Yes, but not for long. ECO4, the supplier-funded scheme behind most free insulation and heating upgrades in Great Britain, closes on 31 December 2026 and there won't be an ECO5. If you live in England, the main free route from then on is the Warm Homes: Local Grant, which you apply for through GOV.UK and your council.

What is ECO4, and when exactly does it end?

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) makes larger energy suppliers pay for energy efficiency work, such as insulation and heating upgrades, in eligible homes. ECO4 is the fourth phase and covers measures installed from 1 April 2022. Ofgem, which runs the scheme, says ECO4 will run until 31 December 2026 after a nine-month extension. It was originally due to end in March 2026.

It's often called the "ECO grant", but Ofgem says it isn't a grant scheme. Suppliers decide which measures they'll pay for, you may be asked to contribute, and qualifying doesn't guarantee you'll get anything installed.

As of November 2026, the work generally has to be finished before 1 January 2027. Being booked in isn't enough. The government has also said no new supplier obligation will follow ECO4, so there's no replacement scheme on the way.

Can I still apply for ECO4 now?

Possibly, but your chances are shrinking. As of early November 2026, several large suppliers say they've closed ECO4 or stopped taking new applications. With only weeks left, installers have limited time to survey homes and finish the work before the deadline.

If you already have an ECO4 application under way, chase it now. Ask whoever is handling it:

  • which energy supplier is funding the work
  • the date your installation is booked for
  • whether the work will definitely be finished before 31 December 2026
  • whether you'll be asked to pay anything, and how much

If you're starting from scratch, ask your local council whether it's still making ECO4 Flex referrals. Flex is the route councils use to refer households that don't fit the standard benefit-based criteria. Bear in mind that many councils will now point you towards the Warm Homes: Local Grant instead.

What happened to the Great British Insulation Scheme?

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) was another supplier obligation that ran alongside ECO4 in England, Scotland and Wales. It closed on 31 March 2026 and the government confirmed it wouldn't be extended. If anyone says they can still get you GBIS funding, treat it as a warning sign.

What replaces ECO4 in England?

The main free route for lower-income households is the Warm Homes: Local Grant. It's funded by the government and delivered by councils, not energy suppliers. It sits within the wider £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, which also includes the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a planned loan scheme and a new Warm Homes Agency.

Your home may qualify for the Warm Homes: Local Grant if all of these apply:

  • it's in England
  • you own it or rent it from a private landlord (social housing is covered by a separate fund that landlords apply for)
  • it has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G
  • you meet at least one low-income test: gross household income of £36,000 a year or less, a means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, or living in a qualifying low-income postcode

Homes on mains gas and homes off the gas grid (heated by electricity, oil, coal or LPG) can both qualify. You don't have to be on benefits, so plenty of working households meet the income test.

Councils deliver the scheme locally, so details vary. The London consortium, for example, also sets a savings limit of under £25,000 unless someone in the home gets Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. Landlords can usually get one home fully funded but must pay half the cost of upgrading any more homes.

How do I apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant, and how long does it take?

Start with the official "Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant" service on GOV.UK. It checks whether you're likely to be eligible and passes your application to your council or its official contractor. GOV.UK says your council will usually contact you within 10 working days. A surveyor then visits to assess your home.

You can look up your EPC rating for free on the GOV.UK energy certificate register. If your home doesn't have one, ask your council.

It's worth knowing a few things before you apply:

  • Meeting the criteria doesn't guarantee funding. Councils assess each home, and each has a fixed budget.
  • Some areas pause applications. London stopped taking new applications for a while after heavy demand, then reopened them in April 2026.
  • The deadline is 31 March 2028. That's when councils must finish delivering work under the current scheme, so you have more time than you did with ECO4. Even so, funding goes to those who apply first.

What if I don't qualify on income?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has no income test. Homeowners in England and Wales can use it to reduce the cost of replacing fossil-fuel heating with a heat pump. As of November 2026, it pays:

  • £7,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump
  • £9,000 instead if your home is off the gas grid and heated by oil or LPG, but only until 31 March 2027
  • £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump

You apply through an MCS-certified installer, who takes the grant off your bill. If you heat with oil or LPG and are already thinking about a heat pump, the higher £9,000 rate ends in March, so check how long installers in your area are taking.

The government is also setting up low and zero-interest loans for energy upgrades. As of November 2026, it's still signing up lenders, and the new Warm Homes Agency is due to start giving households impartial advice in 2027.

What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

The Warm Homes: Local Grant only covers England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each run their own home energy schemes. ECO4 covers Great Britain until it closes, but after that you'll need to look at your own nation's government-run scheme.

How do I spot a grant scam?

With ECO4 ending, expect more cold calls, texts and doorstep sellers promising "free" insulation, solar panels or boilers. Protect yourself:

  • Remember who you apply to. For the Warm Homes: Local Grant, you apply through GOV.UK and your council, not through a salesperson or installer.
  • Check anyone who turns up. Ask which council or supplier they're working for. Then contact that organisation using details you find yourself, not ones they give you.
  • Watch for dead schemes. Anyone offering GBIS funding, or ECO4 work that can't be finished by 31 December 2026, should set alarm bells ringing.
  • Don't be rushed. Never pay upfront or sign on the spot, and don't share bank details just to "check your eligibility".

If ECO4 or GBIS work has already gone wrong, complain to the installer first. If they don't put it right, complain to the energy supplier that paid for the work.

What to do next

  • Look up your home's EPC rating for free on GOV.UK.
  • If you have an ECO4 job under way, get written confirmation that it'll be finished before 31 December 2026.
  • If you're in England with an EPC of D to G and a lower income, apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant through GOV.UK.
  • If you don't qualify on income but want a heat pump, look at the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, especially if you heat with oil or LPG before the £9,000 rate ends on 31 March 2027.
  • In Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, check your own government's home energy scheme.
  • Check anyone who contacts you about a grant by using contact details you've found yourself.

This is general information, not financial advice.

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