Grants · Deadline Approaching

ECO4 Closes 31 December 2026 — Here's Who Still Qualifies

The ECO4 scheme can fund free insulation, heating upgrades and more for eligible households — no loan, no repayment. It closes at the end of this year and won't be replaced on the same terms. Here's exactly who qualifies.

31 Dec 2026

Scheme closes

£0

Cost if eligible

2 minutes

To check eligibility

Two routes

Benefits-based or LA Flex

Quick answer: The ECO4 scheme (Energy Company Obligation) funds free or heavily subsidised insulation, heating controls and other energy efficiency measures for eligible UK households, delivered by energy suppliers rather than the government directly. It closes on 31 December 2026, after which the successor scheme runs on different terms. If you're on a qualifying benefit, or your local council operates a flexible eligibility route for low-income households, it's worth checking before the deadline — there's no cost to check and no obligation to proceed.

What ECO4 actually is

ECO4 is the fourth phase of the Energy Company Obligation, a government-mandated scheme requiring the UK's largest energy suppliers — British Gas, E.ON, EDF, Octopus, Ovo and others — to fund energy efficiency improvements for low-income and vulnerable households. It isn't a government grant paid out of taxation; the cost is built into supplier obligations, which is why it's delivered through energy companies and their approved installers rather than a central government portal.

Measures funded under ECO4 typically include loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, first-time central heating, heating controls, and in some cases replacement heating systems including heat pumps. For most eligible households, the work is fully funded with no cost at all; in some cases there's a smaller co-payment, depending on your circumstances and the measure involved.

Who qualifies

Eligibility runs through two separate routes, and it's worth checking both before assuming you don't qualify.

Route 1 — Benefits-based

You're likely eligible if you or someone in your household receives one of the following, and your property has a lower energy efficiency rating (typically EPC band D, E, F or G):

Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit (below the income threshold)
Working Tax Credit (below the income threshold)

Route 2 — LA Flex

Don't receive a qualifying benefit? Your local council may still be able to nominate you under the Local Authority Flexible Eligibility route, which covers households that are low-income or vulnerable without meeting the standard benefits criteria — for example:

Low household income below a locally-set threshold
A member of the household with a health condition worsened by cold or damp
Living in a particularly cold or poorly insulated home

This route varies by council — not all local authorities operate it identically, so it's worth checking directly if the benefits route doesn't apply to you.

If you check and you don't qualify, don't skip the cheap wins. Turning the boiler flow temperature down and lagging a hot water cylinder still pay back in months — we put them first in the energy efficiency bundle, because they work whether or not a grant covers the rest.

Why the deadline actually matters

ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026. The Warm Homes Plan is set to take over from January 2027, but it's a different scheme with its own eligibility rules and delivery structure — not simply ECO4 continuing under a new name. If you qualify under ECO4's current criteria, applying before the deadline is the safer route rather than waiting and hoping the successor scheme covers your situation identically.

There's a practical reason to move sooner rather than later beyond the calendar date too: installer capacity tightens as any scheme approaches its close, since demand tends to spike in the final months. Checking eligibility now, even if you don't proceed immediately, gets you into the system before that crunch.

What the process actually looks like

Check eligibility (2 minutes)

A quick set of questions about your benefits status, household and property confirms whether you're likely to qualify before anyone visits your home.

Survey

An approved installer visits to assess your property and confirm which measures apply — this is normally free and carries no obligation.

Installation

Work is carried out by TrustMark or PAS-certified installers. Timescales vary by measure and demand — insulation is typically quicker than a heating system replacement.

⚠️ What to watch out for

❌ Cold callers claiming to be "from the government" — ECO4 is delivered by energy suppliers and their approved installers, not a central government office
❌ Anyone asking for payment upfront to "process your application"
❌ Pressure to sign immediately without a proper survey
❌ Installers who aren't TrustMark registered

Frequently asked questions

Does ECO4 really cost nothing?

For most eligible households, yes — the cost is fully covered. In some circumstances there may be a smaller contribution required depending on the measure and your specific situation, which your installer will confirm before any work starts.

I rent — can I still apply?

Tenants can be eligible, but landlord permission is required for most measures since the work is carried out on the property itself. Private landlords may also be asked to contribute towards costs in some cases.

What happens if I apply but the work isn't finished by 31 December 2026?

Applications submitted and accepted before the deadline are generally honoured through to completion. It's the closing date for new applications that matters most — applying earlier gives more buffer against any installer capacity issues near the deadline.

What replaces ECO4 after December 2026?

The Warm Homes Plan is set to take over from January 2027, but it operates under its own rules rather than being a direct continuation of ECO4 — eligibility and delivery may differ, so it isn't safe to assume identical qualification.

Check your ECO4 eligibility in two minutes

Free, no obligation, and it's the only way to know for certain before the scheme closes.

Check My Eligibility →

Published 12 August 2026. ECO4 is administered by Ofgem and delivered by obligated energy suppliers. Eligibility criteria, funding levels and scheme dates are subject to change — always confirm current details with your chosen installer or supplier before proceeding. This is general guidance, not a guarantee of eligibility or funding.