Boiler Grants 2026: Can You Get a Free Boiler?

Whenever a boiler breaks down or becomes increasingly expensive to run, replacing it is always a difficult expense to pay for.

The good news is that in 2026, government-backed assistance remains available to certain households.

The expression "free boiler scheme" is misleading. No single government scheme exists which simply gives free boilers to anyone who meets an income threshold.

There are, however, various schemes which provide support, such as ECO4, the Warm Homes, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

The support available depends on factors such as your income, the benefits you receive, where you live, your property and the improvements it requires.

There were also several significant changes in 2026.

Let's examine the boiler grants that are still available, who is eligible and how to apply.

Will You Still Be Able To Get A Free Boiler In 2026?

Potentially, yes.

The scheme that many homeowners have in mind when they look for a free boiler grant is generally the Energy Company Obligation, more commonly known as ECO4.

Under ECO4, energy companies are obliged to fund energy-saving improvements for qualifying households. These improvements can include insulation, heating controls and, in some circumstances, the repair or replacement of an inefficient or broken boiler.

ECO4 was originally due to end on 31 March 2026. However, the government has extended the scheme until 31 December 2026, giving energy suppliers additional time to complete their obligations.

This doesn't mean that every household that qualifies will automatically receive a free boiler.

ECO4 takes a wider approach to improving the energy efficiency of a property, so the home improvements offered will depend on your property, its current energy performance and the work considered necessary.

The government has stated that the assistance offered can cover the cost of repairing or replacing a boiler, as well as that of insulation and other improvements to the heating system.

But there is an important detail.

ECO4 is not, in fact, a standard government grant on the basis of which you receive a set sum of money.

Ofgem explains that energy companies decide which projects to fund, how much to fund them, and which installers carry out the work.

Meeting the eligibility requirements therefore doesn't guarantee that your boiler will be replaced for free. Depending on your property and the work required, the scheme may fund the entire installation, or you may need to contribute towards certain improvements.

Why Was ECO4 Extended?

The fact that the period has been extended doesn't mean there is now additional funding available for ECO4.

The government has confirmed that the ECO4 targets will not be increased.

Rather, the extension provides energy suppliers with more time to fulfil their obligations and enables remedial action and an orderly closure of the scheme.

If you think you qualify for assistance, it makes sense to apply as soon as possible.

What Kind Of Payments Does ECO4 Make?

ECO4 differs from the earlier versions of the Energy Company Obligation by adopting a more comprehensive, whole-house approach.

It involves the assessor examining the energy performance of your home and deciding which improvements would have the greatest impact.

These could include:

• Boiler repairs or replacement
• First-time central heating
• Heating controls
• Renewable heating
• Loft insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• Solid wall insulation
• Other energy-efficiency improvements

ECO4 projects must also meet minimum energy-efficiency improvement requirements.

Jargon Buster: EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
A certificate that rates a property's energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), which is often used as a benchmark to determine eligibility for government funding.

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates a home from A to G based on its energy efficiency, with A being the most efficient and G the least.

According to Ofgem, homes with an EPC rating of D or E generally need to be improved to at least a C rating under ECO4, while homes rated F or G need to reach at least a D.

Instead of seeing ECO4 as a scheme that allows you to replace an old boiler with a new one, consider it funding intended to improve the overall energy efficiency of eligible homes.

Who is eligible for the ECO4 boiler grant in 2026?

Homeowners' eligibility is in part determined by your property and in part by your household situation.

According to the government's current guidance, people living in private housing may qualify if someone in the household receives one of the following:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Pension Savings Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Child Benefit
• Housing Benefit

For homeowners, the property must usually have an energy-efficiency rating of D, E, F or G.

If you rent from a private landlord, the property must usually have a rating of E, F, or G, and you will need the landlord's permission before any work can take place.

Working Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit are not on that list any more.

What Is ECO4 Flex?

Getting benefits isn't the only way of gaining access to ECO4.

