Most people waste hours wondering if they qualify for free heating upgrades. Here’s how to find out in five minutes.

Central heating grants exist for one reason: keeping fuel-poor households warm without bankrupting them. With ECO4 ending in March 2026 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant already live, you need clarity now. Not vague advice. Not “maybe you qualify.” Hard facts.

The Grant Landscape: What’s Actually Available Right Now

Three schemes matter. ECO4 closes March 31, 2026—yes, that soon. Warm Homes: Local Grant runs until March 2028. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £7,500 for heat pumps indefinitely. Scheme Comparison

Scheme	Closes	Best For
ECO4	March 31, 2026	Income under £31k, benefits recipients
Warm Homes: Local Grant	March 2028	Income under £36k, wider coverage
Boiler Upgrade Scheme	Ongoing	Heat pump installations

Think ECO4 doesn’t matter because there’s a replacement? Wrong. Demand is crushing installers right now. Apply in February 2026, and you’ll likely miss the window entirely. Local councils are already closing their funding pots early.

Your Three Routes to Eligibility

Here’s what nobody tells you: most households qualify through multiple pathways. You only need one to work.

Route 1: Do You Live in the Right Postcode?

Live in Income Decile 1–2 under the Indices of Multiple Deprivation? You’re automatically in. No income checks. No benefit verification. Just proof of address.

Check your postcode on GOV.UK. Takes 30 seconds. Why doesn’t everyone know this? Because most guides bury it under benefit requirements.

Route 2: Claiming Any of These Benefits?

This is the fastest route. If anyone in your household receives these, you’re done:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-related)
• Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
• Child Tax Credits or Working Tax Credit
• Warm Home Discount

One benefit. That’s it. ECO4 doesn’t care about income if you’re receiving support. The Warm Homes scheme adds flexibility, meets two “low-income proxies” like council tax reduction or kids on free school meals, and you’re in.

Route 3: Does Your Household Income Qualify?

No benefits? Check your income against these thresholds:

Income Limits by Scheme

Scheme	England/Wales	Northern Ireland
ECO4	Under £31,000	Under £23,000
Warm Homes	Under £36,000	TBD by council

That’s gross income before tax. Count all adults except full-time students and lodgers. Don’t include disability benefits like PIP or DLA.

Pay high rent or a mortgage? The “after housing costs” calculation might save you. Earn £38,000 but pay £1,500 monthly rent? Your council can recalculate your eligibility. Most people miss this entirely.

Property Requirements: Does Your Home Actually Qualify?

Income matters. Your property’s energy rating matters more. Here’s the reality check most guides skip.

What’s Your EPC Rating?

Your Energy Performance Certificate rating must be D, E, F, or G. Already rated A–C? You’re too efficient. Schemes prioritise the worst-performing homes.

Find your EPC at epc.opg.gov.uk in under a minute. Valid for 10 years. No recent certificate? The installer arranges an assessment during your application.

Do You Own, Rent, or Live in Social Housing?

Eligibility by Property Type

Occupancy	Funded?	Conditions
Homeowner	100% free	None
Private renter	100% free (first property)	Landlord permission required
Private renter	50% landlord contribution	Second+ property per landlord
Social housing	Usually excluded	Limited “in-fill” cases only

Private renters: get your landlord’s written consent before applying. Most installers provide the form. Your rent cannot increase because of the upgrade. You pay nothing.

Social housing tenants rarely qualify unless your council runs a neighbourhood-wide scheme. Even then, expect a 50% landlord contribution.

Special Cases That Still Qualify

Off the gas grid? You’re actually prioritised for air source heat pumps. Heated by oil, LPG, or solid fuel? You qualify.

Park your permanent residence? Qualifies if it meets energy standards. New build never previously occupied? Excluded. Self-build? Generally excluded unless specific circumstances apply.

Documents You Need Before Applying

Stop guessing. Gather these now:

Everyone needs:

• Passport or driving license
• Recent utility bill or council tax letter
• Property ownership deed or tenancy agreement

If claiming via benefits:

• Recent benefit statement (last 3 months)

If claiming via income:

• Last 3 payslips
• Self-assessment return (self-employed)
• Pension statement (retired)

Private renters add:

• Landlord’s written consent
• Tenancy agreement

Missing your EPC? The installer handles it. Don’t let that stop you from starting.

The Application Process: What Actually Happens

Contact an approved installer or your local council. Most installers offer online eligibility checkers—literally 60 seconds to get a yes or no.

Eligible? They arrange a free home survey. The assessor verifies documents, confirms your EPC, and evaluates which upgrades suit your property. No obligation. No fees.

Approval typically takes 4–6 weeks. Installation follows within days or weeks. Total timeline from application to warm home? Often under three months.

Except that waiting times are exploding as March 2026 approaches. Apply now or watch installers’ schedules fill completely.

Why March 2026 Is Your Hard Deadline

Let’s be direct: ECO4 ends March 31, 2026. The Warm Homes scheme replaces it, but demand for ECO4 is already overwhelming installers. Some council funding pots are closing early.

Think you’ll apply in late 2025 or early 2026? You’ll probably miss it. Installers are booking months in advance. Local authorities are exhausting budgets ahead of closure.

Post-March 2026, Warm Homes becomes primary. Higher income threshold (£36,000), but councils are still mobilizing delivery. Timelines? Uncertain.

Avoiding the Scam Artists

Only apply through government-approved providers on GOV.UK. Never pay upfront application fees. Legitimate schemes charge nothing.

Verify installers through Trustmark or MCS registers. If someone cold-calls offering grants? Hang up.

The Bottom Line

Visit your local council website. Search “Warm Homes” or “central heating grants.” Complete their eligibility checker.

Or contact an approved installer directly. Search “ECO4 approved installer” plus your postcode. If you receive qualifying benefits, you’re likely approved without further verification.

Five minutes determines if you unlock thousands in free heating upgrades. Given the March 2026 deadline, the time to check isn’t tomorrow. It’s today.