The single most important eligibility rule for a 2026 boiler grant is that your current boiler must be broken beyond repair or at least 15 years old
The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) both require the existing heating system to be either non-functional or at a specific age threshold. For the BUS, the property must have a fossil fuel heating system (gas, oil, or LPG) that is at least 15 years old or has failed and is not repairable (GOV.UK, 2026). For ECO4, the boiler must be broken and the property must have a low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating (typically E, F, or G), the age of the boiler alone is not enough under ECO4 (Ofgem, 2026). If your boiler is less than 15 years old and still working, you will not qualify for a grant under either scheme.
A 2026 boiler grant requires your current boiler to be broken or at least 15 years old. For ECO4, you also need a low EPC rating (E–G) and household income under £31,000. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has no income cap.
- Boiler must be broken or at least 15 years old for BUS.
- ECO4 requires broken boiler and EPC rating E, F, or G.
- Household income must be £31,000 or less for ECO4.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme has no income cap for homeowners.
- Valid Energy Performance Certificate needed for both schemes.
- The single most important eligibility rule for a 2026 boiler grant is that your current boiler must be broken beyond repair or at least 15 years old
- You must be a homeowner or private tenant with a valid Energy Performance Certificate to qualify
- Your household income must be below a specific threshold to qualify for ECO4, but not for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Your property must have a gas, oil, or LPG boiler that is being replaced with a heat pump or biomass boiler under the BUS
- Quick numbers, key eligibility figures for 2026 boiler grants
- What is the criteria for a new boiler grant, the government checks three things your boiler's age, your property's energy rating, and your income
- You must use an MCS-certified installer to secure the grant, verify their certification before work starts
You must be a homeowner or private tenant with a valid Energy Performance Certificate to qualify
The BUS grant is only available to homeowners and private landlords in England and Wales; tenants must have landlord permission to apply (GOV.UK, 2026). ECO4 is available to homeowners and private tenants in England, Scotland, and Wales, but only if the property has an EPC rating of E, F, or G (or D in some cases) (Ofgem, 2026). Both schemes require a valid EPC dated within the last 10 years; if you don’t have one, you may need to get one before applying. You can check your property’s current EPC on the GOV.UK EPC register (GOV.UK, 2026).
Your household income must be below a specific threshold to qualify for ECO4, but not for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
ECO4 is means-tested: your gross annual household income must be £31,000 or less, or you must be receiving certain benefits (e.g., Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit) (Ofgem, 2026). The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has no income cap, it is open to any homeowner or landlord meeting the boiler age or condition criteria (GOV.UK, 2026). If you are on a low income but do not receive qualifying benefits, you may still qualify for ECO4 if your local authority has a flexible eligibility (LA Flex) scheme (Ofgem, 2026).
Your property must have a gas, oil, or LPG boiler that is being replaced with a heat pump or biomass boiler under the BUS
The BUS only funds heat pumps (air source or ground source) and biomass boilers in limited rural cases, it does not cover a new gas boiler (GOV.UK, 2026). ECO4 can fund a new gas boiler, but only if it is a like-for-like replacement of a broken gas boiler, and only if the property cannot accommodate a heat pump (e.g., no outdoor space or poor insulation) (Ofgem, 2026). For both schemes, the new heating system must be installed by an MCS-certified installer and meet minimum efficiency standards (MCS, 2026).
Quick numbers, key eligibility figures for 2026 boiler grants
| Grant type | Boiler age requirement | Income cap | Property EPC requirement | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) | Boiler must be 15+ years old or broken | No income cap | No EPC minimum (but must have one) | £7,500 |
| ECO4 | Boiler must be broken | £31,000 or less, or on benefits | E, F, or G (or D in some cases) | Varies by installation |
Source: DESNZ, 2026 and Ofgem, 2026.
What is the criteria for a new boiler grant, the government checks three things your boiler’s age, your property’s energy rating, and your income
The core criteria are: (1) your current boiler is at least 15 years old or broken, (2) your property has a low EPC rating (for ECO4) or no specific EPC requirement (for BUS), and (3) your income is below £31,000 (for ECO4) or you are any homeowner (for BUS). If you meet all three for your chosen scheme, you are very likely to qualify. You can check your eligibility online via the GOV.UK BUS checker (GOV.UK, 2026) or by contacting your energy supplier for ECO4 (Ofgem, 2026).
You must use an MCS-certified installer to secure the grant, verify their certification before work starts
Both the BUS and ECO4 require the installer to be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for heat pumps or biomass boilers (MCS, 2026). For ECO4 gas boiler replacements, the installer must be Gas Safe registered and also MCS-certified for heat pumps if a heat pump is an alternative option (Gas Safe Register, 2026). You can check an installer’s MCS status on the MCS Register website or through TrustMark (TrustMark, 2026).
Understanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme application process
ECO4 eligibility for low-income households
Frequently Asked Questions
Your existing boiler must be broken beyond repair or at least 15 years old. For ECO4, you also need a low EPC rating (E, F, or G) and household income of £31,000 or less, as per Ofgem 2026 rules.
No, if your boiler is under 15 years old and still working, you won't qualify for a grant under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or ECO4. Both require the boiler to be either broken or at the age threshold, according to GOV.UK 2026.
Yes, both the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and ECO4 require a valid EPC dated within the last 10 years. You can check your property's EPC on the GOV.UK register, as stated by GOV.UK 2026.
ECO4 is means-tested with a gross household income cap of £31,000 or receiving qualifying benefits like Pension Credit, per Ofgem 2026. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has no income limit.
Private tenants can apply for ECO4 if they have landlord permission and meet the EPC and income criteria. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is only for homeowners and private landlords, as per GOV.UK 2026.
