LA Flex (Local Authority Flexible Eligibility) is an extension of the ECO4 energy efficiency scheme in the UK. It gives local councils the ability to determine who in their community most needs energy-saving improvements—even if those individuals do not receive benefits.

This means LA Flex for non-benefit households is entirely possible, making the scheme one of the most accessible routes to energy funding today.

Under LA Flex, eligible households can receive:

• Free wall and loft insulation
• Heating system upgrades
• Boiler replacements (when permitted under ECO4 rules)
• Renewable heating technologies
• Smart controls
• Other council-approved energy grants

Because different areas have different needs, councils publish a LA Flex Statement of Intent (SOI) that outlines who qualifies locally.

Households across the UK are struggling with high energy costs, fuel poverty, and older homes that leak heat. Many of these families do not receive benefits, meaning they often miss out on standard funding routes.

LA Flex solves that by:

✔ Expanding eligibility

You can qualify based on income, vulnerability, age, health conditions, or council-assessed risks.

✔ Supporting local priorities

Councils can create guidelines based on community data, fuel poverty rates, and health risks linked to cold homes. Targeting hard-to-reach households

This includes rural homes, older properties, and families on low-to-moderate income.

✔ Offering free home energy upgrades

These upgrades reduce long-term energy bills and improve home comfort.

While guidelines vary by area, most councils base their LA Flex eligibility criteria on the following factors:

Households with Low Income
The LA Flex funding aids low-income households experiencing fuel poverty. Most councils set a limit on a family’s total annual gross income, typically around £31,000 or less, though this may vary according to local authority regulations. LA Flex focuses on fuel-poverty criteria, ensuring support reaches the homes most at risk.
Residents at risk – LA Flex Health and Vulnerability Criteria
Individuals impacted by cold homes, such as those with:
– Respiratory problems
– Cardiac ailments
– Problems with mobility
– Danger of fuel poverty

Elevated Energy Costs (Threat of Fuel Poverty)
Properties with an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G are given high priority. The assessments help determine if the home would benefit from council-approved energy grants under ECO4.

Locally Needed Services Approved by the Council
Each council focuses on households according to local issues such as aging homes, rural regions, or heating expenses that are high.

To apply, you typically need:

• Proof of income
• Council Tax bill or proof of residence
• EPC rating or survey (installer will often handle this)
• Medical evidence (if applying under health criteria)
• Basic household information

The heat1 installer or the council will review your documentation based on their LA Flex funding requirements.

You may qualify if:

• Your income is below the LA Flex income threshold
• Someone in your home has a qualifying health condition
• Your property is inefficient or expensive to heat
• You live in a fuel-poor area
• You don’t receive benefits but still struggle with energy costs

Many non-benefit households qualify, which is one of LA Flex’s biggest advantages.

The UK council flexible eligibility scheme endorses numerous energy-saving actions as outlined below:

• Replacement of the boiler
•  Air-source heat pump or electric storage heater 
• First time central heating 
• Insulation for cavity walls or solid walls
•  Loft insulation grant 

Home improvements enhance your house’s energy efficiency and livability, while also reducing exorbitant energy costs over time.

Here’s how the LA Flex application process usually works:

Step 1: Contact heat1 ECO4 Installer

Heat1 Installers handle most of the application and communicate with your council for approval.

Step 2: Eligibility Assessment

You’ll be assessed under your council’s LA Flex eligibility criteria. This includes income checks, health documentation, and property surveys. Heat1 provide a complimentary online eligibility verification that requires under a minute.

Step 3: Council Validation

The council reviews and confirms your eligibility based on their LA Flex Statement of Intent (SOI).

Step 4: Home Energy Survey

Heat1 professional assessor inspects your home to determine what upgrades suit your property.

Step 5: Installation of Energy Measures

If approved, you receive free home energy upgrades funded through ECO4.

One of the biggest advantages of LA Flex is that benefits are not required.
This makes it ideal for:

• Working families with low income
• Self-employed individuals
• Pensioners not receiving extra support
• People with health conditions
• Households experiencing fuel poverty but not claiming benefits

As long as you meet the LA Flex funding requirements, you can qualify without Universal Credit, ESA, JSA, or Tax Credits.

You may be eligible if you meet any of the following:

• Income under the LA Flex income threshold
• Household member with a health condition worsened by cold
• EPC rating of E–G
• High energy costs
• Over 65 or otherwise vulnerable
• Living in a fuel-poor zone
• Non-benefits household struggling with bills

If you’re unsure, a quick assessment from an installer can confirm your status.

The LA Flex scheme is one of the most inclusive and effective routes to obtaining energy efficiency grants in 2025. Thanks to flexible council guidelines, even households that don’t qualify for standard ECO4 funding can still receive support—often covering the full cost of installation.

Because LA Flex is flexible by design, many households that would otherwise be excluded from standard grants now have a real chance to receive energy-efficiency upgrades. Each application depends on local council criteria, so eligibility varies by area. To find out if your household qualifies, you can complete a free eligibility check with Heat1.co.uk.