ECO4 Scheme Leicester

ECO4 Scheme Leicester: Grants, Eligibility and Local Application Routes

The ECO4 scheme in Leicester can fund heating and insulation improvements for eligible households living in inefficient homes. Leicester City Council checks ECO4 Flex eligibility, but residents must apply through a suitable installer. A council declaration does not guarantee supplier funding or installation.

InstantGrant is an independent grant information and application support service. We are not Leicester City Council, Ofgem, the UK government, an energy supplier or an installer. Final eligibility, funding and measure selection remain subject to official assessment.

About This Guide

This guide explains how ECO4 works for Leicester residents, who may qualify and how to begin an application. It also clarifies the important difference between Leicester City Council and the surrounding Leicestershire County Council area.

Is the ECO4 Scheme Leicester Still Open?

ECO4 is scheduled to remain available until 31 December 2026. The scheme was originally expected to finish on 31 March 2026 but received a nine month extension.

The extension did not create a new delivery target. Some suppliers and installers may therefore have limited funding or may stop accepting applications before the official closing date.

An application involves household checks, a property survey, project design, supplier approval and installation. Starting an application does not reserve funding, and the work must still satisfy the scheme requirements.

How Does the ECO4 Scheme Work in Leicester?

ECO4 is funded through obligations placed on certain energy suppliers. Leicester City Council does not hold a general ECO4 grant budget or select the improvements a household receives.

The local process normally works as follows:

1. A household contacts a suitable ECO4 installer or provider.

2. The provider completes an initial household and property check.

3. The provider collects the required evidence.

4. The installer submits an ECO4 Flex application to Leicester City Council when the Flex route is being used.

5. The council checks whether the household meets its referral criteria.

6. The council issues a declaration when the household qualifies.

7. The installer sends the declaration and project information to an energy supplier.

8. The property receives the required assessment and technical design.

9. The energy supplier decides whether it will fund the proposed work.

Leicester City Council’s role is mainly to check household eligibility for ECO4 Flex. It does not appoint the installer, guarantee funding or take responsibility for the installation contract.

Leicester City and Leicestershire County Use Different Processes

A Leicester postcode does not always mean that the property is inside the Leicester City Council boundary. Some LE postcodes cover surrounding districts with separate local authorities.

Check the council name on your Council Tax bill before applying.

Sending documents to the wrong authority can delay the application. Confirming the property’s council area should be one of the first steps.

Who Qualifies for ECO4 in Leicester?

There are two main household routes. You may qualify through an eligible benefit or through ECO4 Flex.

Qualifying Benefit Route

You may be considered if you or another permanent household member receives an eligible benefit, including:

• Universal Credit

• Income Support

• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income related Employment and Support Allowance

• Housing Benefit

• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

• Pension Credit Savings Credit

• Child Benefit within the applicable income limits

The chosen provider normally arranges the benefit check. Leicester City Council does not carry out the standard benefits check for applications made through this route.

ECO4 Flex Route

ECO4 Flex may help households that do not receive a qualifying benefit but are on a low income or vulnerable to living in a cold home.

The four national Flex routes are:

Route 1 includes the regular gross income of adults aged 18 or older who permanently live in the home. It can include employment income, pensions, benefits, rental income and other regular payments.

Check Your Leicester ECO4 Eligibility

Tell InstantGrant about your household, EPC rating, property location and existing heating. We can help you identify whether the benefits route or ECO4 Flex may apply.

Check Your Eligibility

What EPC Rating Do You Need?

ECO4 focuses on properties with poor energy efficiency. The property requirements depend partly on whether you own or privately rent the home.

The installer or assessor confirms the property rating using the required assessment process. A household may pass the income or benefit check but fail the property check if the home is already sufficiently efficient.

Can Private Tenants in Leicester Apply?

Yes. A qualifying private tenant may receive ECO4 improvements when the property has an eligible EPC rating.

The tenant’s household provides the benefit, income or health evidence. The landlord must give permission before work is installed.

A private tenant should provide accurate landlord contact details and should not sign a document claiming to own the property.

Landlords should review the proposed measures, installer details, permissions and guarantees before signing consent. The landlord’s own income or benefits do not normally make the tenant eligible.

