With energy bills and the cost of living still squeezing households, it’s no surprise so many people are searching for the free boiler scheme.
- Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme
- Who qualifies for ECO4?
- Does your EPC rating matter?
- ECO4 Flex / LA Flex (if you’re not on benefits)
- Who can qualify under LA Flex?
- What does LA Flex actually help with?
- How to apply (the practical version)
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) (England & Wales)
- Schemes people still search for (but aren’t active)
Most of the time, that phrase is shorthand for ECO4 boiler grants - or ECO4 Flex (LA Flex) if you’re not on benefits but are on a low income or vulnerable to living in a cold home.
If you’re eligible, support can cover heating and efficiency upgrades, reducing what you pay upfront (and in some cases, covering the full cost).
So what does it actually include - and how do you know if you qualify?
Free boiler scheme eligibility (quick check):
You may be a good fit if:
Someone in the household receives a qualifying benefit - or you can qualify through ECO4 Flex / LA Flex (for low-income or vulnerable households who aren’t on benefits).
Your home is suitable for energy-efficiency upgrades after an assessment (this can vary by installer, supplier, and what funding is available locally).
Important: meeting the eligibility criteria doesn’t automatically guarantee a free boiler. Approval depends on your property, the measures recommended, and what can be funded in your area.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme
When people talk about the “free boiler scheme”, they’re usually talking about ECO4.
It’s a government-backed programme delivered via energy suppliers, designed to help eligible households make their homes cheaper to heat by funding energy-efficiency upgrades - especially where fuel poverty is a risk.
When does ECO4 end?
ECO4 was originally set to finish in March 2026, but it’s since been extended and is now expected to run until 31 December 2026.
Related reading:
Who qualifies for ECO4?
You may qualify if someone in the household receives at least one of the following benefits (this list can change over time, so it’s always worth double-checking):
Child Benefit (subject to income caps)
Pension Guarantee Credit
Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income Support
Universal Credit (UC)
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit Savings Credit
Does your EPC rating matter?
It can - but it’s not as simple as “EPC D–G = yes, anything else = no”.
In reality, an installer/assessor will look at your home’s current efficiency and what upgrades make sense under the scheme rules.
Lots of guides mention lower EPC bands because they’re often more likely to qualify, but the outcome depends on the assessment, funding rules, and what measures are appropriate for your property.
ECO4 Flex / LA Flex (if you’re not on benefits)
Not on benefits? Don’t write yourself off.
ECO4 Flex (often called LA Flex) is the route that can still get you support even if you don’t receive a qualifying benefit.
In simple terms: your local authority can refer households that are low income and/or vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home, so they can be considered for ECO4 funding.
Who can qualify under LA Flex?
Each council sets its own criteria in a document usually called a Statement of Intent, so the exact rules vary by area. But common examples include:
Lower household income (Ofgem gives examples such as under £31,000 in some guidance)
Health conditions that are made worse by cold or damp homes (meaning warmer, more consistent heating is especially important)
Households that may be at higher risk from cold (for example older residents, young children, or certain vulnerabilities - depending on the council’s policy)
What does LA Flex actually help with?
LA Flex doesn’t “hand you a boiler”. It’s more like a permission slip that lets you be assessed for ECO4 measures even without benefits.
Once referred, an installer/assessor checks:
whether your home is suitable,
what measures deliver the best improvement,
and whether funding is available locally.
That might include heating system upgrades, controls, insulation, or a mix - depending on what gets the biggest efficiency gain.
How to apply (the practical version)
Find your local council’s LA Flex info (search your council name + “ECO4 Flex” or “LA Flex”)
Check whether you match their Statement of Intent criteria
Submit the council’s referral form (some councils work through partner installers)
If referred, an installer carries out a survey/assessment and confirms what can be funded
If you’re unsure, we’ll point you to the right route - ECO4, Flex, or finance - without the runaround.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) (England & Wales)
If ECO4 is the “help me afford a boiler” conversation, BUS is the “switch to low-carbon heating” conversation.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme supports upgrades like heat pumps and biomass boilers in England and Wales.
It’s not a free boiler scheme - and you don’t apply as a homeowner directly in the same way. Instead, your installer applies, and the grant is taken off the price you pay.
Current BUS grants:
£7,500 towards an air source heat pump
£7,500 towards a ground source heat pump (including water source)
£5,000 towards a biomass boiler
BUS can make heat pumps far more affordable, but suitability depends on your home (heat loss, radiators/pipework, insulation levels, etc.).
The best way to think of it is it’s a grant towards an upgrade - not a guarantee you’ll pay nothing.
Schemes people still search for (but aren’t active)
You’ll still see these mentioned online, but they’re no longer running:
Boiler Scrappage Scheme
Green Homes Grant
ECO3 (replaced by ECO4)
Not eligible for a grant? Boilers on finance
If you don’t qualify for ECO4 / LA Flex, you’ve still got options - and finance is usually the most realistic route for a quick replacement.
Many boiler finance plans let you spread the cost monthly, and some offers are interest-free, subject to credit checks and lender criteria.
A typical boiler replacement (supply + install) often lands around £1,750 to £3,800, depending on boiler choice, flue work, filters, controls, and any remedial pipework.
Cost of Boiler Installation (Labour + Standalone Costs) | Repayment Timeframe | Interest Rate | Monthly Repayment |
£2,500 | 2 years | 0% | £105 |
£2,000 | 3 years | 10% | £62 |
£3,000 | 2 years | 10% | £138 |
Illustrative examples only. Rates, terms and approval depend on eligibility and lender checks.
Approval depends on the lender - but many homeowners are still eligible even if their credit isn’t perfect.
Looking for a great deal on a new boiler?
If so, get your boiler replacement installed with Heatable. Here’s why:
Gas Safe installation within 24 hours.
Thousands of happy customers – an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot (that’s better than the market leader).
Price match guarantee – if you find a cheaper quote, we will match (must be like for like).
Multiple payment options - interest-free available.
10-year guarantee.
Fixed price guarantee – no hidden costs.
Save your quote until later.
Use this clickable form to get a fixed price on the screen instantly.
Heat happy.
