UK Boiler Grants in 2026: Who Qualifies and How Much
Replacing an old gas boiler now costs £2,500 to £4,500 installed, and a heat pump £8,000 to £14,000 before grants. The good news is that several government and energy-supplier schemes will pay all or part of that cost in 2026 if your household meets specific income, benefit or property conditions. This guide explains exactly what is available, who qualifies, how much you can get and how to apply without falling for the cold-calling scams that target these schemes.
ECO4: free boiler replacement for low-income households
The Energy Company Obligation, currently in its fourth phase (ECO4), is the main route to a fully funded replacement boiler in 2026. It is paid for by the larger gas and electricity suppliers as part of their regulatory obligation and runs until March 2026, with ECO5 expected to take over after that.
To qualify, you must own your home or be a private tenant (with landlord permission), the property must have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G and someone in the household must receive one of the qualifying benefits: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or Housing Benefit. The Local Authority Flexible Eligibility route, often called LA Flex, also covers households with annual income below £31,000 or with a vulnerable resident, even without a qualifying benefit — your local council issues a Statement of Intent.
Under ECO4 the goal is to bring the home up to at least EPC band D, so funding is usually packaged: a new condensing boiler plus loft and cavity wall insulation in one project. Total grant value typically ranges from £4,000 to £15,000 depending on the property. There is no application form — you apply through an Ofgem-registered installer or a council scheme.
The Great British Insulation Scheme: faster but insulation-only
GBIS, sometimes called ECO+, sits alongside ECO4 and runs until March 2026. It funds insulation upgrades — loft, cavity wall, room-in-roof — for lower-EPC homes and is open to a wider group than ECO4. Households in Council Tax bands A to D (England) or A to E (Scotland/Wales) with an EPC of D or below may qualify, even without benefits. Those on benefits qualify across all Council Tax bands.
GBIS does not directly fund a boiler. It pays for the insulation that allows your new boiler — or heat pump — to run efficiently. In practice, an installer often combines GBIS for insulation with an ECO4 boiler and presents both as one project.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 toward a heat pump
If you are open to switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the most generous offer in the market. It pays £7,500 toward an air source heat pump, £7,500 for a ground source heat pump and £5,000 for a biomass boiler. It applies to homes in England and Wales (different schemes exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland) and is open to owner-occupiers, private landlords and small non-domestic premises.
There is no income or benefit test. You must have a valid EPC dated within the last 10 years with no outstanding recommendations for cavity wall or loft insulation. Apply through an MCS-certified installer — they handle the entire application, deduct the grant from the quoted price and reclaim it from Ofgem on your behalf.
The October 2024 Budget extended the scheme to 2028 with increased annual funding, so unlike the ECO schemes, you do not need to rush. Quotes for a typical air source heat pump install now sit at £10,000 to £14,000 before the grant — meaning out-of-pocket cost of £2,500 to £6,500 after BUS.
Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment and other cash help
These are not grants for kit, but they reduce the running cost of your heating. The Warm Home Discount gives £150 off the electricity bill for households on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and certain low-income families on means-tested benefits. It is paid automatically between October and March if you qualify.
Cold Weather Payments of £25 are triggered automatically when the average temperature in your postcode is 0°C or below for seven consecutive days, for households receiving Pension Credit, Income Support, JSA, ESA or Universal Credit with a disability or child element.
Winter Fuel Payment was means-tested in 2024 and is now only paid to Pension Credit recipients, narrowing the pool but increasing the payment to £200 to £300.
How to avoid the scams
Both ECO and BUS have attracted cold-calling, doorstep and social-media scams promising 'free boilers' or 'government heat pumps' to anyone. The legitimate schemes have rules. Anyone who calls without knowing your benefit status, asks for a deposit upfront or pressures you into a same-day signature is not a real installer.
Check installers against the TrustMark register for ECO4 and GBIS, the MCS certificated installer database for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Companies House for the trading name. Apply via your local authority's published scheme, the official Boiler Upgrade Scheme installer search at gov.uk, or a Citizens Advice referral — never via a Facebook ad.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a completely free boiler in 2026?
Yes — if you own your home or are a private tenant with landlord permission, the property has an EPC of D or below and someone in the household receives a qualifying means-tested benefit, ECO4 typically covers the full cost of a like-for-like gas boiler replacement plus insulation.
How much is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
£7,500 for an air source or ground source heat pump and £5,000 for a biomass boiler in England and Wales. There is no income test. Apply through an MCS-certified installer, who deducts the grant from your bill.
Do I have to be on benefits to get a boiler grant?
For ECO4 yes, unless your local council offers LA Flex for households with income below £31,000 or a vulnerable resident. For the Boiler Upgrade Scheme no — it is open to all owner-occupiers and landlords with a valid EPC.
Are landlords eligible for boiler grants?
Yes. ECO4 is open to private landlords where the tenant meets the benefit or income criteria. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is open to all landlords for heat pump or biomass installs. Both schemes require tenant agreement and landlord sign-off.
When does ECO4 end?
ECO4 and GBIS both end in March 2026. ECO5 is expected to follow with similar rules but tighter targeting toward the lowest-income households and worst-performing properties. Apply before March 2026 to be sure of the current scheme rules.