What the ECO4 scheme is
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is, in Ofgem's words, a government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain. Energy suppliers are obliged to fund energy-saving work in homes, and the fourth round of the scheme is called ECO4 (more in what is ECO4). It is targeted at households on low incomes or at risk of fuel poverty.
GOV.UK gives examples of the help you may get with the cost of: insulation work, for example to your loft or cavity walls, and replacing or repairing your boiler or other upgrades to your heating. The exact measures for a particular home are set by a retrofit assessment, not chosen from a menu.
Two points catch many people out. First, Ofgem says ECO is not a grant scheme: suppliers decide which measures to fund and how much, and in some cases you may be asked to contribute to the cost. Second, being eligible does not guarantee that a supplier will install anything. That is why this site never promises a fixed grant value, an approval rate or a timescale.
Who qualifies for ECO4
There are two main routes in: the benefits route, and ECO4 Flex through your local council. Both also depend on how energy efficient your home is now (its EPC rating) and whether you own or rent it.
The benefits route
Pension Credit is on the list, which is why many applications are made by or for older people; see ECO4 for pensioners. GOV.UK says you might be eligible if you live in private housing (you own your home or rent from a private landlord) and someone gets one of these benefits:
| Qualifying benefits listed on GOV.UK |
|---|
| Universal Credit |
| Pension Guarantee Credit |
| Pension Savings Credit |
| Income Support |
| Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) |
| Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) |
| Child Benefit |
| Housing Benefit |
Source: GOV.UK, Energy Company Obligation; the same list appears on Ofgem's homeowners and tenants page. Checked 19 October 2026.
ECO4 Flex: if you are not on a benefit
ECO4 Flex (often called LA Flex) lets a participating council refer households it considers to be on a low income or vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home. A council that takes part must publish a Statement of Intent setting out how it will do this. Ofgem's consumer page lists two common reasons a household is referred:
- a combined gross annual household income under £31,000, or
- someone in the home with a severe or long-term health condition that is made worse by living in a cold home, such as a cardiovascular condition, a respiratory disease, limited mobility or immunosuppression.
Councils decide who they refer and can add their own criteria, so the deciding document is your council's Statement of Intent. All four routes are explained on our LA Flex scheme page. Ofgem notes that some councils allow self-referral. Sources: Ofgem, homeowners and tenants; Ofgem, local authorities.
Your home's EPC rating and who owns it
| Your situation | EPC rating GOV.UK says the home must have | Other condition |
|---|---|---|
| You own your home | D, E, F or G | A qualifying benefit, or a council ECO4 Flex referral |
| You rent from a private landlord | E, F or G | You must have the owner's permission for the work |
| You rent from a council or housing association | E, F or G | Help with insulation or a first-time heating system; your landlord is usually involved |
You can find your rating on the EPC register, or ask your landlord or housing association. If your home has never had an EPC, say so in the form below and we will explain what that means for your enquiry.
How an ECO4 application works
There is no single government ECO4 application form (our step-by-step guide on how to apply for ECO4 covers each route in detail). GOV.UK says to contact your local council to find out if it is taking part in the Energy Company Obligation scheme, or to contact an energy supplier directly. Ofgem adds that you can contact any of the obligated suppliers, even if they are not your own energy company, and lists their contact details. For the ECO4 Flex route, you contact your council.
- Check the basics. Your EPC rating, whether anyone in the home gets a qualifying benefit, and whether you own or rent.
- Choose a route. An obligated energy supplier (or an installer working for one), or your council's ECO4 Flex scheme if you are not on a benefit.
- Retrofit assessment. An assessor looks at the home and decides which measures would benefit it.
- Contract first. Ofgem says to agree to ECO measures only once you have received a contract. Ask whether any contribution is expected from you.
- Installation by a TrustMark-registered business. Ofgem says ECO installers must be TrustMark accredited; you can check a business on the TrustMark register.
GOV.UK also warns that installers or agents might contact you directly. If you are not sure whether an offer is genuine, contact your local council or the energy supplier the caller says they represent.
Documents worth having ready
Suppliers and councils run their own checks, so the exact list varies. Having these ready makes an ECO4 application quicker:
- a recent benefit award letter or statement for the person who qualifies (for the benefits route);
- evidence of household income, if your council's ECO4 Flex route is income-based;
- proof that you live at the address, such as a council tax bill or utility bill;
- your landlord's written permission, if you rent privately;
- your EPC, if the home has one.
Before you agree to anything
Because ECO4 is funded by suppliers and delivered by installers, you may be approached by several companies offering different measures. Ofgem's advice is to shop around and only agree once you have a contract. Ask who the obligated supplier is, whether you will be asked to pay anything, and check the installer on the TrustMark register. ECO4 funding cannot be blended with other government grants for the same measures, so tell the installer about any other scheme you have applied to. We cover what a contribution can look like in is ECO4 really free.
If you live in Scotland, Ofgem points to Home Energy Scotland for advice; in Wales, to Nest. ECO itself runs across Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales); see ECO4 in Scotland.
What happens next if you send the checker
We read your answers and reply by email with the route that looks most likely and the contacts to use (a supplier, your council, or neither). There is no obligation and no fee. We do not pass your details to an installer, and we never ask for bank details.
ECO4 questions
Is ECO4 still open?
Yes. Ofgem says ECO4 applies to measures installed from 1 April 2022 and runs until 31 December 2026, after a nine-month extension. No successor scheme has been confirmed on an official page.
Is there a government ECO4 application form?
No. GOV.UK says to contact your local council to find out if it takes part, or contact an energy supplier directly. Ofgem says you can contact any obligated supplier, not only your own, and that for ECO4 Flex you contact your council.
What if I am not on benefits?
You may still be referred through ECO4 Flex if your council takes part. Ofgem lists a combined gross household income under £31,000, or someone in the household with a severe or long-term health condition made worse by a cold home. Your council decides.
Can private tenants get ECO4?
GOV.UK says a privately rented home must have an EPC rating of E, F or G and you must have the owner's permission for the work.
Is ECO4 free?
Ofgem says ECO is not a grant scheme. Suppliers decide which measures to fund and how much, and in some cases you may be asked to contribute to the cost. Only agree once you have a contract.
Does ECO4 cover Northern Ireland?
Ofgem describes ECO as a government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain, which means England, Scotland and Wales.
Every scheme fact on this page was checked against GOV.UK and Ofgem on 19 October 2026. If you spot something that has changed, tell us through the contact details.