Who qualifies for a boiler grant?

If your home has an older gas boiler, you could be eligible for a free or subsidised replacement through the Government's Energy Company Obligation (ECO) programme. Designed to help UK households reduce heating costs, the scheme has already helped thousands of homeowners install modern, efficient boilers.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the eligibility criteria and explain how the scheme works.

What is a boiler grant?

Boiler grants are designed to help homeowners or tenants replace their old boilers with a newer, more energy-efficient model. These grants are offered by energy suppliers to enhance home efficiency. If you're eligible, a new boiler grant could cover some or all the cost of installation.

What is the Government Energy Company Organisation (ECO) programme?

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is a government-backed scheme that helps eligible UK households upgrade to a more energy-efficient home. ECO is funded by major energy suppliers and covers a range of improvements, including new boiler installations and insulation upgrades, free of charge or at a significantly reduced cost for those who qualify.

To qualify for an ECO boiler grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Your existing boiler must be at least 8 years old
• You are the homeowner or are a private tenant with the landlords consent. Social housing may be eligible for some measures, but not standard boiler grants.
• Your property must be connected to the mains gas supply, as boilers running on LPG, oil, or biomass are not covered under this scheme
• You must receive at least one qualifying government benefit to qualify

The scheme runs from 1 April 2022 until 31 December 2026.

Who qualifies for a free boiler?

The criteria for receiving a free boiler grant are strict. To qualify, applicants must receive at least one benefit from the following:

*To qualify through child benefits the applicant must fall within Ofgem's income thresholds: If the homeowner or tenant meets any of the following criteria, then they could be eligible to get a free boiler from the ECO scheme.

If the applicant meets these criteria, they could be eligible to receive a free boiler as part of the ECO scheme.

• British Gas now includes - Peoples Energy, Together Energy and Bristol Energy
• E
• E.on
• Ecotricity
• EDF Energy now includes - Green Network and Utility Point
• Octopus Energy now includes - Avro Energy, Co-Operative Energy, and Flow Energy
• OVO Energy now includes - Economy Energy, Spark Energy, and SSE
• Scottish Power now includes - Extra Energy
• So Energy
• Utilita
• Utility Warehouse

Energy companies are selected based on their annual customer numbers (typically 250,000 or more) and the amount of electricity they supply (between 400 and 2,000 GW).

These figures are requested by the ECO programme, and any new suppliers that meet the criteria are notified and expected to take part in the scheme.

Eligibility criteria and participating energy companies correct as of March 2026.

The Affordable Warmth Obligation

Under the Affordable Warmth Obligation, energy suppliers are required to install replacement boilers free of charge for households that meet the qualifying criteria.

Whilst some applicants will receive a fully funded boiler, most eligible households will be awarded a grant that contributes towards the cost of replacing their existing boiler, as well as other energy-saving improvements such as insulation.

To qualify under this obligation, you must meet the following criteria:

• You receive at least one qualifying government benefit
• You own or privately rent your property
• Your property holds an energy efficiency rating:
  
  • Homeowners: D, E, F or G are eligible.
  • Private rented: E, F or G.
  • Social housing: E, F or G but limited measure

Summary

• The UK government’s ECO scheme is designed to help improve the energy efficiency of low-income households throughout boiler grants and other financial support.
• The list of criteria is long, with applicants needing to receive some form of relevant benefit as well as meeting the salary thresholds set by the government.
• The property itself must also fall within specific energy standards to be eligible, with the most energy-inefficient homes receiving the largest grants.

You can read more about ECO4 here.

Information correct as of March 2026.