Can Leicester Landlords Apply?

A landlord can start an enquiry and help arrange access, but ECO4 eligibility in a privately rented property normally comes from the tenant’s household.

A landlord cannot use one tenant’s eligibility to improve other properties in a portfolio. Each property and household must pass its own checks.

Landlords may be asked to sign a permission and funding declaration. This confirms ownership, permission for the work and that the same measure is not receiving prohibited duplicate government funding.

What Improvements May Be Available?

A survey determines which measures are suitable. The household cannot choose improvements from a grant catalogue.

Possible ECO4 measures in Leicester include:

• Loft insulation

• Pitched roof insulation

• Flat roof insulation

• Room in roof insulation

• Cavity wall insulation

• Internal wall insulation

• External wall insulation

• Floor insulation

• Heating controls

• First time central heating

• Eligible boiler improvements

• Electric storage heating improvements

• Air source or ground source heat pumps

• Solar panels in suitable packages

• Window glazing under certain conditions

• Higher performance external doors

• Ventilation required by the retrofit design

Availability depends on the property, tenure, current heating, supplier funding and the approved technical design. Read our guide to what funding is available under ECO4 for more information about each category.

Can You Get a Free Boiler in Leicester?

ECO4 may fund an eligible heating improvement, but there is no automatic free boiler entitlement for every household receiving benefits.

The assessment examines the boiler’s condition, efficiency and role in the complete property improvement plan. It also checks whether insulation should be installed before or alongside a heating measure.

Private rented properties have more restrictive heating rules than owner occupied homes. A standard like for like boiler replacement is generally not available as the main ECO4 measure in an ordinary private rental.

Do not accept an advert that guarantees a boiler before checking the household, EPC rating, tenure and existing system.

Can ECO4 Fund Solar Panels in Leicester?

Solar panels can be included in a suitable ECO4 package, but they are not provided as a standalone reward for receiving a benefit.

The assessment considers the roof, orientation, shading, electrical system and complete energy improvement package. Insulation or heating work may receive priority.

Ask whether the quotation includes:

• Solar panels and mounting system

• Inverter

• Scaffolding

• Electrical protection and certification

• Monitoring equipment

• Distribution network notification or application

• Product and workmanship guarantees

How to Apply for the ECO4 Scheme in Leicester

1. Confirm the council area: Check whether the property is inside Leicester city or a surrounding Leicestershire district.

2. Check the EPC rating: Owner occupied homes normally need EPC D to G, while private rentals normally need E to G.

3. Identify an eligibility route: Check eligible benefits or the four ECO4 Flex routes.

4. Choose a suitable installer: Check TrustMark registration and the company responsible for the installation.

5. Provide supporting documents: Supply the evidence needed for the selected route.

6. Allow the installer to submit the Flex form: Leicester City Council does not accept the household’s form directly.

7. Wait for the council check: The council decides whether it can issue an eligibility declaration.

8. Complete the property assessment: The assessment identifies suitable energy improvements.

9. Wait for supplier approval: The energy supplier decides whether the proposed work will receive funding.

10. Review and complete the installation: Check the written scope, permissions, guarantees and handover documents.

Our national guide explaining how to apply for an ECO4 grant covers the complete household and property approval process.

What Documents May You Need?

The required documents depend on the application route. You may be asked for:

• Benefit award information

• Recent payslips

• Pension statements

• A P60, P45 or tax calculation

• Self employment income evidence

• Council Tax documents

• Mortgage or tenancy information

• Utility bills showing occupancy

• Evidence of adults living at the address

• Medical referral information for Route 3

• Landlord consent for a privately rented home

The applicant should be told who will receive the documents and how personal information will be stored. Do not send financial or medical evidence to an unidentified marketing contact.

Does Leicester City Council Charge an Application Fee?

Leicester City Council states that it charges the installer £50 for each address submitted for an ECO4 Flex eligibility assessment.

The household should not be charged this council administration fee. If a company asks you to pay it, request a written explanation and confirm the position before continuing.

The surrounding Leicestershire County arrangement currently charges participating installers £145 for an eligibility assessment. This is also an installer charge rather than a direct household application fee.