Local authorities and the devolved administrations may also refer certain households via ECO4 Flex, a route which is sometimes known as LA Flex.

The aim is to assist in identifying households that are having difficulty with their energy costs or are especially vulnerable to living in a cold home, even if they do not meet the normal criteria for benefits.

Ofgem says you could potentially qualify through ECO4 Flex if your property requires energy-efficiency improvements and, for example:

• Your household has a combined gross annual income of less than £31,000, or
• Someone in your household has a severe or long-term health condition that could be made significantly worse by living in a cold home.

Other eligibility routes are also available, depending on your local authority.

What Is The Procedure For Applying For ECO4 In 2026?

It is not necessary to obtain your gas or electricity from the company funding the improvements.

The government recommends either:

1. To ask your local council whether or not it takes part in ECO4 or ECO4 Flex.
2. Getting in touch with the energy supplier who is taking part.

Ofgem maintains up-to-date information on the energy suppliers participating in ECO4.

If you appear to qualify, your home will normally need to be assessed before any work is approved. This helps determine which energy-efficiency improvements are suitable for the property and whether they can be funded through the scheme.

What Is Replacing ECO4?

In January 2026, the government launched its Warm Homes Plan, outlining £15 billion of public investment in home energy upgrades.

This consists of over £5 billion directed specifically at low-income households, together with increased funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and future loans for energy-efficiency improvements.

In England, there is already a scheme called the Warm Homes: Local Grant, which is being implemented in this way.

What Is The Warm Homes: Local Grant?

The Warm Homes: Local Grant offers free energy-saving improvements to eligible households in England.

Warm Homes: Local Grant funding is managed by the participating local authorities, whereas ECO4 is delivered through the energy companies' obligations.

You could potentially qualify if your property:

• Is in England
• Is privately owned, either by you or a landlord
• Has an EPC rating of D, E, F or G

Your annual household income will usually have to be £36,000 or less.

Households with an income exceeding £36,000 may in some cases be eligible if they reside in an eligible postcode or if a member of the household gets certain benefits.

What Local Grants Are Available Via Warm Homes?

Once your application has been accepted, the council will conduct a survey to determine which improvements are appropriate.

These could include:

• Wall insulation
• Loft insulation
• Underfloor insulation
• Air source heat pumps
• Smart heating controls
• Solar panels

The scheme covers the cost of approved improvements for eligible owner-occupiers.

Private landlords could be required to pay for improvements carried out to rented properties.

Although it is not a specific scheme for replacing gas boilers, it has become a significant component of the financial assistance offered to households suffering from inefficient heating and high energy bills.

An Engineer's View

While government grants are fantastic for eligible households, navigating the criteria can be a bit of a minefield. Always ensure you have a recent survey done so we know exactly what improvements will yield the best energy savings for your specific property.

- Matthew Powell, Engineer

What Is The Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

Do not confuse ECO4 with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which provides financial support towards eligible low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps.

Even though it's called BUS, the scheme is not set up to provide you with money for a new gas boiler.

Rather, it assists homeowners and landlords in England and Wales in switching from fossil-fuel heating to lower-carbon alternatives.

The BUS currently offers:

The £9,000 rate applies until 31 March 2027 to eligible off-gas properties that replace oil or LPG heating with an air-to-water or ground-source heat pump.

What Was Different About The Boiler Upgrade Scheme In 2026?

Quite a lot.

Starting on 28 April 2026, various changes took effect.

Air-To-Air Heat Pumps Are Now Included

Homeowners are now being given £2,500 for an eligible air-to-air heat pump.

This provides households with an additional choice alongside conventional air-to-water and ground-source systems.

You No Longer Need An EPC To Apply

A major change is that the EPC is no longer a requirement for eligibility under the BUS.

Up to the 28th of April 2026, applicants usually had to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate.

It is no longer necessary to do so; however, if a valid EPC exists, the installer should provide its details.