Free boiler grants and ECO4: what is still available?

What ECO4 paid for and who it was for

ECO4 was not a grant you applied to the government for. Energy suppliers had targets for improving homes, and they met them by funding installers who found eligible households. The scheme focused on the least efficient homes, generally those with an energy rating of D to G, and on households receiving means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Councils could also refer some lower-income households who did not claim benefits, through what was known as LA Flex.

It favoured a whole-house approach. Insulation usually came first, and heat pumps were encouraged. A replacement gas boiler was possible, mainly where the existing boiler was broken or very inefficient, but it was never guaranteed, and many applicants were offered insulation instead. Tenants could apply with their landlord's permission.

Where ECO4 stands now

Because ECO4 was funded by suppliers and paid for through energy bills, the decision not to renew it was presented as a way to take cost off household bills. Work that was already agreed before the deadline may still be finishing, but you should not expect to start a new ECO4 application today.

Schemes change, and some installers still advertise ECO4 long after the deadline. The reliable way to check is Ofgem's ECO pages and the GOV.UK service for finding energy grants, not an installer's website or a leaflet through the door.

Nothing in this guide is a promise that you will or will not qualify for help. Eligibility rules and funding change, so confirm the current details on GOV.UK or with your council before you rely on a grant.

Grants and help that remain

Most of what is still available is aimed at cutting carbon, not replacing like for like. That matters if your gas boiler has failed and you simply want heating back.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is not for gas boilers

The name causes a lot of confusion. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays towards replacing a gas, oil or electric heating system with a heat pump. It does not pay anything towards a new gas boiler, and it is not means-tested, so it is often the most useful grant for owners who are ready to move away from gas.

A heat pump is a bigger decision than a boiler swap. It works best in a well-insulated home, often needs larger radiators and a hot water cylinder, and needs outdoor space for the unit. Our full guide, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained, covers who qualifies and how the installer claims the grant.

How to spot a free boiler scam

Free boiler offers attract fraud because people are cold, worried about money and keen to believe the offer. Genuine schemes do exist, but the approach is often the warning sign.

• Cold calls, texts or door knockers saying you have been approved for a grant you never applied for
• Pressure to sign on the day or before a deadline that nobody can show you in writing
• Requests for bank details, a fee or a deposit to secure the grant
• An installer who cannot show proof of registration, or will not give a full business address
• Claims that the government will fine you if you keep your current boiler

Before anyone works on a gas appliance in your home, check their Gas Safe registration and the ID card they carry. Our guide on how to check a plumber before you let them in explains what to look for.

If your boiler has broken and money is tight

Start with what has actually failed. Many breakdowns are one faulty part, and a repair can keep the boiler going for another season or longer while you look at grants or save for a replacement. Our guide on whether to repair or replace a boiler sets out how to weigh the two, and how long do boilers last explains what age does and does not tell you.

If you rent, heating and hot water are your landlord's responsibility. Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, landlords must keep the installations for heating and hot water in repair, so report the fault in writing and keep a copy. If you own the home and are on a low income, ask your council what local help exists and ask your energy supplier about hardship funds. Charities such as Citizens Advice can also point you to local schemes.

Get an honest assessment of your boiler

Loyal Plumbers repairs and replaces boilers across London and inside the M25, and gas work is carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers. We do not run or administer any grant scheme and we will not tell you that you qualify for one. What we can do is find out what is wrong, tell you whether a repair makes sense and give you a clear written quote if a replacement is needed.

Call us or send an enquiry with the boiler make and model, its age and what it is doing. If you are comparing a replacement with a heat pump under the grant, our guides to comparing boiler quotes and to boiler replacement will help you ask the right questions.