You can access this information as a downloadable Fact Sheet, here: ECO4
The Energy Company Obligation is the government’s flagship grant scheme. Since starting in 2013 it runs for set periods before being reviewed. The 4th period began in April 2022, and will run until March 2026.
What’s available?
The primary aim of ECO4 is to assist potentially vulnerable residents to achieve whole-house retrofit, in order to increase the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of their home. A Retrofit Coordinator will ultimately determine what measures should be installed, and these can include the following:
| 1st time central heating | Air source heat pump |
| Boiler repair/replace | Cavity wall insulation |
| Electric storage heaters | Flat roof insulation |
| Heating controls | Loft insulation |
| Pitched roof insulation | Room-in-roof insulation |
| Solar panels | Solid floor insulation |
| Solid wall insulation | Under-floor insulation |
Property eligibility
Because ECO4 is intended to support residents to increase their home’s energy efficiency, properties that are already efficient are not covered by the scheme. The minimum improvements required are that properties rated F or G must be improved to at least a D. Properties rated D or E must be improved to at least a C. There are also restrictions on what can be installed, if you rent your home from a private or social landlord.
Resident eligibility
There are two groups of residents who are eligible for support via ECO4:
- Help to Heat Group
- Flexible Eligibility
Help to Heat Group
Residents in receipt of certain welfare benefits automatically qualify for ECO4. But they still must live in a property that’s eligible. Qualifying for ECO does not automatically ensure that any works will proceed.
The following welfare benefits are included in the Help to Heat Group:
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support (IS)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (PCGC)
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Universal Tax Credit (UC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Housing Benefits
- Pension Credits
- Child Benefits. If you are in receipt of child benefit you will need to meet the income thresholds on this table:
| Household Composition | Maximum Income |
| You and 1 child | £19,900 |
| You and 2 children | £24,800 |
| You and 3 children | £29,600 |
| You and 4+ children | £34,500 |
| A couple and 1 child | £27,500 |
| A couple and 2 children | £32,300 |
| A couple and 3 children | £37,200 |
| A couple and 4+ children | £42,000 |
Flexible Eligibility (ECO4 Flex)
Up to 50% of all works carried out by ECO4 can be provided to residents who aren’t part of the Help to Heat Group, but who their Local Authority declares to be in need of support, via ECO4 Flex.
To receive support via ECO4 Flex your Local Authority must have published an “ECO 4 Flexible Eligibility Statement of Intent”, identifying which residents will qualify.
As with the Help to Heat Group, being identified through any of the ECO 4 Flex routes does not guarantee any works will be undertaken.
Eligibility will vary according to your Local Authority, so the following ECO 4 Flex “Route” details are provided merely as examples:
Route 1: Low Income
- Property must be EPC band D-G
- Gross, total household income less than £31,000
Route 2: Fuel Poverty Proxies
- Property must be EPC band D-G
- Households must meet a combination of two of the following proxies of fuel poverty (note: Proxies 1 and 3 cannot be used together):
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Proxy 1) Homes in England in Lower-layer Super Output Area 1-3 (LSOA) in the Indices of Deprivation. |
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Proxy 2) Householders receiving a Council Tax rebate (rebates based on low income only, excludes single person rebates). |
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Proxy 3) Householders vulnerable to living in a cold home as identified in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance. Only one from this list can be used:
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Proxy 4) A householder receiving free school meals due to low income. |
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Proxy 5) A householder supported by a Local Authority run scheme, that has been named and described by the LA as supporting low income and vulnerable households for the purposes of NICE Guideline. |
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Proxy 6) A household referred to the Local Authority for support by their energy supplier or Citizen’s Advice, because they have been identified as struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills. |
Route 3: Health referrals
EPC band D-G households that have been identified by one of the following organisations:
- NHS Trust
- NHS Foundation Trust
- A general medical practitioner provider
- A Health Board
- A Local Health Board
With an occupant having a severe and/or long-term health condition that falls under one of the four umbrella conditions:
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Immunosuppressed
- Limited mobility
This is because the local authorities identify a positive correlation between households who suffer from long-term health conditions and living off a low income, with living in poorly insulated homes.
As with the Help to Heat Group, being identified through any of the ECO 4 Flex routes does not guarantee any works will be undertaken.
“What will it cost?”
We expect the vast majority of works carried out through ECO4 to be fully-funded. If you are quoted a fee from your ECO4 contractor, you are encouraged to “shop around” in case another contractor is able to undertake the work cheaper, or wholly free of charge. Any contractor carrying out work under ECO4 must be registered with Trustmark. You can find your nearest contractors here: www.trustmark.org.uk
“Where do I start?”
You can search for your own contractors, using the Trustmark website link, above, or speak to your Local Authority about their ECO4 plans. Alternatively, Energy Projects Plus would be happy to discuss your situation, check your eligibility, and potentially introduce you to a contractor who is accredited by Trustmark. You can call our Save Energy Advice Line free on 0800 043 0151, or email advice@epplus.org. Lines are open 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri (apart from Bank Holidays)