Some UK banks and building societies offer cashback, discounts or preferential borrowing to mortgage customers making energy-efficient home improvements. Depending on the lender and the customer’s circumstances, support may be available for solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps, insulation and other eligible measures.
Offer status: Available from selected lenders
Offers, eligibility rules and reward values can change or be withdrawn. Confirm eligibility with the lender before ordering or paying for any work.
Author: William Meadows, Eco Providers | Expert contribution: Ian Cartledge, Head of Net Zero | Last reviewed: 10 August 2026
Green home rewards at a glance
- •Several UK mortgage lenders offer incentives for energy-efficient improvements.
- •Cashback of up to £2,000 may be available through certain lenders.
- •Solar PV, batteries, heat pumps and insulation are commonly supported.
- •Nationwide offers interest-free additional borrowing rather than installation cashback.
- •Customers may need to register before work starts and retain invoices and certificates.
- •Offers are commercial incentives, not government grants, and can change.
What are green home rewards?
Green home rewards are incentives offered by banks and building societies to encourage customers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. They may provide cashback after installation, a supplier discount, interest-free additional borrowing, a preferential mortgage rate or a free Energy Performance Certificate.
The lender does not normally arrange or guarantee the quality of the installation. Homeowners remain responsible for selecting a suitable installer and ensuring the proposed system is appropriate for their property.
Which banks currently offer green-home support?
The offers are not directly comparable. A cashback payment reduces the final cost, whereas additional borrowing must still be repaid.
| Provider | Type of support | Published headline offer | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barclays | Cashback | Up to £2,000 | Solar, heat pumps, insulation and other qualifying measures |
| Halifax | Cashback and free EPC | £2,000 heat pump; £1,000 solar or fixed battery; £500 other measures | Heat pumps, solar, batteries and selected improvements |
| Lloyds | Cashback and free EPC | £2,000 heat pump; £500 other eligible measures | Heat pumps, solar, insulation and other measures |
| Virgin Money | Cashback | £250 | Qualifying energy-efficiency improvements |
| Nationwide | Interest-free additional borrowing | Up to £20,000 at 0%, subject to eligibility and availability | Solar, heat pumps, insulation, windows and EV charging |
| Santander | Partner discount | 5% off through Octopus Energy | Solar panels, batteries and air-source heat pumps |
| Lloyds International | Cashback linked to eligible borrowing | 5% of eligible costs, up to £1,000 | Solar, batteries and heat pumps in the Crown Dependencies |
Barclays Greener Home Reward
The Barclays Greener Home Reward supports eligible residential mortgage customers completing approved energy-saving improvements. Reward values vary by improvement. Customers should check eligibility, the applicable reward and required installer standards before committing to work.
Halifax Green Living Reward
Qualifying Halifax mortgage customers may claim £2,000 for a heat pump, £1,000 for rooftop solar panels or a non-portable battery, or £500 for other qualifying improvements. A free optional EPC may also be available following an approved claim.
Lloyds Eco Home Reward
The Lloyds Eco Home Reward currently advertises £2,000 cashback for an eligible heat-pump installation and £500 for other qualifying energy-efficient improvements, plus a free EPC following an approved claim.
Virgin Money Green Reward
Virgin Money offers a one-off £250 cashback payment to qualifying existing mortgage customers. Customers generally need qualifying additional borrowing and must spend at least £2,500 on eligible improvements.
Nationwide Green Additional Borrowing
Nationwide’s offer is borrowing rather than cashback. Eligible existing mortgage customers may apply to borrow up to £20,000 interest-free for approved improvements, subject to availability, affordability checks and lending conditions. It cannot normally reimburse completed work.
Santander green-home discount
Santander offers eligible mortgage and personal current-account customers a 5% discount on solar panels, battery storage and air-source heat pumps supplied through Octopus Energy. The discount does not generally apply when choosing another installer.
