ECO4 Closes 31 December 2026 · Warm Homes Plan from 2027 | 7,000+ Installations
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UK coverage atlas · ECO4 2026

Free boiler grant areas we cover43 researched city guides · 12 regions

By Peter Davies, ECO4 AnalystLast reviewed

Quick answer

Yes — Free Boiler Upgrade UK publishes in-depth, locally researched ECO4 guides for 43 UK cities ((Aberdeen, Belfast, Bolton, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Cornwall, Coventry, Derby, Derry / Londonderry, Dudley, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gloucestershire, Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Newport, Newry, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Sandwell, Sheffield, Southampton, Stockport, Sunderland, Swansea, Walsall, Wolverhampton). Each guide covers the council's LA Flex status, Gas Distribution Network and housing stock — not a city-name swap. ECO4 is open across England, Scotland and Wales; NI uses Affordable Warmth. Check eligibility in 49 seconds.

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43

Covered city guides

Published research

38

With active LA Flex

Council Statements of Intent

£0

Cost if you qualify

Ofgem ECO4 · subject to survey

31 Dec 2026

ECO4 scheme closes

Ofgem Delivery Guidance v4.0

What households actually pay

How much do free boiler grants cost under ECO4?

£0 for the boiler and internal pipework when you qualify under ECO4 — funded by obligated energy suppliers and regulated by Ofgem. Typical heating-bill saving is around £680 per year (Energy Saving Trust). Gas-main connections (if needed) are charged by your regional GDN, not by the ECO4 measure. Always subject to eligibility and survey.

Boiler + internal works

£0 if approved

Survey & paperwork

Covered under scheme

GDN connection (if off-main)

Paid to network operator

Nations

Browse by nation first

Country hubs explain ECO4 vs devolved schemes before you open a city guide.

Location atlas

Which UK cities have a published ECO4 boiler-grant guide?

Each card opens a researched guide: local council LA Flex, GDN operator, housing stock, EPC context and city-specific FAQs — not a templated swap page. 9 guides also cover devolved-nation schemes.

Bottom line: if your town isn't listed yet, ECO4 eligibility still applies wherever you live in England, Scotland or Wales — start with our ECO4 eligibility check or the UK-wide free boiler upgrade overview.

How do I use this area atlas to apply for a free boiler?

  1. 1

    Find your city or nation hub

    Open the matching city card or start from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

  2. 2

    Check LA Flex + benefits routes

    Each guide states whether your council runs LA Flex and which benefits qualify under ECO4.

  3. 3

    Run the 49-second check

    Submit the form or call +44 7375 868046. Approval is always subject to survey — never guaranteed.

Bottom line: the atlas is for local accuracy; the eligibility form is for action. Use both.

Reference

Glossary: terms used on every area page

ECO4
ECO4 is the fourth phase of the UK government's Energy Company Obligation, running April 2022 to 31 December 2026, requiring large energy suppliers to fund energy-efficiency improvements in low-income and fuel-poor households (Ofgem).
LA Flex
LA Flex is the route under ECO4 that lets councils nominate households who don't receive qualifying benefits but still meet local fuel-poverty criteria via a published Statement of Intent.
EPC
An EPC is a government-issued rating (A–G) of a property's energy efficiency, valid for 10 years. ECO4 measures typically target homes in bands D to G.
GDN
A GDN is the regional company that owns and maintains gas mains — Cadent, SGN, Wales & West Utilities or Northern Gas Networks. Connection costs for off-grid homes sit with the GDN, not ECO4.
Nest
Nest is the Welsh Government's fuel-poverty programme (gov.wales). Welsh applicants often combine Nest with ECO4.
Home Energy Scotland
Home Energy Scotland is the Scottish Government's advice and grant service (homeenergyscotland.org). Used alongside ECO4 by Scottish households.
Affordable Warmth (NI)
Affordable Warmth is the Northern Ireland scheme for boiler and insulation support (nidirect). ECO4 does not operate in NI.
Warm Homes Plan
The Warm Homes Plan is the £15 billion public-investment successor to the ECO model, expected from April 2027. There is no scheme called ECO5.

Not sure if you qualify? Start with the UK-wide guides

Related reading: national pillar pages cover the rules that apply in every area before local council and GDN details kick in.

Free boiler upgrade — UK-wide guide

The complete ECO4 boiler-grant overview, from qualifying benefits to install timelines.

Read guide

ECO4 eligibility check

Who qualifies, which benefits count, what EPC band you need.

Read guide

LA Flex grants

The non-benefits route: how councils nominate fuel-poor households.

Read guide

Free boiler grant explained

What the grant covers, what it doesn't, and what survey day looks like.

Read guide

EPC checker

Look up your home's EPC band — needed before you can apply.

