ECO Scheme Heating and Insulation Grants

Free Central Heating from the Government's ECO Scheme

Free Central Heating from ECO4 Scheme

Free Central Heating. ECO4 Grants pay for the installation of central heating systems in homes which have never had a central heating system installed before.

Free Central Heating. Qualifying criteria includes the requirement that the new central heating system to be installed in your home must be a heating system which provides heat for your home using a boiler and radiators.

The Free Central Heating Scheme rules also require that the new central heating system can only be installed in domestic premises which have never had a central heating system installed before.

You, or someone living permanently with you, must receive one of the qualifying State Benefits, Tax Credits or Other Allowances list unless you qualify under ECO Flex Rules, please see below.

Please read the comments from a successful applicant below:

Free central heating installation
Private Landlords can apply for a Central Heating Grant for their rented property by Clicking HERE

Free Central Heating - Qualifying Criteria

1. The applicant must be a home owner or a tenant in a privately rented home.

IMPORTANT

For homeowners, homes must have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G to be eligible for Central Heating Grants.  However, some homes in the higher part of band D will not qualify.

For private tenants, homes must have an EPC rating of E, F or G to be eligible for Central Heating Grants.

You can see the EPC rating of your home by clicking HERE for England and Wales or HERE for Scotland.

2. Existing Heating Systems which can be replaced under the Free Central Heating Scheme

Free Central Heating Grants scheme rules require that your home must have either no heating at all or one of the following:

  1. Electric room heaters
  2. Broken or inefficient electric storage heaters
  3. Gas room heaters
  4. Gas fire with back boiler (no radiators)
  5. Mains gas warm air system
  6. Solid fossil fuel fire with back boiler (no radiators)
  7. Electric underfloor or ceiling heating (not with an electric boiler)
  8. Bottled LPG room heating
  9. Solid fossil fuel (such as coal) room heaters
  10. Wood or biomass room heating
  11. Oil room heaters

Free Central Heating scheme rules uses as your existing heating that which appears as the ‘Main Heating’ system on your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

You can see your EPC HERE if your home is in England or Wales and HERE if it is in Scotland.

IMPORTANT

One of the main changes from ECO3 (which ended on 31/03/2022) and ECO4 (which started on 01/04/2022) is that homes must have had an existing mains gas supply prior to 31st March 2022 to qualify for a Free Central Heating grant to install a new mains gas central heating system.

If your home did not have a mains gas supply prior to 31st March 2022 you may qualify for a Free Central Heating grant to install an air source heat pump.

First Time Central Heating Grant Application Form

Step 1 of 3

  • 1. Your Details:

  • We need this to confirm that you qualify for a central heating grant
Free Central Heating from ECO4

3. The applicant must receive one of the Qualifying Benefits below unless you qualify under ECO Flex Rules

Free Central Heating scheme rules require that either you or someone living permanently with you, must receive at least one of the following State Benefits, Tax Credits or Other Allowances unless you qualify under ECO Flex Rules:

  • Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit
  • Pension Credit – Savings Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income-Based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income Support
  • Child Benefit (subject to maximum household income thresholds)
  • Housing Benefit

ECO Flex Rules allow local councils to recommend that you qualify for central heating grants even if you don’t receive one of the qualifying benefits.

4. Your home must be well insulated

Central Heating Grants scheme rules require that your home must have adequate loft insulation and cavity wall insulation installed.

If it does not, the installation company dealing with your new central heating system may be able to arrange it.

ECO4 grants to install free central heating
Grants for Free Central Heating
Free Central Heating Grants can fund the installation of the following central heating systems:

Central heating grants provide funding to install the following types of central heating boiler plus radiators, pipework and a room thermostat.

  1. Mains Gas Boiler
  2. Biomass Boiler
  3. LPG Boiler
  4. Air Source Heat Pump
  5. Ground Source Heat Pump
  6. Electric Boiler
Central Heating Grants FAQs

Who can apply for free central heating ?

Free Central Heating is available to home owners, and tenants in privately rented homes who satisfy the qualifying rules.

Tenants in homes owned by your local council or a housing association and householders who live in shared ownership homes do not qualify for Grants under ECO Scheme rules.

Will I have to contribute to the cost a new central heating system?

Free Central Heating Grants cover the full cost of installing a central heating system in your home in many cases.

However, some householders may have to make a contribution. A free survey of your home and any existing heating system will be carried out to determine whether a contribution is required.

I don't receive one of the qualifying benefits can I still apply for free central heating?

If you do not receive any of the relevant benefits you may still qualify for a free central heating grants under the ECO Scheme’s ECO Flex Rules.

