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Learn what support may be available through ECO4 and check whether your household and property could qualify.
Check ECO4 EligibilityCurrent status: ECO4 has been extended and is currently scheduled to end on 31 December 2026. Funding availability can vary between energy suppliers, installers, local authorities and property types.
Answer a few quick questions about your property, EPC rating, and household circumstances to see if you may qualify for ECO4 support.
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ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4) is a UK government-mandated programme that requires large energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements in eligible homes. It is the fourth phase of the ECO programme, which has operated since 2013.
The scheme targets low-income, fuel-poor, and vulnerable households living in energy-inefficient properties. Its primary aim is to raise the EPC rating of qualifying homes by at least two bands, reducing energy bills and improving living conditions.
ECO4 covers a range of measures including insulation, heating system upgrades, and renewable heating installation. The specific measures available depend on what is appropriate for each property, as determined by a certified installer and the scheme rules.
ECO4 is mandated by the UK government and regulated by Ofgem. However, it is not directly funded by the government. Instead, the obligation is placed on large energy suppliers, who must fund improvements in eligible homes as a condition of their licence.
There is no central government portal where you apply for ECO4. Instead, approved installers work with energy suppliers to deliver funded measures to qualifying households. The eligibility checker on this page can help you understand whether ECO4 routes may apply to your situation.
ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026. The government has confirmed there will be no successor supplier obligation. The extension supports completion of existing targets and remediation. Checking your eligibility while the scheme remains open is worthwhile.
ECO4 improvements are funded by obligated energy suppliers as part of their regulatory obligations. Eligible households do not typically pay for the measures installed, though in some cases a small customer contribution may apply for certain measures or property types.
The costs are ultimately spread across all energy bills, as suppliers recover their ECO expenditure through general pricing. However, for qualifying households, the direct benefit of improved energy efficiency typically outweighs this contribution many times over.
ECO4 eligibility depends on a combination of household circumstances and property factors. You may be considered if:
Important: Meeting these criteria does not guarantee that an energy supplier or installer will fund the work. Suppliers have limited obligations and delivery priorities, and not all properties are suitable for all measures. Final eligibility is confirmed after a property assessment.
ECO4 targets less energy-efficient properties where improvements can make a meaningful difference:
Having a qualifying EPC rating alone does not automatically make a household eligible. The scheme also considers household circumstances, benefits status, and whether proposed measures would achieve the required EPC uplift.
The standard eligibility route requires receiving one or more of the following benefits:
Receiving a qualifying benefit does not automatically guarantee ECO4 funding. The property must also meet the EPC and technical requirements, and a supplier must agree to fund the work. If you do not receive any of these benefits, ECO4 Flex may provide an alternative route.
ECO4 Flex is an alternative eligibility route that allows participating local authorities or energy suppliers to identify households that may be fuel poor, on a low income, or vulnerable to living in a cold home — even where the standard benefits criteria do not apply.
Under ECO4 Flex, a local authority may declare a household eligible based on criteria such as:
Not all local authorities participate in ECO4 Flex, and criteria vary by area. The eligibility checker can help indicate whether Flex routes may apply to your situation.
ECO4 can fund a range of energy efficiency measures. The specific measures available for any property depend on the assessment, the required EPC uplift, and scheme rules.
Loft insulation
Where existing insulation is absent or below minimum depth
Cavity wall insulation
For properties with unfilled cavity walls suitable for injection
Solid wall insulation
Internal or external insulation for solid-walled properties
Room-in-roof insulation
Insulating converted loft spaces
Heating controls
Programmers, thermostats, TRVs and smart controls
Boiler repair or replacement
Where existing boiler is broken or condemned
First-time central heating
For properties without any central heating system
Air-source heat pumps
Renewable heating where appropriate for the property
Other whole-house measures
Additional measures contributing to EPC uplift targets
Available measures depend on what is technically appropriate for the property and what will contribute to achieving the minimum two-band EPC uplift. A single measure may not be sufficient — ECO4 often delivers packages of improvements.
ECO4 may fund boiler repair or replacement where the existing boiler is broken, condemned, or highly inefficient. However, a boiler replacement alone is not always funded — the scheme aims for a whole-house approach that achieves a minimum two-band EPC improvement.
First-time central heating may also be funded for properties that have never had a central heating system. The type of heating installed depends on what is appropriate for the property and what contributes most effectively to the EPC target.
Insulation is one of the most commonly delivered ECO4 measures because it provides lasting improvements to a home’s thermal performance. Loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, and room-in-roof insulation may all be available depending on property type and existing provision.
For more detail on insulation-specific funding, see our insulation grants UK guide.
ECO4 may fund air-source heat pumps as part of a package of improvements, particularly for off-gas properties or where a heat pump contributes significantly to the EPC uplift target. Ground-source heat pumps are less commonly delivered through ECO4 due to higher costs.