Read guide

ECO4 vs other schemes

How ECO4 compares to British Gas, Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Warm Homes Plan.

Read guide

Frequently asked questions about free boiler grant areas

Direct answers homeowners ask about coverage, ECO4, LA Flex and devolved schemes — written for both people and AI answer engines.

Which UK areas can apply for a free boiler grant through this site?

We publish detailed ECO4 guides for the cities listed on this page — including Liverpool, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bradford, Portsmouth, Brighton and Plymouth. ECO4 itself is open to any qualifying household in England, Scotland or Wales; Northern Ireland uses the Affordable Warmth scheme instead. Subject to eligibility check and survey.

Why don't you list every UK city on this page?

Every city listed here has its own researched guide covering the local council's ECO4 LA Flex status, the Gas Distribution Network operator, housing stock and an EPC band breakdown. We only link to cities once that research is published, so we never send a homeowner to a thin or templated page.

What is ECO4 and who funds it?

ECO4 is the fourth phase of the Energy Company Obligation, the UK government scheme that requires large energy suppliers to fund energy-efficiency improvements in low-income and fuel-poor households. It is regulated by Ofgem and runs to 31 December 2026.

What is LA Flex?

LA Flex (Local Authority Flexible Eligibility) is the route under ECO4 that lets councils nominate households who do not receive qualifying benefits but still meet local fuel-poverty criteria — typically gross income under £31,000, depending on the council's Statement of Intent.

Does ECO4 apply in Northern Ireland?

No. ECO4 covers England, Scotland and Wales only. Northern Ireland households apply through the Affordable Warmth scheme administered by the Department for Communities and delivered through local councils and NIHE.

What's the difference between ECO4 and the British Gas free boiler scheme?

British Gas delivers ECO4 as one of the obligated energy suppliers. Going through a broker like Free Boiler Upgrade UK lets you access the full installer network rather than a single supplier's backlog — eligibility rules and funding source are identical.

How do I get a free boiler if my city isn't listed yet?

ECO4 eligibility is national across England, Scotland and Wales. Start the 49-second eligibility check or call +44 7375 868046. We still match you to Gas Safe / TrustMark installers even when a city-specific guide is still being researched.

What postcode details do the city guides include?

Each guide leads with the city's primary postcode range (for example L1–L40 for Liverpool), names the covering local authority, states whether LA Flex is active, and identifies the Gas Distribution Network operator that owns the mains.

Is the ECO4 boiler grant really free?

For qualifying households the boiler and internal pipework are funded at £0 under ECO4 — no upfront cost and no repayments. Gas-main connection charges (if you are off-grid) sit with the regional GDN, not the ECO4 measure. Always subject to survey and scheme rules.

How long does an ECO4 install typically take?

Most qualifying boiler replacements complete in a single day on site after survey and paperwork. From application to install is typically 4–6 weeks, depending on installer capacity and any LA Flex nomination timing.

Do private tenants qualify for free boiler grants?

Yes, private tenants can qualify under ECO4 when the landlord consents and the property meets EPC band rules (typically E–G for rentals). LA Flex may also apply depending on the council Statement of Intent.

What is the Warm Homes Plan and is it the same as ECO5?

There is no scheme called ECO5. The government successor to the ECO model is the Warm Homes Plan, with expanded public investment expected from April 2027. Until ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026, qualifying households should still apply under ECO4.

Which Gas Distribution Network covers my area?

Cadent covers much of England; SGN covers Scotland and Southern England; Wales & West Utilities covers Wales and the South-West; Northern Gas Networks covers the North-East. NI gas networks differ (Phoenix, Evolve, firmus). Each city guide names the operator and links connection pages.

Can I combine Nest or Home Energy Scotland with ECO4?

Welsh applicants often combine Nest with ECO4; Scottish applicants use Home Energy Scotland advice and grants alongside ECO4 where eligible. Your city guide explains the local combination and points to the official scheme pages.

In a nutshell

Free Boiler Upgrade UK is a TrustMark-oriented, Gas Safe installer-network portal helping households across England, Scotland and Wales access ECO4-funded boiler upgrades at £0 when they qualify — with city guides that name real councils, GDNs and postcode ranges. Northern Ireland applicants are signposted to Affordable Warmth. Check eligibility in 49 seconds or call +44 7375 868046.

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Author

Peter Davies, ECO4 Analyst

Peter analyses ECO4, LA Flex and devolved fuel-poverty schemes for Free Boiler Upgrade UK, with PAS 2035 familiarity and thousands of household applications reviewed. This atlas is updated when council Statements of Intent or Ofgem guidance change.

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Sources & references

Page reviewed by Peter Davies, ECO4 Analyst. Revision: Editorial City Atlas UI + expanded GEO FAQ set.