EPC Ratings and ECO4

Last updated: 31 May 2026

ECO4 requires an EPC rating of D or below. How to check your EPC, what the ratings mean, and how to qualify even with a higher rating.

Current status (31 May 2026): ECO4 has been extended to 31 December 2026. EPC D, E, F or G remains the normal starting point for ECO4 improvement work, but eligibility also depends on benefits, LA Flex, occupancy, property condition and installer/supplier approval. Commercial EPCs and non-domestic roofs should use business solar guidance instead.

Business or non-domestic property?

Do not use household grant rules for a business, school, charity, farm, warehouse or office roof. Route commercial enquiries through the business solar pages instead.

ECO4 Requires EPC D or Below

To qualify for ECO4 funding, your home needs an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G. This means your home is in the lower half of energy efficiency — which is actually the majority of UK homes.

What Do EPC Ratings Mean?

  • A (92-100): Extremely efficient — very rare in existing homes
  • B (81-91): Very efficient — newer builds
  • C (69-80): Average — does NOT qualify for ECO4
  • D (55-68): Below average — QUALIFIES for ECO4 ✅
  • E (39-54): Poor — QUALIFIES for ECO4 ✅
  • F (21-38): Very poor — QUALIFIES for ECO4 ✅
  • G (1-20): Extremely poor — QUALIFIES for ECO4 ✅

How to Check Your EPC Rating

You can check your EPC rating for free:

  1. Go to gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
  2. Enter your postcode
  3. Find your property in the results
  4. View your current EPC rating

If your home has never had an EPC, or the last one expired (they last 10 years), you may need a new assessment. ECO4 assessors can arrange this for free as part of the application.

What If My EPC Is C or Above?

If your home is rated C or above, you don't qualify for ECO4 under standard criteria. However:

  • GBIS is now closed to new measures; check ECO4 Flex, Warm Homes and local council routes instead
  • LA Flex — some councils allow exceptions for homes with specific deficiencies
  • Boiler Upgrade Scheme — £7,500 heat pump grant with any EPC rating

How ECO4 Improves Your EPC

ECO4 aims to improve your home to at least EPC Band C where practical. Typical improvements:

  • Loft insulation: +1-2 EPC bands
  • Cavity wall insulation: +1-2 bands
  • Solid wall insulation: +2-3 bands
  • New boiler: +1 band
  • Solar panels: +1-2 bands

Check Your Eligibility

Don't know your EPC? No problem — our checker works with just your postcode. We'll help determine your eligibility in 60 seconds.

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Common Questions

D, E, F, or G. Your home must be in the lower half of energy efficiency. Around 60% of UK homes qualify based on EPC alone.
Check free at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate. Enter your postcode and find your property. EPCs last 10 years.
Not usually through standard ECO4. GBIS is now closed to new measures, so check LA Flex, Warm Homes, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or paid solar/insulation routes instead.
Yes — ECO4 aims to bring homes up to EPC C where practical. Insulation alone can improve your rating by 1-3 bands.

Disclaimer: Great British Energy is an independent information service. We are not a government body and are not affiliated with Great British Energy (gbe.gov.uk). Grant amounts, eligibility criteria, and scheme details may change. Always verify with the relevant government department or your local authority before making financial decisions. We may receive referral fees when you use our partner installers — this doesn't affect our editorial recommendations. Content last reviewed: 31 May 2026.