ECO4 eligibility: who qualifies for a boiler grant?
You qualify if someone in your home gets a listed means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, or your council declares you eligible under LA Flex because household income is under £31,000 or someone has a health condition made worse by the cold, and your home is rated EPC D to G. Homeowners are the main group for boiler replacements, because ECO4 usually does not pay for a boiler-only replacement in a privately rented home.
ECO4 is funded by energy suppliers under rules set by government and administered by Ofgem. It covers England, Scotland and Wales and runs until 31 December 2026. Apply Free Boiler is run by Reliant Energy Solutions Ltd, an ECO4 installer, not the government, Ofgem or an energy supplier.
Free eligibility check
Answer a few questions about your home and benefits. Never pay anyone just to apply.
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ECO4 boiler grant eligibility at a glance
You need one household route (a benefit or LA Flex) and a home that passes the property and tenure tests. Checked against GOV.UK, Ofgem and Ofgem's ECO4 delivery guidance (version 4.0, March 2026) on 6 October 2026.
| Test | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| Qualifying benefit | Someone living in the home gets Universal Credit, Pension Guarantee Credit, Pension Savings Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, or Child Benefit within the income caps below. Universal Credit has no income cap. Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit ended on 5 April 2025 and no longer count. Sources: GOV.UK, Ofgem delivery guidance (3.131 to 3.134). |
| LA Flex (no benefit needed) | Your council issues a declaration that you meet one route: gross household income under £31,000 (all adults combined, any household size), or a severe or long-term health condition made worse by a cold home (cardiovascular, respiratory, limited mobility or immunosuppression), or a proxy or bespoke route in its statement of intent. Councils choose whether to take part. Read the LA Flex scheme guide. Source: Ofgem. |
| Property (EPC band) | Owner-occupied homes rated D, E, F or G. Privately rented and social housing homes rated E, F or G. Look up your rating on the GOV.UK EPC register or read our EPC rating guide. |
| Tenure | Owners are the main route to a replacement boiler. Private tenants need the landlord's permission, and a boiler repair or replacement on its own is generally not eligible. Measures such as solid wall insulation, first-time central heating or renewable heating can be. Social tenants in homes rated E to G may get insulation or first-time central heating. Sources: GOV.UK, Ofgem delivery guidance (3.74 to 3.79). |
| Does not qualify on its own |
|
| Funding | Meeting the rules does not guarantee work. Ofgem says ECO is not a grant scheme. Energy suppliers choose which homes to fund, and some households are asked to contribute. Source: Ofgem FAQs. |
Child Benefit income caps
Gross annual income from all sources, at or below the cap (Ofgem delivery guidance, table 3).
| Children | Single claimant | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £19,900 | £27,500 |
| 2 | £24,800 | £32,300 |
| 3 | £29,600 | £37,200 |
| 4 or more | £34,500 | £42,000 |
What happens after the check
We confirm your benefit or LA Flex declaration, then book a home survey. The surveyor decides which measures suit your home. ECO4 has minimum insulation rules for any heating measure, so the job may include loft or cavity wall insulation. The energy supplier then decides whether to fund it. The full process is on our how to apply for a free boiler page.
Have these ready
- A benefit letter or statement from DWP, HMRC or the Pension Service, dated within the last 12 months
- Your council's LA Flex declaration, if that is your route
- Proof you own the home, or your tenancy agreement and the landlord's written permission
- Your EPC, if you have one
Prefer to talk it through? Call 07943 111370.
Boiler grant eligibility questions
Who qualifies for the ECO scheme?
ECO4 is the current phase of the Energy Company Obligation, so the ECO scheme rules today are the ECO4 rules on this page. You need a listed benefit or an LA Flex declaration from your council, and a home in the right EPC band for your tenure. Social housing rated E to G can get insulation or first-time central heating (GOV.UK).
Does Universal Credit have an income limit for ECO4?
No. Ofgem's ECO4 delivery guidance lists Universal Credit as a qualifying benefit with no income cap. Child Benefit is the only listed benefit with income caps, which depend on whether you claim alone or as a couple and how many children you have.
Can I get a boiler grant without benefits?
Yes, through LA Flex, if your council takes part. The council can declare you eligible if your gross household income is under £31,000, if someone at home has a severe or long-term health condition made worse by the cold, or through other routes in its statement of intent. The council issues the declaration, so it makes the call (Ofgem).
Do pensioners qualify for a free boiler?
Not on age alone. A pensioner qualifies through Pension Guarantee Credit, Pension Savings Credit, another listed benefit or an LA Flex route, in a home rated EPC D to G if they own it (GOV.UK, Ofgem).
Can private tenants get a free boiler?
Rarely as a straight swap. Ofgem's ECO4 delivery guidance says replacing, upgrading or repairing a boiler is generally not eligible in privately rented homes. A rented home rated E to G can still get other measures with the landlord's permission, such as solid wall insulation, first-time central heating or renewable heating.
Does my boiler have to be a certain age?
No. There is no age rule. The surveyor checks whether your heating is broken or inefficient and what ECO4 allows for your home. ECO4 also sets minimum insulation rules for heating measures, so the job may include loft or cavity wall insulation (Ofgem).
If I qualify, is the work guaranteed?
No. Ofgem says ECO is not a grant scheme. Energy suppliers decide which homes they fund and how much, and some households are asked to contribute to the cost. Get any contribution in writing before work starts.
How soon should I check my eligibility before ECO4 ends?
ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 (Ofgem). Surveys and installs take time to arrange, so check well before the deadline.
Is the eligibility check free?
Yes. The check on this page is free, and you should never pay anyone just to apply.
Think you qualify?
Run the free check at the top of this page. For how the scheme works, see the ECO4 scheme explained.
Start the free eligibility check