Local councils can recommend that householders receive a free central heating grant if they satisfy their ECO Flex rules. ECO Flex rules aim to help low income families and householders who may have their health adversely affected by living in a cold home.

Each council can set their own ECO Flex rules but there are four different ways to qualify under ECO Flex, including a referral from the NHS.

I don't receive any of the qualifying benefits but someone who lives with me does, can I still apply?

Yes.

If someone who lives with you on a permanently basis receives one of the qualifying benefits you can still apply for central heating grants. The Central Heating Grants application will be in their name.

Also, the letter confirming that they receive a qualifying benefit letter must have your address on it.

What if I don't have a gas supply to my home?

One of the main changes from ECO3 (which ended on 31/03/2022) and ECO4 (which started on 01/04/2022) is that homes must have had an existing mains gas supply prior to 31st March 2022 to qualify for a Free Central Heating grant to install a new mains gas central heating system.

If your home did not have a mains gas supply prior to 31st March 2022 you may qualify for a Free Central Heating grant to install an air source heat pump.

How do I apply for free central heating?

To apply for Free Central Heating, householders should complete the application form on this website page.

If we can help, we will telephone you to let you know whether satisfy central heating grants qualifying criteria based on the information you have provided.

We will arrange a free survey of your home and the existing heating system and the surveyor will complete the official grant application form for you. Also, with your permission, an electronic check will be made with the Department for Work and Pensions that you do receive one of the qualifying benefits.

The ECO authorised installation company which arranged the survey install your new central heating system. Once the installation is complete they will be paid directly from ECO Scheme funds.

What do central heating grants cover?

Free Central Heating Grants cover the cost of supplying and installing a central heating boiler together with radiators, pipework and room thermostat.

If any plaster work is damaged during the installation this will be repaired but central heating grants do not cover the cost of redecorating your home.

How long does it take for a central heating system to be installed in my home?

Once you apply for free central heating with us we will telephone you to let you know if you qualify and to answer any questions you may have.

With your permission an electronic check will be carried out with the DWP to confirm that you receive one of the qualifying central heating grants scheme benefits and this can take a few days to get the result.

Once your entitlement to free central heating has been confirmed, a free survey of your home and the existing heating system will be carried out. This normally takes place within a week or two of receiving the DWP confirmation.

An ECO Scheme Approved installer will then book a convenient time to install your new central heating system and the installation will take a few days to complete.

What if central heating has been fitted in my home but has been removed?

Free Central Heating Grants are only available to help pay for the installation of central heating systems in homes which have never had a central heating system.

Householders in homes where a central heating system has been removed do not qualify for central heating grants.  The official name for this grant scheme is  ‘First Time Central Heating Grants‘

What if I am not sure whether central heating has been fitted in my home before but removed?

Free Central Heating Grants rules require that householders must sign a declaration confirming the following:

“I, the owner of the premises, declare that to the best of my knowledge, at no point prior to the installation of the first time central heating, first time district heating system or first time renewable heating system, did the premises have a central heating system, district heating system, or renewable heating system nor, immediately prior to the installation, did the premises did have a working, efficient electric storage heater(s).”

Why do I have to insulate my home before central heating can be installed?

The Free Central Heating scheme rules require that cavity wall insulation and loft insulation must be installed in your home unless it is already present prior to the installation of the central heating system.

This is to ensure that you benefit fully from the central heating system without unnecessary heat loss through the walls and roof of your home.

Is Central Heating available throughout the whole of the UK?

Central Heating Grants are available in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own scheme but we do not deal with it.

However, currently we do not process applications for grants in all areas of England, Scotland and Wales.

The situation is changing regularly so please apply for free central heating using the form on this page. If we can help we will call you back, if not, we will contact you as soon as we can process central heating grants in your area.

Where does the money come from for free central heating?

Funding for Free Central Heating is provided by the Affordable Warmth Scheme which is part of the Government’s ECO Scheme.

A levy is added to every household’s electricity bill. This money is collected by your energy supplier and paid into the ECO fund.

Home owners and tenants who qualify for free central heating are allocated a grant from the ECO fund. The amount of the grant is based on the results of your free home survey. Payment for your Free Central Heating system are made directly to your ECO authorised installation company once your central heating system has been installed.

How long will free central heating be available?

The current version of the ECO scheme is ECO4 which commenced on 1st April 2022. It is expected to run until March 2026 but in the current economic climate it is possible that funding could be withdrawn.

Therefore, householders who think that they may qualify for Free Central Heating should apply straight away, whilst ECO funding is still available.

The ECO Scheme is part of the Government’s plan to help reduce carbon emissions from homes and helping low income households to heat their homes properly.

Free Central Heating from the Government’s ECO4 Scheme