ECO4 Scheme

What is the ECO4 Scheme

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme is a UK government initiative designed to help low-income and vulnerable households improve their home's energy efficiency. Eligibility for ECO4 is determined by a combination of household income, benefit status, and the energy efficiency rating of the property.

What products are available under ECO4

There are a wide range of products and measures covered by the ECO4 scheme, all of which are focussed on reducing household energy bills and improving energy efficiency.

Products and Measures Available Under ECO4

The ECO4 scheme offers a range of energy efficiency and heating measures aimed at reducing household energy bills and improving home comfort for eligible households. The main products and measures available through ECO4 include:

• Insulation Measures:
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• Loft insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• Solid wall insulation (internal or external)
• Underfloor insulation (including solid floor insulation)
• Room-in-roof insulation
• Heating Measures:
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• New or upgraded boilers (including first-time central heating systems)
• Modern heating systems and thermostats
• High heat retention electric storage heaters
• Hydronic heat pumps (air source or ground source)
• Electric heating systems
• Renewable Energy:
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• Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels (available only if the property uses or will use a hydronic heat pump, high heat retention electric storage heaters, or an electric heating system as its main heating source)5.
• Other Measures:
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• Connection to a district heating system (where available)
• Innovation measures, subject to approval, that demonstrate improvements over standard products and meet scheme requirements24.

Note:
Solar panels are only eligible if they will directly reduce your property's heating costs and are paired with specific heating systems as outlined above5.

All measures must be installed by TrustMark-registered businesses and comply with relevant standards (PAS 2030:2019, PAS 2035:2019, or MCS certification for renewables)4

ECO4 Eligibility Criteria

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• Property Energy Efficiency:
  Your property must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G, with priority often given to homes rated E, F, or G due to their poorer energy efficiency13567.
• Household Income:
  Households with a combined gross annual income of £31,000 or less may qualify, particularly under the Local Authority Flex (LA Flex) route, even if not receiving benefits127.
• Receipt of Qualifying Benefits:
  You or someone in your household must be receiving at least one of the following benefits to be eligible under the standard route:
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credits
• Working Tax Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Pension Credit Savings Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child Benefit (with additional self-declaration requirements)12456
• Health Vulnerability:
  Households where a member has a medical condition that makes them vulnerable to the cold may also qualify, especially through the LA Flex route12.
• Tenure:
  Both homeowners and private renters can apply, but private tenants need landlord consent. Social housing tenants may also be eligible if the property meets the required EPC rating1236.
• Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex):
  If you do not receive qualifying benefits but have a low income or specific health conditions, you may still qualify through your local authority’s flexible eligibility criteria1578.

Summary Table of Main Criteria

CriterionDetailsEPC RatingD, E, F, or GHousehold Income£31,000 or less (for LA Flex)Qualifying BenefitsUC, CTC, WTC, JSA, ESA, IS, Pension Credits, Housing Benefit, etc.Health ConditionVulnerable to cold (via LA Flex)Homeownership or TenancyHomeowners, private renters (with consent), some social housingLocal Authority FlexibilityAdditional routes for those not on benefits but with low income/health

Application Process:

• Eligibility is assessed by accredited ECO providers or obligated energy suppliers.
• A retrofit assessment will determine which energy efficiency measures are suitable for your property.
• Local authorities may publish specific statements of intent outlining additional eligibility criteria for their area18.

Note:
Eligibility does not guarantee that measures will be installed, as final decisions depend on provider assessments and available funding2.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, check with an accredited ECO provider or your local authority.

When is ECO4 scheme available until

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ECO4 Scheme Timescales

The ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation phase 4) scheme runs for a fixed period:

• Start Date: 1 April 2022 (with the ECO4 Order coming into force on 27 July 2022)
• End Date: 31 March 2026

The scheme is divided into four annual phases:

PhaseDatesPhase 127 July 2022 – 31 March 2023Phase 21 April 2023 – 31 March 2024Phase 31 April 2024 – 31 March 2025Phase 41 April 2025 – 31 March 2026

All qualifying measures must be installed and reported by 31 March 2026 for them to count towards a supplier’s ECO4 obligation1457.

Summary:
ECO4 is currently open and will close on 31 March 2026. If you are eligible and wish to benefit from the scheme, you must apply and have measures installed before this deadline.

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