ECO4 ends 31 December 2026 — what replaces it
ECO4 has been extended once, to 31 December 2026, so suppliers can finish existing targets and fix faulty installs only. There are no new targets, no carry-over and no ECO5. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2026.
In England the replacement for low-income households is the Warm Homes: Local Grant — a £500m scheme delivered by councils and their appointed installers from April 2025 to March 2028, for privately owned and privately rented homes rated EPC D to G where the council is taking part. Owner-occupiers can have insulation, heating and solar fully funded. Tenants pay nothing; a landlord gets one home fully funded, then contributes 50% from the second.
One of these three routes must apply:
- Household income of £36,000 a year or less before tax; or
- Someone in the home gets one of: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance; or
- The home is in a postcode the government lists as among the most deprived (IMD deciles 1–2).
On top of one of those routes, the home must be rated EPC D to G and you must be an owner-occupier or a private tenant (with your landlord's consent — rented homes rated F or G need a registered MEES exemption). Social housing is not eligible.
Over 97% of eligible councils in England (271) are funded to deliver it, but funding and timing vary by area, and your council will usually contact you within 10 working days of a referral.
Check the Warm Homes route for your home →You can also apply directly through the government's checker on GOV.UK.
Not eligible, or paying yourself? The Boiler Upgrade Scheme takes £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump for most homeowners replacing fossil-fuel heating in England and Wales, with no income test and no EPC needed since 28 April 2026 (£9,000 for an air or ground source heat pump in oil- or LPG-heated homes with no mains gas connection, until 31 March 2027). The £150 Warm Home Discount comes off your electricity bill again this winter, and if you are buying solar, 0% VAT applies until 31 March 2027 — get a solar quote from one MCS-certified installer. Need a like-for-like gas boiler? The Warm Homes: Local Grant cannot fund new gas boilers, so outside ECO4 you would pay an installer’s quote — ask your council about any emergency heating fund.
Universal Credit Unlocks Major Energy Grants
If you receive Universal Credit, you qualify for the ECO4 scheme — one of the most generous energy efficiency programmes in the UK. Through ECO4, you can receive home improvements that are often fully funded (installers sometimes ask for a top-up). This includes insulation, boiler replacements, and even heat pumps.
Key fact: Universal Credit is a qualifying benefit for ECO4. This means you can get free insulation, a free boiler, or a free heat pump — funded by energy companies, regulated by Ofgem, and often at no cost to you — where an installer still has ECO4 funding. ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026 with no increase in targets, so capacity is limited. In England, Universal Credit also qualifies you for the Warm Homes: Local Grant (EPC D–G homes, to March 2028).
All Grants Available on Universal Credit
| Scheme | What You Get | Cost to You |
|---|---|---|
| ECO4 | Free insulation, boilers, heat pumps | £0 |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | Free insulation, heat pumps, solar (England, EPC D-G; GBIS closed 31 March 2026) | £0 |
| Warm Home Discount | £150 off electricity bill | £0 |
| Household Support Fund | Help with energy bills (via council) | £0 |
ECO4 — What You Can Get on Universal Credit
Universal Credit qualifies you for all ECO4 measures, provided your home has an EPC rating requirements of D or below. Available improvements include:
- Loft insulation — save up to £590/year on energy bills
- Cavity wall insulation — save up to £395/year
- Solid wall insulation (internal or external) — save up to £475/year
- Boiler replacement — new A-rated condensing boiler
- Air source heat pump — low-carbon heating system
- Room-in-roof insulation — for converted lofts
- Underfloor insulation — for suspended timber floors
- First-time central heating — if you've never had central heating
How to Apply for ECO4 on Universal Credit
- Check eligibility online — use our free checker (60 seconds)
- Provide your UC award letter — a recent Universal Credit statement or screenshot from your journal
- Home survey — a surveyor visits to assess your property (1-2 weeks)
- Receive recommendation — you're told which measures you qualify for
- Installation — work is carried out by TrustMark-registered installers (1-3 days)
The entire process takes 4-8 weeks from application to completion.
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
You may have read that you could also use the Great British Insulation Scheme. GBIS closed on 31 March 2026 — on Universal Credit, the Warm Homes: Local Grant is the route that replaces it. While GBIS was open, it provided free insulation through two pathways:
- Benefits pathway: if you're on Universal Credit (or other qualifying benefits)
- Council tax band pathway: if your home is in bands A-D (no benefits needed)
GBIS covered loft insulation and cavity wall insulation before it closed to new applications on 31 March 2026. It can be combined with ECO4 measures for maximum benefit.
Warm Home Discount
Universal Credit claimants may qualify for the Warm Home Discount — a £150 one-off credit applied to your electricity bill between October and March. Eligibility is based on a combination of your income, energy costs, and property characteristics. If you qualify, your energy supplier will contact you — you don't need to apply separately.
Household Support Fund
Your local council may offer additional energy bill support through the Household Support Fund. This can include one-off payments towards gas and electricity bills. Contact your council directly to find out what's available in your area — eligibility varies by council.
What Documents Do You Need?
- Universal Credit award letter — or a screenshot from your UC journal showing your current award
- Proof of address — utility bill or council tax bill
- Landlord permission — if you're a private tenant (your landlord must consent to the work)