Is there a gov.uk ECO4 application?
No. People often search for "eco4 scheme gov uk" or "ECO4 application form" expecting a government portal. There is not one. ECO4 is delivered by energy suppliers that are obliged to fund energy-saving work, and by councils that refer households through ECO4 Flex. GOV.UK's page tells you who to contact; Ofgem publishes the list of participating suppliers and their contacts.
Sources: GOV.UK, Energy Company Obligation; Ofgem, ECO contacts and guidance. Checked 19 October 2026.
The three ways an ECO4 application happens
| Route | Who you contact | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. An obligated energy supplier | Any supplier on Ofgem's list, not only your own | Households where someone gets a qualifying benefit |
| 2. An installer or agent working for a supplier | A TrustMark-registered business; check which supplier it works for | People who have been approached, or found an installer themselves |
| 3. Your council's ECO4 Flex scheme | Your local council (it must have published a Statement of Intent) | Households not on a benefit, on a low income or with a health condition made worse by the cold |
Whichever route you use, Ofgem says the measures your home gets are decided by a retrofit assessment, and that being eligible does not guarantee an installation.
Step by step
- Check you might qualify. Use the ECO4 eligibility rules or the checker on this page: a qualifying benefit or a Flex reason, plus the EPC rule for your tenure.
- Find your EPC. Search the EPC register. Owner-occupied homes need D to G; rented homes E to G.
- Pick a route. A supplier (or an installer working for one) for the benefits route; your council for Flex.
- Make contact and share your details. Expect questions about your benefit, your income (for Flex), the home and its heating.
- Retrofit assessment. An assessor visits and decides which measures would benefit the home.
- Get a contract before agreeing. Ofgem says to agree only once you have received a contract. Ask whether you are expected to contribute anything.
- Installation. By a TrustMark-registered installer. Keep your paperwork and guarantees.
Documents to have ready
Suppliers and councils run their own checks, so lists vary, but these come up most often:
- a recent award letter or statement for the qualifying benefit;
- for ECO4 Flex on income: payslips, pension statements or other evidence of household income;
- for ECO4 Flex on health: whatever your council's Statement of Intent asks for;
- proof you live at the address, such as a council tax or utility bill;
- your landlord's written permission, if you rent privately;
- the home's EPC, if it has one.
What to say when you make contact
Whether you call a supplier or email your council, a clear first message saves time. Something like this works:
"I'd like to check whether my household can get help through ECO4. I [own / rent from a private landlord / rent from a housing association] a [type of home] at [postcode]. Its EPC rating is [band, or 'I don't know']. [Name] gets [benefit], or we don't get a qualifying benefit but our household income is under £31,000 / someone has a long-term health condition made worse by the cold. Can you tell me whether you can help, and what happens next?"
Keep a note of who you spoke to, the date and what they said. If one supplier says no, Ofgem's guidance means you can ask another obligated supplier, and if you are not on a benefit, your council's Flex route is a separate door.
If you are turned down
- Ask why. Is it the household test, the EPC rating, or that the supplier is not funding work in your area or for your type of home?
- If it is the supplier's choice rather than the rules, try another obligated supplier from Ofgem's list.
- If you are not on a benefit, ask your council whether it runs ECO4 Flex and read its Statement of Intent.
- If the EPC rating is the problem, ECO4 is unlikely to help; other schemes may, and we will say which to look at when we reply.
Checks before you sign
GOV.UK warns that installers or agents might contact you directly; if you are not sure an offer is genuine, contact your council or the energy supplier the caller says they represent. Ofgem adds that you may be approached by several companies offering different measures, and advises you to shop around. Before you sign:
- ask which obligated supplier is funding the work;
- check the installer on the TrustMark register;
- ask, in writing, whether you will be asked to contribute to the cost (Ofgem says this can happen);
- tell them about any other government grant you have applied for, because ECO4 funding cannot be blended with other government grants for the same measures;
- never pay a fee just to be "registered" for ECO4 (see is ECO4 legit for other warning signs).
Timing: ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026
Ofgem says ECO4 applies to measures installed from 1 April 2022 and runs until 31 December 2026, after a nine-month extension. Its dates are framed around when measures are installed, so an enquiry made late in the year carries more risk; ask the supplier or council about timing at the start. No successor scheme has been confirmed on an official page. For the latest position see is ECO4 still available.
Where this site fits
We do not take ECO4 applications and we do not decide eligibility. What happens next if you use our checker: we read your answers and reply by email with the route and contacts that look right for you. There is no obligation and no fee, and we do not pass your details to an installer.
ECO4 application questions
Is there a gov.uk ECO4 application form?
No. GOV.UK says to contact your local council to find out if it is taking part, or contact an energy supplier directly. Ofgem lists supplier contact details.
Do I have to apply through my own energy supplier?
No. Ofgem says you can contact any of the obligated energy suppliers, even if they are not your energy provider.
How do I apply for ECO4 Flex?
Contact your local council. A council taking part publishes a Statement of Intent, and Ofgem says some councils allow self-referral.
Someone cold-called me about ECO4. Is it genuine?
GOV.UK says installers or agents might contact you directly. If you are unsure, contact your local council or the energy supplier the caller says they represent.
When should I sign?
Ofgem says only agree to ECO measures once you have received a contract. Check the installer on the TrustMark register first.