Get a FREE Boiler Through the ECO4 Scheme
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme funded free or heavily subsidised boiler replacements for qualifying UK households until March 2026. If you received certain benefits or were in fuel poverty, you could get a brand new A-rated boiler without paying a penny. A successor scheme (ECO5) is expected.
£2,000+
Typical saving
£0
Cost to you
Mar 2026
Scheme ended
Funded by energy suppliers. No upfront cost for eligible households.
ECO4 ran until March 2026. A successor scheme (ECO5) is expected — check gov.uk for the latest information on available funding.
What Is the ECO4 Scheme?
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government programme that required large energy suppliers to fund home energy efficiency improvements for low-income and vulnerable households across Great Britain. ECO4 was the fourth phase. It ran from April 2022 to March 2026.
Under ECO4, your energy supplier picked up the bill for boiler replacements, insulation, and heating upgrades. You paid nothing. The catch was that the installer took a "whole house" approach, looking at your entire property and recommending whatever combination of measures would lift your EPC rating the most. That was not a bad thing, but it meant you could not cherry-pick individual upgrades.
The scheme targeted homes rated D, E, F, or G on their EPC, with the aim of getting them to at least a Band C. In practice, that meant lower energy bills and a warmer home. A successor scheme is expected to continue this work.
Am I Eligible for a Free Boiler?
You are likely eligible if your household receives any of the benefits below. You also need to own your property (or have your landlord's agreement), and your home needs an EPC rating of D or worse.
| Qualifying Benefit | Notes |
|---|---|
| Universal Credit | Any award amount |
| Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) | Including Savings Credit |
| Child Tax Credit | With income under £16,480 |
| Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) | Not contribution-based |
| Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) | Not contribution-based |
| Housing Benefit | Any award amount |
| Working Tax Credit | Household income under £20,000 |
| Income Support | Any award amount |
Not on benefits? You might still qualify
Through the LA Flex(Local Authority Flexibility) route, your local council can refer you to the scheme if your household is in fuel poverty but does not receive any of the benefits listed above. This covers situations like low-income pensioners who just miss the Pension Credit threshold, or working families spending a high proportion of their income on energy. Contact your local council's housing or energy team to ask about LA Flex referrals.
What Does ECO4 Cover?
ECO4 is not just about boilers. It covers a range of energy efficiency measures. The installer recommends whatever will make the biggest difference to your home's EPC rating.
| Measure | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Boiler replacement | £2,000 - £3,500 |
| First-time central heating | £3,000 - £5,000 |
| Cavity wall insulation | £500 - £1,500 |
| Loft insulation | £300 - £600 |
| Solid wall insulation | £5,000 - £14,000 |
| Heating system upgrades | £500 - £2,000 |
Values shown are what the measures would cost if you paid privately. Under ECO4, eligible households pay nothing.
How to Apply for a Free Boiler
There is no single application form. You can go through your energy supplier, a TrustMark-registered ECO installer, or your local council. All three routes lead to the same place.
Check your eligibility
Confirm you receive one of the qualifying benefits listed above, or contact your local council to ask about the LA Flex route if you are in fuel poverty but not on benefits.
Contact your energy supplier or an ECO installer
Call your gas or electricity supplier and ask about their ECO4 obligations. Alternatively, search for a TrustMark-registered ECO installer in your area. Your supplier can refer you directly.
Home energy assessment
A qualified assessor visits your property to check its current energy rating (EPC) and identify which measures would make the biggest difference. This assessment is free.
Measures are recommended
Based on the assessment, the installer recommends specific improvements. ECO4 takes a whole-house approach, so you may be offered insulation alongside a boiler replacement to maximise the energy rating uplift.
Installation by TrustMark-registered engineers
All work must be carried out by TrustMark-registered installers working to PAS 2030/2035 standards. This gives you a quality guarantee and access to a complaints process if anything goes wrong.
Quality guarantee and aftercare
After installation, your work is logged on the TrustMark data warehouse. You receive a guarantee for the work carried out, and can raise complaints through the TrustMark framework if needed.
Watch Out for ECO4 Scams
Scammers love the phrase "free government boiler." They use cold calls and doorstep visits to pressure people into handing over personal details. Genuine ECO4 installers do not cold-call. If someone contacts you out of the blue, be suspicious. Red flags:
- Unsolicited phone calls claiming you qualify for a "free government boiler" before checking any details
- Callers who pressure you to make a quick decision or book an appointment immediately
- Anyone asking for an upfront payment or deposit for work that should be free under ECO4
- Installers who are not TrustMark-registered or refuse to show credentials
- Claims that the scheme is "ending tomorrow" to create false urgency
- Door-to-door salespeople offering free boilers without any eligibility checks
Always verify your installer is TrustMark-registered before agreeing to any work. You can check their registration online or call TrustMark directly on 0333 555 1234.
What Happens After Your Boiler Is Installed?
Quality guarantee
All ECO4 work must meet PAS 2030/2035 standards. Your installer has to be TrustMark-registered, and the job gets logged on the TrustMark data warehouse. That gives you a proper complaints route if something goes wrong later.
Manufacturer warranty
Your new boiler comes with the manufacturer's standard warranty, typically 5 to 10 years depending on the brand. Make sure you receive the warranty documentation and register it with the manufacturer if required. Keep the paperwork safe.
Annual servicing
To keep your warranty valid, you will need an annual boiler service from a Gas Safe registered engineer. This typically costs £60 to £100 per year. Some ECO installers include the first year's service in their package, so ask about this when the work is arranged.
Lower energy bills
Replacing an old G-rated boiler with a new A-rated model typically saves £200 to £400 a year on gas. If the installer adds insulation at the same time (which they often do under ECO4), savings of £500+ a year are realistic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for a free boiler under ECO4?
You typically qualify if you receive certain means-tested benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, or Working Tax Credit with a household income under £20,000. You may also qualify through the LA Flex route if your local council identifies your household as being in fuel poverty.
Is the ECO4 scheme really free?
Yes, for eligible households the full cost of the boiler replacement is covered. You should not be asked to pay anything upfront. The funding comes from energy suppliers, who are legally obligated to deliver energy efficiency measures under the scheme. If anyone asks you for an upfront payment for work that should be free under ECO4, treat it as a red flag.
What does the ECO4 scheme cover besides boilers?
ECO4 covers a range of energy efficiency improvements including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, solid wall insulation, heating system upgrades, first-time central heating installation, and in some cases draught-proofing and underfloor insulation. The specific measures offered depend on your property and what would deliver the biggest improvement to its energy rating.
How long does it take to get a free boiler through ECO4?
From initial enquiry to installation, the process usually takes between 4 and 8 weeks. This includes an eligibility check, a home energy assessment, and scheduling the installation. Waiting times vary by area and installer availability. During winter months it can take longer due to higher demand.
Has the ECO4 scheme ended?
Yes. ECO4 ended in March 2026. The government is expected to introduce a successor scheme (sometimes referred to as ECO5) to continue funding energy efficiency improvements for low-income households. Check gov.uk for the latest information on available funding.
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Written by James Carter, Less.co.uk energy specialist. Last updated April 2026.