Council properties can benefit from a range of upgrades through ECO4. The funding covers:

• First-Time Central Heating (FTCH)

Homes with no existing gas central heating system may qualify for a free central heating grant. This is one of the most valuable forms of central heating funding UK.

• Boiler Replacement

Old, broken, or non-condensing boilers may be replaced through free boiler and heating grants UK.

• Heating Controls

Smart thermostats, TRVs, and energy-saving controls help optimise heating performance.

• Low-Carbon Heating

Some homes may receive heat pumps or hybrid systems, depending on suitability.

These upgrades significantly improve energy efficiency for council homes, reducing long-term heating costs.

Most of the time, you have to meet a certain set of standards to get government heating grants in the UK. There are a few general rules to follow for ECO4 scheme eligibility in 2026:

1. Low Income

Numerous heating grants are available for low-income families. Because of this, you might have to get some benefits: Income-based Job seeker’s Allowance (JSA) Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) 1.Income Support Allowance (ISA) Working Tax Credit (WTC) Child Tax Credit (CTC) Universal Credit (UC) Pension Guarantee Credit Pension Savings Credit Child Benefit Housing Benefit

2. Homeowner or council Housing Tenant

Although some grants are designed for homeowners, ECO4 can help people living in council houses or other social housing properties. Eligibility usually depends on both the tenant’s circumstances and the property’s energy rating. Many social homes must be EPC band D–G to qualify.

3. Age or Condition of the Boiler

If you are applying for a boiler replacement, the existing boiler typically needs to be old, inefficient, or faulty — usually around 20 years old or more.

4. No Central Heating

If the property has no central heating at all, you may qualify for a first-time central heating system, which is fully covered under ECO4.

People who live in social housing have their homes owned by either the local government or a housing group. Of course, this doesn’t always make it harder to get central heating grants, though it might seem that way. Here’s what you need to know:

Permission from the Landlord: If you live in social housing, you will need to get permission from your landlord to fix the boiler or to make central heating upgrades. The landlord is responsible for maintaining the heating system, so their approval is required for any grant-funded work.

Landlord’s Role: In some cases, the landlord can apply for the grant on your account. The housing associations may have a scheme in place to improve their properties, making it easier for tenants to access schemes like ECO4.

The rules for housing association heating grants are similar to those for council properties:

• The landlord must approve the work
• The tenant must meet ECO4 eligibility
• The property must have a low EPC rating
• Installations must be performed by trustmark-registered installers. Therefore, you can contact our heat1 installer for your ECO4 central heating installation.

Many housing associations actively use ECO4 to upgrade their housing stock at no cost to tenants (with the permission of landlords).

Applying for energy efficiency grants for council homes through ECO4 offers numerous advantages:

• Heating bills (up to 40% savings after major upgrades)
• Better comfort levels during winter
• Safer, more reliable heating
• Warmer homes for vulnerable families
• Higher EPC ratings, improving the council’s housing stock
• Lower carbon emissions

Although it may appear difficult to apply for the government ECO4 scheme, it actually isn’t. These are the actions you need to perform:

Verify Eligibility: To ensure you can obtain the grant, first verify that you meet all the requirements. This group of steps includes checking your income. Use Heat1 no-cost eligibility checker tool to find out if you qualify within a mere minute.

Consult with Your Landlord: Individuals residing in social housing are advised to communicate with their landlord or the housing organisation they belong to. They must approve any alterations to the boiler, and they may also need to complete a grant application.

Approval & Scheduling: Once the free home survey is completed and eligibility is confirmed, an installation date will be set.

Installation: Central heating or boiler upgrades are then installed at no cost to eligible households.

Council properties are often older, with outdated heating systems and insufficient insulation. The ECO4 central heating installation scheme allows councils to upgrade homes without using their own budgets.

This is a major opportunity for:

• Councils wanting to meet net-zero targets
• Tenants seeking cheaper energy bills
• Housing associations aiming to modernise their homes
• Families struggling with fuel poverty

Given that ECO4 Grant ending in March 2026, now is the best time to enquire.

The ECO4 scheme provides council tenants and housing association residents with a valuable opportunity to improve heating systems and energy efficiency at no cost. Whether you need a first-time central heating system, a boiler replacement, or upgraded heating controls, ECO4 can make homes warmer, safer, and more energy-efficient while reducing energy bills.

For council tenants, the key steps are confirming eligibility criteria, getting landlord approval, and having installations carried out by Heat1-registered professionals. With the scheme concluding in 2026, eligible households need to act quickly and make the most of these government-funded grants. For more information about the free central heating for council tenants, please visit our website heat1.co.uk.