ECO4 Scheme and Warm Homes Plan — Home Energy Upgrades in UK
Eligible UK households can access government-backed grants through ECO4 and the Warm Homes Plan to improve home energy efficiency. Funding may cover insulation, heating upgrades, solar panels, heat pumps and other retrofit measures to help reduce energy bills and carbon emissions.
What Is the ECO4 Scheme and How Does It Work in UK?
ECO4 is a UK government energy efficiency scheme that provides eligible households with free insulation, heating upgrades, solar panels and other energy-saving improvements. The scheme runs until 31 December 2026 and is delivered through major energy suppliers.
What ECO4 covers (up to 100% funding for eligible households):
Loft insulation — reduce heat loss through the roof; typically saves £200–£300 a year
Cavity wall insulation — fill gaps in external walls; can cut wall heat loss by around a third
Internal wall insulation (IWI) — for solid wall properties; typically reduces wall heat loss by 40–50%
External wall insulation (EWI) — wraps solid wall homes and can transform their appearance
Underfloor insulation — stops draughts through suspended timber floors
First-time central heating — install heating where none exists
Boiler upgrades — replace inefficient boilers (limited circumstances)
Air source heat pumps — low-carbon heating
Solar panels — generate your own electricity (subject to scheme conditions)
Savings figures are indicative estimates for typical properties — actual results depend on your home and energy prices.
Who Is Eligible for ECO4 Grants in UK?
Homeowner, or tenant with landlord permission
EPC rating D, E, F or G
Receiving qualifying benefits (or ECO4 Flex — see below)
Property located in England, Scotland or Wales
Property suitable for energy efficiency improvements
Qualifying Benefits for ECO4
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings Credit)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Child Tax Credit (income below threshold)
- Working Tax Credit (income below threshold)
- Housing Benefit
- Child Benefit (income threshold applies)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
The qualifying benefits list is set by the scheme and can change — we confirm what applies at your eligibility check.
No Benefits? ECO4 Flex
- Household income below £31,000
- Children under 16 living in the property
- Elderly residents (over 65)
- Residents with health conditions worsened by cold homes (respiratory, cardiovascular)
- Referral from a GP, health visitor, or social services
ECO4 Flex criteria vary by local authority — these are typical routes. Your local authority makes the referral.
How Do You Apply for ECO4 Funding in UK?
Free Eligibility Check
Contact us for a free, no-obligation eligibility check. We will confirm whether you are likely to qualify for ECO4 funding based on your benefits and your property’s EPC rating.
Retrofit Assessment (C1)
A retrofit assessor working to PAS 2035 surveys your property using thermal imaging and diagnostic tools, identifying heat loss areas, insulation gaps and improvement opportunities. This assessment is required for ECO4 compliance.
Retrofit Coordination (C2–C3)
A retrofit coordinator working to PAS 2035 manages your project, ensuring all work meets ECO4 standards — documentation, contractor coordination and quality assurance.
Installation
Approved installers fit the measures (insulation, heating, solar panels). All installers must be PAS 2030 certified and follow MCS standards where applicable.
Post-Installation Monitoring (C4)
We check that your installation performs as designed, with results tracked against expectations — required for ECO4 compliance and funding drawdown.
What Is the Warm Homes Plan and What Follows ECO4?
The Warm Homes Plan is the government’s £15 billion programme to upgrade up to 5 million homes by 2030 — including around £150 off energy bills from April 2026. ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026; as it winds down, the Warm Homes Plan becomes the main route to home energy funding, and from 2027/28 the government intends to integrate low-income schemes into a single programme with area-based delivery (details due by Spring 2026). Three schemes are central today:
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
Extended to 2030 · live now- £7,500 for air-to-water and ground source heat pumps
- £9,000 for eligible off-gas-grid homes (oil/LPG) — 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027
- £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries
- No income limit — homeowners and small businesses (England & Wales)
- MCS-certified installation — delivered via our certified partners
Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund
Formerly SHDF · Wave 3: £1.29bn- For housing associations and local authorities
- Upgrades social housing stock to EPC C
- Covers insulation, heating, solar and ventilation
- Wave 3 delivery runs to September 2028 (window closed) — we support funded providers
Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG)
Live via participating local authorities- For low-income homeowners in the private sector (England)
- Covers insulation, solar panels, glazing and low-carbon heating
- Income-linked eligibility — delivered through your local authority
ECO4 vs the Warm Homes Plan — What’s the Difference?
| Feature | ECO4 | Warm Homes Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Available now | Yes | Partly — BUS and WH:LG are live; further schemes to come |
| Income-based | Yes (benefits or ECO4 Flex) | Partly — BUS has no income limit; WH:LG is income-linked |
| Heat pumps | Yes | Yes (BUS) |
| Insulation | Yes | Yes (WH:SHF, WH:LG) |
| Solar panels | Yes (conditions apply) | Yes (WH:SHF, WH:LG) |
| Ends | 31 December 2026 | Runs to 2030 |
Which scheme is right for you?
Need insulation or solar and receive benefits → apply for ECO4 now
Need a heat pump (any income) → apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme now (extended to 2030)
A social housing provider → talk to us about WH:SHF delivery support
Low-income but not on benefits → ask about ECO4 Flex and WH:LG via your local authority
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for ECO4 applications?
ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026. We recommend applying as soon as possible — energy suppliers can meet their obligations before the end date, so funding can effectively tighten earlier.
How much does ECO4 cover?
Up to 100% of costs for eligible households — insulation, first-time central heating, boiler upgrades (in limited circumstances), heat pumps, and solar panels (subject to scheme conditions).
Can landlords apply for ECO4 in Manchester?
Yes, if the tenant meets the eligibility criteria. Landlord permission is required, and the tenant must receive qualifying benefits (or qualify through ECO4 Flex).
What is ECO4 Flex?
A local-authority route into ECO4 for households that do not receive qualifying benefits but meet low-income or vulnerability criteria — for example young children, elderly residents, or health conditions worsened by cold homes.
What replaces ECO4 after December 2026?
The Warm Homes Plan — the government’s £15 billion programme to 2030 — becomes the main route, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (heat pumps), WH:SHF (social housing) and WH:LG (low-income homeowners). The government has said it will integrate low-income schemes into a single area-based programme from 2027/28, with details due by Spring 2026.
Can I apply for both ECO4 and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
Yes, but for different measures — for example, ECO4 for insulation and solar, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for a heat pump. The same measure cannot be funded twice.
How long does ECO4 funding take to approve?
Typically 4–8 weeks from application to approval, depending on the scheme administrator and the complexity of the measures.
Ready to Check Your ECO4 Eligibility in UK?
Check your ECO4 eligibility today — free consultation with no obligation. Not sure if you qualify? Call us on 0161 302 1985 — we will advise within 24 hours (Monday to Friday).
Boiler Upgrade Scheme·Warm Homes Plan — register interest·ECO4 scheme support