⚡ Key Takeaways
- You need a qualifying benefit (Universal Credit, Pension Credit, etc.) AND an EPC rating of D-G
- Homeowners and tenants can both apply (tenants need landlord permission)
- No benefit? You may still qualify via LA Flex through your local council
- Income thresholds apply to some benefits (e.g. Child Tax Credit: under £16,480/year)
- Properties in England, Scotland, and Wales are eligible (not Northern Ireland)
You qualify for ECO4 if you receive any one of these benefits: Universal Credit, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Child Tax Credit (household income under £16,480), Working Tax Credit, or Housing Benefit — and your home has an EPC rating requirements of D, E, F, or G. According to DESNZ estimates, approximately 3.49 million households in England alone are fuel-poor and likely eligible. Households not on benefits may still qualify through Local Authority Flex (LA Flex) referrals. The average ECO4 grant value is £4,200 per household (source: Ofgem ECO4 Annual Report 2026). The scheme ends 31 December 2026.
Do You Qualify for ECO4?
You likely qualify for ECO4 if you receive certain benefits AND your home has a low EPC rating. The Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) is the UK's largest energy efficiency scheme, providing free insulation, boiler replacements, solar panels, and heating upgrades to eligible households.
Here's exactly what you need to qualify.
Requirement 1: Qualifying Benefits
You (or someone in your household) must receive at least one of these benefits:
- Universal Credit — any amount
- Pension Credit — Guarantee Credit element
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Child Tax Credit — with income below the threshold (£19,900 single/1 child, £24,800 single/2 children, £27,500 couple/1 child, £32,300 couple/2 children)
- Working Tax Credit
- Warm Home Discount — Core Group
- Child Benefit — with income below the threshold (same as Child Tax Credit)
Requirement 2: Property EPC Rating
Your home needs an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G. The scheme prioritises "worst first" — homes rated E, F, or G get priority access to funding.
Don't know your EPC? Check at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate or use our eligibility checker.
Requirement 3: Property Type
ECO4 covers most property types including:
- Houses (detached, semi-detached, terraced)
- Bungalows
- Flats and maisonettes
- Park homes (in some cases)
Both homeowners and private tenants can apply. Council tenants should contact their local authority directly.
What If You Don't Qualify on Benefits? (LA Flex)
Even without qualifying benefits, you may still be eligible through Local Authority Flex (LA Flex). Your council can refer you if:
- You're in fuel poverty (spending more than 10% of income on energy)
- You have a health condition made worse by cold living conditions
- You're on a low income but don't receive the standard qualifying benefits
- You live in a deprived area identified by your council
What Can You Get Through ECO4?
- Loft insulation (saves ~£590/year)
- Cavity wall insulation (saves ~£395/year)
- Solid wall insulation (saves ~£640/year)
- Boiler replacement (saves ~£400/year)
- First-time central heating (saves ~£900/year)
- Solar panels (saves ~£1,100/year)
- Air source heat pumps
- Underfloor insulation
How to Check Your Eligibility
Use our free eligibility checker — enter your postcode and answer a few questions. It takes 60 seconds and tells you exactly which schemes you qualify for.
⚠️ ECO4 Ends December 2026
The current ECO4 scheme closes in December 2026. Funding is allocated first-come, first-served. Check now before places run out.