ECO4 Funding and Eligibility in Scotland
If your home is difficult to heat, ECO4 may offer a route to energy efficiency improvements.
This guide explains how the scheme works, who to contact, and what to ask before you agree to any work.
⚠️ Important: ECO4 currently runs until 31 December 2026 following a nine-month extension. Check whether a provider is accepting new projects and can deliver within the scheme timetable before making any plans.
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How ECO4 Works
ECO4 is supplier-funded support, not a cash grant paid directly to the householder.
The Energy Company Obligation requires participating energy suppliers to fund improvements that help low-income and vulnerable households heat their homes. Work can include insulation and heating upgrades. The supplier decides which projects it will support.
A retrofit assessment identifies suitable work. Eligibility does not guarantee an installation or full funding. The supplier sets the scope and funding level for each project.
Who May Qualify?
There are two main routes into ECO4: the benefits route and ECO4 Flex.
Benefits Route
For the benefits route, GOV.UK lists the following property conditions:
- Owner-occupied homes rated EPC D to G
- Privately rented homes rated EPC E to G
- Tenants require the owner’s permission
- Separate conditions apply to social housing
Qualifying benefits include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, and certain pension or income-related benefits.
ECO4 Flex
If you do not receive qualifying benefits, ask your local council about ECO4 Flex.
Participating authorities can refer eligible households under additional income or vulnerability criteria. One route uses gross household income below £31,000; other routes address vulnerability or health conditions. A referral does not guarantee a funded project. The property and delivery requirements still apply.
Where to Enquire?
Contact a participating supplier or your local council directly.
You can approach an obligated supplier even if it does not supply your energy, and you do not need to switch suppliers to receive help.
Before accepting any offer, ask the provider in writing for:
- The proposed measures and scope of work
- Any contribution you will be required to pay
- The installer’s name and accreditation details
- The expected programme and completion date
- Who to contact during the work and who provides handover documents on completion
Do not agree to any work until you have received and reviewed all of this in writing.
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What ECO4 Does Not Cover
It is worth understanding what ECO4 cannot do before you make enquiries.
- ECO4 measures cannot be co-funded with other government grants
- Additional measures outside ECO4 must follow the scheme’s sequencing rules
- The supplier decides which technologies it will fund. You cannot select a specific product or package yourself
- Eligibility does not mean a particular improvement will be offered or fully funded
If you are considering a heat pump or solar installation alongside ECO4 improvements, discuss the sequencing with the provider before agreeing to any work. Planning the order incorrectly can affect both the ECO4 funding and any separate installation you are considering.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No. The supplier sets the funding level and may require a customer contribution.
Always compare the written scope and any costs before agreeing to the work.
No. ECO4 Flex has several referral routes and the property and delivery requirements still apply.
One route uses gross household income below £31,000. Other routes address vulnerability or health conditions. Contact your local council to ask whether they participate in ECO4 Flex and which routes they can consider.
Tell the assessor what you are interested in, but ask the provider to confirm the measures it can actually fund.
Do not assume a particular technology or package will be offered. The supplier decides what is within scope for each project.
No. ECO4 measures cannot be co-funded with other government grants.
If you are considering both routes, speak to each scheme provider separately and do not agree to any work until you understand how the two interact. Home Energy Scotland can advise on what other funding may be available alongside or after ECO4 work.
ECO4 currently runs until 31 December 2026. Individual providers may stop accepting new projects before this date.
Check directly with the supplier or your council about their current capacity and programme before committing to any plans based on ECO4 support.
Help With a Separate Installation Proposal
If ECO4 is not the right route, or if you are planning privately funded renewable energy work alongside any funded improvements, Renew-able Solutions can help.
Tell us what you would like to achieve and whether any funded improvements are already being considered. We can prepare an installation proposal for a heat pump, solar PV system, or battery storage that fits around the wider project plan.
ECO4 information checked 11 September 2026. Availability and installation depend on the supplier, assessment and current scheme requirements. The ECO4 end date should be verified before publication and reviewed monthly. Individual providers may stop accepting projects before 31 December 2026.
