How to Get Free Boiler or Storage Heater Under ECO4 & LA Flex

That's disturbing news that you are still searching for how you can get these grants while the scheme itself is supposed to wind up in a few weeks. You will be surprised to know that over 243,000 homes have already grabbed their free heating systems.

Households that have grabbed these grants are saving £600+ per year on energy bills. The good news is, your house could be next if you stop procrastinating, of course.

We have compiled this guide to help you understand everything about the ECO4 and LA flex schemes. We will help you get hold of the Free Boiler Grant and electric storage heaters for free, so it's worth sticking with reading it.

What Are ECO4 and LA Flex? (And Why Should You Care?)

Think of ECO4 as the government forcing big energy companies to fix your heating for free. British Gas, E.ON, EDF; they're all obligated to fund upgrades in low-income homes. Since launch, ECO4 has delivered 4 million energy upgrades across 243,000+ properties. That's £138.5 million in collective savings.

What Makes LA Flex Different?

Standard ECO4 demands that you receive government benefits. What if you don't claim benefits but still struggle with bills?

That's where LA Flex comes in. Your local council sets its own rules. Lower income? Health condition made worse by cold? Age 65 or older? You might qualify even without a single benefit claim. LA Flex is your backdoor entry. Most people don't know it exists. Now you do.

Who Actually Qualifies? The Real Eligibility Rules

Well, we don't have enough time to keep you guessing for the qualification rules anymore. So, here are both standard and flexible criteria for you to check out.

Standard ECO4: The Benefit Route

To qualify through the standard ECO4 criteria, you need to meet all of the following requirements.

What They Check	What You Need
Income/Benefits	Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, ESA/JSA, Housing Benefit OR under £31k household income
Property Rating	EPC rating E, F, or G (check yours free at gov.uk)
Ownership	You own it, OR you rent privately with landlord permission
Current Boiler	Pre-2005, broken, inefficient, or missing entirely

Social housing tenants are typically excluded, as it's already their council's responsibility to meet all the heating requirements.

LA Flex: Four Ways In (Pick One)

Route 1: Income Under £31,000 Self-explanatory, with an EPC rating of E or lower. You don't need to claim any benefits; just proof of low income will do the job.
Route 2: You're vulnerable to cold or meet any of the following proxies:
- Live in a deprived area (LSOA classification)
- Get Council Tax reduction
- Have a health condition worsened by cold
- Age 65+
- Care for young children
- Qualify for free school meals
Route 3: Official Referral Citizens Advice, your energy supplier, or a social landlord flags you as fuel-poor.
Route 4: Medical Necessity Someone in your home has asthma, COPD, arthritis, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease aggravated by cold temperatures.

Does any route fit you? Then stop reading and start applying.

What Do You Get? (Hint: More Than Just a Boiler)

This isn't a basic swap. It's a comprehensive home upgrade. At zero cost.

Heating Systems:

Brand-new A-rated combi or system boilers (worth £2,500–£6,000)
Modern electric storage heaters
Air source heat pumps (selected areas)
Full central heating installation where none exists

Insulation Package:

Loft insulation
Cavity wall insulation
Solid wall insulation (older properties)
Underfloor insulation

Smart Additions:

Smart thermostats
Thermostatic radiator valves
Heat recovery systems
Solar panels (in some cases)

Total value per household? Up to £10,000. Includes removal, installation, certification, and a minimum 2-year warranty.

You're not getting a cheap fix. You're getting a professional overhaul funded by companies legally required to provide it.

How to Apply To Get a Free Heating System

Let's be honest, most people mess up the application. Here's how not to be most people.

Phase 1: Check Eligibility (60 Seconds)

Use your energy supplier's online checker. Have ready:

Your postcode
Approximate household income
Energy supplier name
EPC rating

Takes five minutes. Do it today, not tomorrow.

Phase 2: Submit Full Application (15 Minutes)

Gather these documents before you start:

Photo ID (passport or driving license)
Proof of address (utility bill, dated within 3 months)
Proof of ownership (mortgage statement or property deed)
EPC certificate
Benefit statements OR the last 3 months of payslips

Phone photos work fine if the text is clear. Double-check everything. Errors cost you 2-3 weeks.

Phase 3: Review Period (1-2 Weeks)

They'll verify:

Documents (2-3 days)
Income/benefits (3-5 days)
EPC validation (1-2 days)

You'll get email or SMS updates. If documents are missing, they'll ask. Respond immediately.

Phase 4: Free Home Survey (2-3 Weeks Post-Approval)

A TrustMark-approved surveyor visits. They'll:

Assess current heating
Recommend upgrades
Provide a detailed quote (always free)

Ask questions. Take notes. This is your chance to understand what's happening.

Phase 5: Grant Approval & Scheduling

Approved? You'll get confirmation covering 100% of costs. Then you pick an installation date that works for you.

Phase 6: Installation Day (6-8 Hours)

The old system was removed. New system installed, tested, and certified. You receive documentation and warranties. Timeline from application to installation: 6-8 weeks minimum. Currently longer due to demand.

The installation application is actually in January.

Read this carefully. Official deadline: March 31, 2026. Real deadline: January 2026.

Why? British Gas, E.ON, and EDF are stopping new applications for Electric Storage Heater Grants in January due to installer capacity. Processing now takes 6-8 weeks instead of the 3-4 weeks it took in 2023.

Do the math. Apply in late February? Your installation gets scheduled for May. After the scheme closes. You lose everything.

You have weeks, not months. Apply by mid-December at the absolute latest.

Finding Your Council's LA Flex Scheme

Not every council participates yet. Here's how to check yours:

Visit your council website and search "LA Flex"
Look for their Statement of Intent (SoI) document
Call and ask if they're accepting applications
Use an accredited installer's regional database

If your council hasn't launched LA Flex, you can still qualify under standard ECO4 via the benefit route.

The Bottom Line

Moving one, you just need to check eligibility using your installer's online form; it only takes 60 seconds to do so. Next, gather your documents now: ID, address proof, EPC, and income/benefit proof.

It's better if you apply within 2-3 weeks maximum, considering the tight timeline. If you can't qualify for ECO4, you can also check the eligibility for LA Flex through the Eco Energy Services LA Flex Scheme page. Your council's rules might be more flexible; it's worth checking the eligibility for.