Last updated: October 19, 2026
ECO4 — the scheme behind thousands of free boilers, insulation jobs, and first-time central heating installations across the UK — closes on 31 December 2026. That's roughly ten weeks away. And here's the part most people miss: it's not enough to have applied by then. The measures must be installed in your home before the deadline. If you've been thinking about checking whether you qualify, this is the moment.
TL;DR
ECO4 ends 31 December 2026, and only measures fully installed by that date count. With surveys, approvals, and installer booking queues, the realistic journey from enquiry to installation takes 4–12 weeks — so anyone starting now is already on the clock. Qualifying households (means-tested benefits or ECO4 Flex, usually EPC D–G) may still get free boilers, insulation, or full first-time central heating. After ECO4, the main successor is the Warm Homes: Local Grant — but it's a different scheme with its own rules, and there's no guarantee it covers the same ground.
What is ECO4, in plain English?
ECO4 (the Energy Company Obligation, fourth phase) requires large energy suppliers to fund energy-efficiency improvements in fuel-poor and vulnerable households. In practice, that means qualifying homes may receive:
- Boiler repair or replacement (where the existing boiler is faulty or inefficient)
- Loft, cavity wall, and solid wall insulation
- First-time central heating — a full boiler, radiators, and controls package for homes that never had central heating
- Other efficiency measures assessed during the home survey
It's fully funded — not a loan, nothing to repay. Fairway Energy is an independent service that helps homeowners check whether they may be eligible; we are not the government, an official administrator, or an installer.
Key Facts
| Detail | What it means |
|---|---|
| Scheme closes | 31 December 2026 |
| The hard rule | Measures must be installed by 31 Dec — an application in progress doesn't count |
| Realistic timeline | 4–12 weeks from first enquiry to finished installation |
| Who may qualify | Households on qualifying means-tested benefits, or via ECO4 Flex (council referral); usually EPC D–G |
| Tenants | Need the landlord's written permission before work can be booked |
| Cost if eligible | Nothing — funded, not a loan |
Why "installed, not applied" changes everything
Most people assume that getting their application in before the deadline is enough. It isn't. Energy suppliers claim their ECO4 obligations against completed installations. If your boiler goes in on 5 January 2027, it doesn't count — even if you applied in November. That single rule is why the practical deadline is much earlier than 31 December: you need to leave room for the survey, the paperwork, and the installer's diary.
Installer books are filling now
Autumn is always the busiest season for heating installers, and 2026 has an extra surge: everyone who qualifies is trying to beat the same deadline. Installers working under ECO4 have finite survey slots and fitting teams. Once their diaries are full through December, new enquiries simply can't be completed in time — even for households that would otherwise qualify. Starting your eligibility check in October gives you the best possible chance; starting in December almost certainly won't work.
What replaces ECO4 after December?
The main successor is the Warm Homes: Local Grant — but it's a different scheme with its own eligibility rules, delivery model, and timelines, and it won't necessarily cover everything ECO4 did or work the same way in every area. There may be a gap between ECO4 closing and new routes bedding in. The honest advice: don't plan around a future scheme when the current one is still open and you may qualify today.
Your action steps this week
- Check if you may qualify (2 minutes). Benefits status, property type, current heating — that's all it takes for an initial check. Use our free eligibility check.
- Get the survey booked. If you may qualify, the next step is a home survey by an approved installer. This is where the clock really starts.
- Tenants: talk to your landlord now. Written permission is required before anything can be booked — have that conversation this week, not in December.
- Don't pay anyone upfront. Legitimate ECO4 work involves no upfront fees. Anyone asking for money to "secure" your grant is not operating legitimately.
FAQ
What exactly happens on 31 December 2026?
ECO4 closes. After that date, no new measures can be counted under the scheme. Only installations fully completed by the deadline qualify — applications still in progress do not.
I applied months ago but nothing's been installed. Am I safe?
Not automatically. Contact your installer immediately and ask for a confirmed installation date. If they can't complete the work before 31 December, your application may not result in funded measures under ECO4.
Can I apply for ECO4 and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme at the same time?
They're separate schemes for different situations. ECO4 targets fuel-poor households for boilers, insulation, and first-time central heating; the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500 for air/ground-source heat pumps, £2,500 air-to-air, £5,000 biomass) is open more broadly but is one claim per property and requires an MCS-certified installer. An eligibility check can help you understand which route fits your home.
What if I miss the deadline?
Look into the Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (which runs to 2028), but expect different rules and no guarantee of the same coverage. The strongest position is to act while ECO4 is still open.
Don't leave it to December. Fairway Energy is an independent eligibility-enquiry service — check in 2 minutes whether your home may qualify for ECO4 funding while the scheme is still open. Start your free eligibility check here — free, zero obligation.
Fairway Energy is not the government, an official grant administrator, or an installer. Eligibility depends on your household circumstances and property — nothing here guarantees funding.