Free Boiler Grant FAQ

ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4) is a Great Britain government energy-efficiency scheme administered by Ofgem. It places an obligation on larger energy suppliers to support eligible homes and runs until 31 December 2026. ECO is not a guaranteed grant: suppliers decide which retrofit projects, measures and funding levels they will support after assessment.

You may be eligible where your household receives a standard listed benefit such as Universal Credit, Pension Guarantee Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-related ESA, income-based JSA, Pension Credit Savings Credit or Child Benefit (subject to the relevant income rules). Your home must also be suitable for energy-efficiency upgrades. Private tenants need landlord permission. If you do not meet a standard benefit route, ECO4 Flex may be relevant; a survey and supplier decision are still required.

Yes. Universal Credit is the most common qualifying benefit for a free boiler grant under the ECO4 scheme. If you receive Universal Credit, you automatically meet the benefit requirement. You will also need your home to have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G. If both conditions are met, you are very likely to qualify for a completely free boiler replacement.

Pension Credit Guarantee Credit is one of Ofgem's standard ECO eligibility routes, subject to the property and project assessment. Attendance Allowance, DLA and PIP alone are not listed as equivalent standard routes, although some households may be considered through ECO4 Flex where the low-income or health-based criteria apply. Eligibility does not guarantee a particular measure or installation.

Under the ECO4 scheme, your existing boiler should generally be at least 8 years old to qualify for a free replacement. However, the primary eligibility criteria are your benefit status and your home's EPC rating. If your boiler is less than 8 years old but is deemed inefficient by energy performance standards, you may still qualify. The free survey conducted by an approved installer will assess your boiler's condition and efficiency.

Private tenants can be considered for ECO4 support where the household has an eligible route, the property requires suitable improvements and the landlord gives permission before work begins. Ofgem states that a tenant needs landlord permission. Funding, measures and any contribution are determined by the supplier or delivery partner after assessment, so a boiler replacement is not guaranteed.

To qualify for a free boiler grant under the ECO4 scheme, your home typically needs an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G. Properties with ratings of E, F, or G are given the highest priority as they have the greatest potential for improvement. If your home has an EPC rating of A, B, or C, it is generally not eligible for ECO4 funding. If you don't know your EPC rating, you can check it for free on the Government's EPC register at epcregister.com.

ECO4 Flex is an alternative route for some households outside the standard benefit route. Ofgem says a household may be considered where combined gross annual income is under £31,000 or a person in the home has a severe or long-term health condition adversely affected by a cold home; local authorities, devolved administrations and suppliers may use other permitted criteria. Local processes vary and a referral does not guarantee installation.

Possibly, through ECO4 Flex. Ofgem describes routes for some households with combined gross annual income under £31,000 or with a qualifying severe or long-term health condition adversely affected by a cold home. Local authorities, devolved administrations and suppliers follow their own permitted processes, and the supplier or delivery partner decides whether to fund a suitable project after assessment.

Applying for a free boiler grant is simple and completely free. Step 1: Enter your postcode in our eligibility checker and answer a few quick questions about your benefits and property. Step 2: If you appear eligible, your details are passed to an approved ECO4 installer in your area. Step 3: The installer contacts you to arrange a free home survey to confirm eligibility and assess your property. Step 4: If approved, the installer arranges an installation date. Step 5: Your new boiler is installed at no cost to you. The entire process from application to installation typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.

The typical timeline from application to installation is 4 to 8 weeks. This includes: checking your eligibility online (a few minutes), being contacted by an approved installer (usually within 2 to 5 working days), having a free home survey (arranged within 1 to 2 weeks), receiving funding approval (1 to 2 weeks), and having your new boiler installed (usually within 1 to 2 weeks of approval). In some cases, particularly where additional assessments are required, the process may take longer.

An initial eligibility check should be free, but ECO is not a guaranteed grant. Ofgem says suppliers decide which projects and funding levels to support, and in some cases a consumer may be asked to contribute to installation costs. Ask for a written contract and a clear explanation of any proposed cost before agreeing to work. Gas-boiler work must be completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

To apply for a free boiler grant, you will typically need: proof of the qualifying benefit you receive (such as a benefit award letter or Universal Credit statement), proof of address (such as a utility bill or council tax bill), and proof of property ownership or tenancy (such as a mortgage statement or tenancy agreement). If you are a tenant, you will also need written permission from your landlord. The approved installer will guide you through exactly what is needed during the survey.

