ECO4 — funded measures and landlord eligibility
- Cavity wall insulation: mineral wool, polystyrene bead, or polyurethane foam injected into the cavity wall gap — cost without grant £1,500-£3,000
- Solid wall insulation: external wall insulation (EWI) or internal wall insulation (IWI) for pre-1920s solid-wall properties — cost without grant £8,000-£25,000
- Loft insulation: mineral wool to 270mm — typically funded where existing insulation is below 100mm — cost without grant £300-£700
- First-time central heating: gas or oil boiler installation where no existing central heating — not available for replacements
- Air source heat pumps: funded for properties not connected to the mains gas grid — Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides separate £7,500 grant
ECO4 tenant eligibility — qualifying criteria
- Means-tested benefit recipients: Universal Credit (with housing cost or child element), Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit below £31,000 household income
- ECO4 Flex (LAFE): local authority referral route for fuel-poor households not receiving qualifying benefits — ask the local council housing team
- EPC rating: property must be rated D, E, F, or G — B and C rated properties are generally ineligible
- Landlord consent required: landlord must sign written consent before works commence
ECO4 runs until March 2026
ECO4 has finite funding and runs to March 2026. Successor schemes are expected but not confirmed. Landlords with qualifying tenants and D-G rated properties should apply immediately.
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) — broader eligibility
- GBIS Group A: council tax bands A-D households receiving qualifying means-tested benefits
- GBIS Group B: all households in council tax bands A-D with EPC rating D or below — regardless of benefit status. Most accessible route for landlords with working tenants
- GBIS eligible measures: insulation only (cavity wall, solid wall, loft, flat roof, room-in-roof, underfloor) — no heating measures
- No local authority referral needed — contact Trustmark-registered installers directly
Interaction with EPC C 2030 and MEES
- Government has proposed EPC C minimum for new tenancies from 2028 and all tenancies from 2030
- Typical EPC gain: cavity wall insulation 3-8 points; loft insulation 2-5 points; solid wall insulation 8-15 points
- A combination of measures can take a property from EPC E to C at no cost to the landlord where fully funded
- MEES £3,500 cost cap met at zero expenditure where funded works bring the property to EPC C
How to apply — step by step
- Step 1: check tenant's benefit status (ECO4) or property EPC rating and council tax band (GBIS Group B)
- Step 2: find a Trustmark-registered ECO4/GBIS installer via the Energy Saving Trust or GBIS website
- Step 3: arrange a free survey — installer assesses eligible measures and confirms funding
- Step 4: give written consent and allow works — installer applies for funding from the obligated energy company
- Step 5: after works, installer commissions new EPC — retain works documentation and new EPC
- Warning: verify Trustmark registration before agreeing to any works — rogue operators claiming free government grants then invoicing are an active fraud risk