With the price of energy constantly on the rise across the UK, homeowners are trying to reduce their heating bills as much as possible without compromising on staying warm during the winter months. If your boiler is old, outdated, or at the end of its life, you might be able to qualify for a free boiler grant that would make the home even more energy-efficient for free!
The government’s ECO4 scheme has already assisted more than 2.4 million UK homes in replacing their boiler, and yours can be next. In this blog, we’ll take you through everything that you’ll need to know about being eligible for a free boiler grant, from applying to qualifying benefits.
What is the ECO4 Free Boiler Grant Scheme?
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme is a government initiative running until March 2026 that awards £1 billion of funding annually to assist eligible home owners in making their house more energy efficient. It’s not something you repay, it’s an actual grant, paid for by large energy suppliers as part of their legal requirement to lower carbon emissions and eliminate fuel poverty.
The initiative directly targets the UK’s most inefficient homes, with an eye on those with ratings D, E, F, or G on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Eligible households can get the following from ECO4:
- Fully funded A-rated boiler replacement
- Entire central heating system (first-time installation)
- Energy-saving heating upgrades
- Insulation improvements in the home
- Smart controls for heating
Who Is Eligible for a Free Boiler Grant?
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a free boiler grant under the ECO4 scheme, you should the following conditions:
- You should be the homeowner.
- You or someone in your household should be receiving one of the following qualifying benefits:
- Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support (IS)
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Working tax Credit (WTC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Saving Credit
- Property should have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G
- Non-condensing boilers (most likely installed before April 2005) have priority.
- Your property needs to be linked up to the mains gas supply
- Some houses on oil, LPG, or other fuel will be eligible for alternative heating systems such as air source heat pumps or biomass boilers.
LA Flex Scheme
Even if you do not qualify through the normal ECO4 paths, you can be entitled under the Local Authority Flex (LA Flex) scheme. This enables local authorities to refer to those families who are living in fuel poverty or experiencing hardship with low income, commonly below £31,000 per year, and are at risk of being cold. Eligibility can be granted to those suffering from illnesses that put them at risk of cold homes, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Members with mobility problems as well as those over 60, or under 5, including pregnant women can also qualify.
How Much Could You Save?
A new A-rated boiler will save you a large sum of money on fuel bills. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that householders can save £300+ annually on heating bills, with many saving more than £500. These savings build up considerably over the lifetime of the boiler, typically saving thousands of pounds and also heating and making the property more comfortable.
Fill in our simple 1-minute eligibility form and check your eligibility for the ECO4 scheme today. Take a step towards a healthier an warmer home.