Under the ECO4 scheme, you will typically receive a modern, energy-efficient condensing combi boiler. Combi boilers are the most common type installed as they provide both central heating and hot water on demand without the need for a separate hot water cylinder. The specific brand and model will be determined by the approved installer based on your property's requirements. Common brands installed include Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Ideal, and Baxi — all of which are A-rated for energy efficiency.

Yes. New boilers installed under the ECO4 scheme come with a manufacturer's warranty, typically ranging from 2 to 10 years depending on the brand and model. Worcester Bosch boilers, for example, come with a standard 5-year warranty that can be extended to 10 years. The installation itself is also guaranteed by the approved installer. You should receive all warranty documentation at the time of installation.

Replacing an old, inefficient boiler with a modern A-rated condensing boiler can save you between £200 and £600 per year on your heating bills, depending on the size of your home and your current boiler's efficiency. Older boilers can be as little as 60% efficient, meaning 40p in every £1 you spend on gas is wasted. Modern condensing boilers are over 90% efficient. The ECO4 scheme also often includes additional heating controls, which can save a further £75 to £150 per year.

In addition to the new boiler, the ECO4 scheme typically includes new heating controls such as a programmable thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs). These controls allow you to better manage your heating and can save a further £75 to £150 per year. Depending on your property's needs, the scheme may also fund additional insulation measures such as loft insulation or cavity wall insulation to maximise the energy efficiency improvement.

The ECO4 scheme is currently scheduled to run until 31 December 2026. However, funding is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. As the scheme approaches its end date, funding becomes increasingly scarce. It is strongly recommended that eligible households apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out. The Government is expected to introduce successor programmes under the Warm Homes Plan, but these may have different eligibility criteria.

The Warm Homes Plan is the UK Government's successor to the ECO4 scheme. Announced in January 2026, it is described as 'the biggest home upgrade plan in British history' and aims to upgrade millions of UK homes to improve energy efficiency, reduce bills, and cut carbon emissions. The plan includes the Warm Homes: Local Grant, which provides funding to local authorities to help eligible households with insulation, low-carbon heating, and other energy-saving improvements. Income thresholds for the Warm Homes Local Grant are typically £36,000 per year or less.

ECO4 and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) are two different government programmes. ECO4 is means-tested and targets low-income households, providing free boiler replacements and other energy efficiency improvements at no cost to eligible households. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is available to any homeowner in England and Wales (not means-tested) and provides a grant of up to £7,500 towards the cost of installing a heat pump or biomass boiler. BUS does not cover standard gas boiler replacements.

Yes. The ECO4 scheme is available across England, Scotland, and Wales. Northern Ireland has a separate scheme called the Affordable Warmth Scheme. In Scotland, additional funding may be available through the Scottish Government's Home Energy Scotland programme. In Wales, the Welsh Government also provides additional support through the Nest scheme. Our approved installers cover all areas of England, Scotland, and Wales.

All boilers under the ECO4 scheme are installed by approved, Gas Safe registered engineers. Gas Safe registration is a legal requirement for anyone working on gas appliances in the UK. Our network of approved installers are all Gas Safe registered, fully insured, and experienced in ECO4 installations. You can verify any installer's Gas Safe registration at gassaferegister.co.uk. Never allow anyone to install a gas boiler who is not Gas Safe registered.

Attendance Allowance alone is not one of Ofgem's listed standard benefit routes for ECO4. It may still be relevant if your household receives another eligible benefit or meets an ECO4 Flex low-income or health-based route. A local referral, survey and supplier decision are required before any support is confirmed.

A private rented property may be considered where the occupier meets an ECO4 eligibility route, the property needs suitable improvements, the landlord gives permission and a supplier or delivery partner chooses to fund the project. ECO is not an automatic landlord grant and the final measures are decided after assessment.