump funding for homes off the grid.
That’s about 6,002 of the 57,260 homes in Cheltenham — lower than the average for the South West.
An estimated 5,197 households in Cheltenham (9.3%) are in fuel poverty — living on a lower income in a home that’s expensive to heat. That’s in line with the South West average of 9.9%.
Sources: DESNZ, Sub-national estimates of properties not connected to the gas network, 2024 data (published December 2025); DESNZ, Sub-regional fuel poverty data 2026 (2024 data), Low Income Low Energy Efficiency measure.
What’s available
Grants you could get in Cheltenham
For most homes in Cheltenham, a funded boiler replacement and better insulation make the biggest difference — but we’ll check every scheme you could qualify for.
Eligibility
Who can apply in Cheltenham?
- You own your home or rent it privately (with your landlord’s permission)
- Your heating is old, inefficient or not on mains gas — or you have no central heating
- Someone in your household receives a qualifying benefit, or your income or postcode qualifies through local criteria
- For heat pumps: you’re replacing oil, gas, LPG or electric heating (not means-tested)
Not sure? Just ask.
Rules differ between schemes, and some depend on where you live in Cheltenham. Apply online or call 0800 246 1797 and we’ll check your postcode.
FAQs
Grant questions in Cheltenham
Can I get a free boiler in Cheltenham?
Yes — homeowners and private tenants in Cheltenham can apply for government-backed funding. Eligibility usually depends on your heating system and household circumstances, such as receiving certain benefits, and in some areas your income or postcode. A quick application tells us what you could be entitled to.
How many homes in Cheltenham are off the gas grid?
Around 10.5% of homes in Cheltenham — roughly 6,002 properties — aren’t connected to the gas network, lower than the South West average of 24.2%. These homes can often get extra support, including up to £9,000 towards a heat pump where the Boiler Upgrade Scheme applies.
Can I get a heat pump grant in Cheltenham?
Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air or ground source heat pump, plus an extra £1,500 until March 2027 for homes heated by oil or LPG with no mains gas connection. It isn’t means-tested.