For more on heat pump funding routes, see our guides on heat pump grants UK and ground source heat pump grants.
There is no central government portal for ECO4 applications. The process is managed through approved installers and energy suppliers.
Check ECO4 EligibilityAfter completing the eligibility checker, you may choose to request contact from an approved installer who can:
You are under no obligation at any stage. The initial eligibility check is free.
Timescales vary depending on the installer, energy supplier, and complexity of the measures. The process from initial enquiry to installation can take several weeks to several months. Factors that affect timing include property survey scheduling, supplier approval queues, measure complexity, and seasonal demand. There is no fixed government timeline, and installers should not guarantee specific dates at the enquiry stage.
Private tenants may qualify for ECO4 if they meet the household eligibility criteria. However, landlord consent is normally required before any measures are installed. The tenant is typically the applicant, and the measures benefit the property for both current and future occupants.
Landlords can participate through a tenant-led application where the tenant meets ECO4 criteria. For private rented properties, the required EPC rating is generally E, F or G. Landlord contribution requirements may apply depending on the measures and supplier. Landlords benefit from improved property efficiency and potential compliance with minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES).
Be cautious of unsolicited callers who guarantee funding, demand upfront fees or pressure you into signing immediately. Verify the installer, read all paperwork and never assume that an official-looking letter confirms eligibility.
Government energy grants eligibility checker
Check all available UK energy schemes
Boiler grants UK 2026
Boiler replacement funding options
Insulation grants UK 2026
Loft, cavity and solid wall support
Heat pump grants UK
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and more
Ground source heat pump grants
GSHP funding and eligibility
ECO4 scams guide
Spot fake offers and stay safe
Energy Checker home
All tools and grant guides
EnergyChecker.co.uk provides general guidance and an initial eligibility indication only. ECO4 qualification, available measures and funding are subject to current scheme rules, supplier approval, installer assessment, property survey and funding availability. We are an independent website and do not approve or administer ECO4 applications.
ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4) is a UK government-mandated programme requiring large energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements in eligible homes. It targets low-income and vulnerable households living in energy-inefficient properties, aiming to raise EPC ratings and reduce fuel poverty.
Yes. ECO4 has been extended and is currently scheduled to run until 31 December 2026. However, funding availability can vary between energy suppliers and installers. Not all areas or property types will have active delivery at all times.
ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026. The government has confirmed there will be no successor supplier obligation. The extension supports completion of existing targets and remediation of previous installations. It does not guarantee new funding availability for all applicants.
Eligibility generally requires a combination of household circumstances (receiving qualifying benefits or meeting ECO4 Flex criteria) and property factors (a low EPC rating, typically D-G for owner-occupied homes or E-G for private rented properties). Final qualification is confirmed by a certified installer following property assessment.
Receiving qualifying benefits is one of the main eligibility routes. However, ECO4 Flex allows some households to qualify based on low income, fuel poverty, or vulnerability to cold even without receiving standard means-tested benefits. Local authority participation in Flex varies.
ECO4 Flex is a route that allows participating local authorities or energy suppliers to identify eligible households that may be fuel poor, on a low income, or vulnerable to living in a cold home, even where the standard benefits criteria do not apply. Not all local authorities participate, and criteria vary by area.
For owner-occupied properties, ECO4 generally requires an EPC rating of D, E, F or G. For private rented properties, the requirement is typically E, F or G. Having a qualifying EPC rating alone does not guarantee eligibility — household circumstances are also assessed.
Yes. Private tenants may be eligible for ECO4 support provided they meet the household criteria and their landlord gives written consent for measures to be installed. The tenant is typically the applicant.
Landlords can participate in ECO4 via a tenant-led application where the tenant meets the eligibility criteria. Some schemes may also allow landlord-led routes, though contribution requirements may apply. The property generally needs an EPC rating of E, F or G for private rented homes.
ECO4 may fund boiler replacements or repairs as part of a wider package of improvements where the existing boiler is broken, condemned, or highly inefficient. A boiler replacement alone is not always funded — the scheme aims for a minimum two-band EPC uplift, which often requires multiple measures.
Start by using the free eligibility checker on this page. If you appear eligible, an approved installer can arrange a property assessment. The installer manages the application to the energy supplier on your behalf. There is no central government application portal for ECO4.
Yes. ECO4 is a government-mandated programme regulated by Ofgem. However, scams do exist — be cautious of unsolicited callers guaranteeing funding, demanding upfront fees, or pressuring you to sign immediately. Always verify installer credentials and check our scams guide for warning signs.
Take 60 seconds to check whether ECO4 funding may be available for your home and circumstances.
Check ECO4 Eligibility