Support for Jersey homeowners
Lloyds International’s Crown Dependencies Home Booster Loan may provide cashback worth 5% of eligible improvement costs, up to £1,000. Eligible measures include solar PV, battery storage, solar thermal and heat pumps, subject to lending and residency criteria.
Considering a home-energy improvement?
Speak to Eco Providers about whether solar panels, battery storage or a heat pump may suit your property. Confirm any lender reward separately before ordering.
Cashback, discount or loan?
Cashback
The customer completes an eligible installation, submits evidence and receives the stated reward if the claim is approved.
Supplier discount
The customer receives a reduction by using the lender’s selected installation partner. It may not apply with another installer.
Interest-free borrowing
The lender provides additional borrowing. The capital must still be repaid and affordability checks apply.
Who may qualify?
Eligibility differs between lenders, but common requirements include:
- Holding a qualifying residential mortgage
- Living in the mortgaged property as the owner-occupier
- Completing a mortgage, product switch or additional borrowing within a stated period
- Registering before work begins
- Using an appropriately accredited installer
- Submitting invoices and certificates before the claim deadline
Buy-to-let properties, completed installations and retrospective applications may be excluded.
How would the process work?
- Check the lender’s offer. Confirm the scheme is available and the mortgage and property qualify.
- Register before starting work. Some lenders require registration before an order, deposit or installation.
- Choose an eligible improvement. Check the proposed measure appears on the lender’s approved list.
- Check installer requirements. MCS certification, TrustMark registration or another standard may be required.
- Complete the installation. Retain the final invoice, proof of payment, certificates and warranties.
- Submit the claim. Apply through the lender’s portal within the specified claim window.
- Receive the reward. Cashback is paid only after the lender verifies and approves the claim.
What should homeowners check?
- • Whether they qualify and must register before installation
- • The exact reward for the proposed measure
- • Minimum-spend and installer-accreditation requirements
- • Installation and claim deadlines
- • Whether finance or additional borrowing is involved
- • Which invoices, certificates and evidence will be required
A lender reward should not determine whether a technology is suitable for the property. Suitability, expected performance, installation quality and total cost remain more important than the cashback alone.
A view from Eco Providers
“Green-home rewards can make solar panels, battery storage and low-carbon heating more accessible, but homeowners should confirm their eligibility before ordering. The right system must still be designed around the property, its energy use and the customer’s long-term goals.”
Ian Cartledge
Head of Net Zero
Frequently asked questions
Are these government grants?
No. They are commercial offers from banks and building societies. Government support may be available separately.
Can I claim after the work has been completed?
Not necessarily. Some schemes require registration before work begins and do not accept retrospective applications.
Can I use Eco Providers for the installation?
Potentially, where the lender permits customers to select an installer and Eco Providers meets the applicable accreditation requirements. Confirm this directly with the lender.
Can a reward be combined with another grant?
Sometimes, but it depends on the lender’s rules and the conditions of the other scheme. Obtain written confirmation where necessary.
Is cashback guaranteed?
No. Payment depends on satisfying all eligibility, installation, evidence and deadline requirements.
Is interest-free borrowing the same as a grant?
No. Borrowed money must be repaid even when the interest rate is 0%.
Speak to Eco Providers
Eco Providers can assess whether solar panels, battery storage or an air-source heat pump may suit your home and provide a tailored quotation. Customers remain responsible for confirming lender eligibility and completing the reward application.
Discuss your home-energy options
Tell our team about your property, current energy use and the improvements you are considering.
Official sources
- Barclays Greener Home Reward
- Halifax Green Living Reward
- Lloyds Eco Home Reward
- Virgin Money Green Reward terms
- Nationwide Green Additional Borrowing
- Santander green-home partners
- Lloyds International Home Booster Loan
Offers and published terms checked on 10 August 2026. Details remain subject to change.
Important financial information
This guide provides general information and is not financial advice. Eligibility, reward amounts, qualifying improvements and claim periods can change. ECO Providers does not guarantee that a lender will approve an application or pay a reward. Credit and mortgage borrowing are subject to the lender’s affordability assessment, eligibility rules and terms.