ECO4 grant
ECO4 is funded by energy suppliers, not by a government department. It pays for insulation and heating in the least efficient homes, and it is aimed at households on qualifying benefits.
Who usually qualifies
- Someone in the household receives a qualifying means-tested benefit.
- The property is rated band D to G on a valid EPC.
- Owner-occupiers qualify most easily; private tenants need the landlord’s consent.
- Some councils can refer households on low incomes who are not on benefits, under local flexible eligibility.
What it pays for
- Loft, cavity wall, solid wall and underfloor insulation.
- First time central heating, and replacing broken or very inefficient systems.
- Heating controls.
- Solar PV in some whole-house packages.
How it works in practice
ECO4 is delivered as a whole-house package. An installer assesses the property, proposes a set of measures that lifts it by at least one or two bands, and claims the funding from an obligated energy supplier. You deal with the installer, not with the supplier.
Not sure whether you qualify? The eligibility checker walks through the two routes in.
Private rented properties usually attract a landlord contribution, because the landlord benefits from work that will be needed for the 2030 band C standard anyway.
Common questions
Do I need an EPC before applying?
Usually an assessment forms part of the process. If you already have a valid certificate, it will be used — check the expiry date first.
Will the work update my EPC?
Only when a new assessment is lodged after the work. Most ECO4 packages include one; confirm it before the installer leaves.
Is it really free?
For qualifying owner-occupiers, often yes. Landlords and some packages require a contribution.