These council charges relate to eligibility checking. Paying or processing a fee does not guarantee that an energy supplier will approve the installation.

Does a Leicester Council Declaration Guarantee Funding?

No. The council declaration confirms that the household meets an ECO4 Flex referral route based on the evidence provided.

The property must still pass several checks:

• Eligible tenure and EPC rating

• Suitable property condition

• Technically appropriate measures

• Required permissions

• Supplier funding availability

• Installer capacity before the closing date

A household can therefore receive a positive eligibility decision without receiving an installation.

Leicester Warm Homes Local Grant

Leicester residents may also be considered for the Warm Homes Local Grant. This is separate from ECO4 and follows different funding and application rules.

The local scheme currently focuses on owner occupied and privately rented homes with EPC ratings from D to G. Its main income threshold is £36,000 or less, although benefit and postcode routes may also apply.

Possible improvements include:

• Wall, loft and floor insulation

• Air source heat pumps

• Solar panels

• Heating controls

Leicester City Council states that one privately rented property may receive improvements without a landlord contribution under its current local arrangement. A landlord with additional properties may be asked to contribute 50 percent towards those later projects.

Funding capacity and application status can change between delivery years. Households should check the current position before relying on this alternative.

ECO4 and Warm Homes Local Grant Compared

The same measure should not receive duplicate government funding. Tell each provider about existing applications and previously funded work.

How to Check a Leicester ECO4 Installer

Leicester City Council does not appoint or recommend a particular ECO4 installer. The household is responsible for checking the business it chooses.

Before sharing documents or allowing a survey:

• Ask for the company’s complete legal name

• Check its TrustMark registration

• Confirm which energy supplier may fund the project

• Ask which business will complete the installation

• Request identification from visiting staff

• Check Gas Safe registration for gas work

• Check appropriate certification for heat pumps, solar panels and electrical work

• Request written guarantee and complaints information

• Do not share banking passwords or security codes

• Do not sign blank or incomplete forms

The official Leicester City Council ECO4 Flex guidance explains the council’s role, application route and installer checks.

What Happens During the Home Survey?

A proper ECO4 assessment considers the whole property. It should not be limited to a quick photograph of the boiler.

The assessor may inspect:

• Wall construction and insulation

• Roof and loft insulation

• Floor construction

• Windows and external doors

• Boiler or existing heating system

• Hot water system

• Radiators, pipework and controls

• Ventilation and extractor fans

• Damp, mould or building defects

• Space for proposed equipment

Existing defects may need attention before insulation or heating equipment is installed. Covering active damp or poor brickwork can cause more serious problems later.

Questions to Ask Before Agreeing to Work

• Which company will hold the installation contract?

• Which energy supplier is expected to provide the funding?

• Has final funding been approved in writing?

• Which measures are included?

• Will I need to pay anything?

• Are planning or Building Regulations approvals required?

• What ventilation work is included?

• How long will installation take?

• What disruption should the household expect?

• Which guarantees will I receive?

• Who should I contact about faults after installation?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ECO4 available in Leicester?

Yes. ECO4 remains available nationally until 31 December 2026, subject to supplier funding and installer capacity. Leicester City Council continues to explain its local Flex eligibility process on its website.

Can I apply directly to Leicester City Council?

No. Leicester City Council states that it accepts ECO4 Flex applications from the household’s chosen installer rather than directly from residents.

What is the ECO4 Flex income limit in Leicester?

Flex Route 1 requires combined gross annual household income below £31,000. Other routes may apply based on vulnerability, health or approved targeting criteria.

Does receiving Universal Credit guarantee ECO4 funding?

No. Universal Credit can provide a household eligibility route, but the property, proposed measures and supplier funding must still be approved.

Can private tenants in Leicester qualify?

Yes. A qualifying private tenant may be considered when the property is normally rated EPC E, F or G and the landlord provides permission.

Can Leicester landlords apply for ECO4?

A landlord can support an application, but private rental eligibility normally comes from the tenant’s household circumstances.

Can ECO4 provide solar panels in Leicester?

Solar panels may be included in a suitable property package. They are not automatically provided to every household that passes an eligibility check.

Can ECO4 provide free windows?

Eligible glazing may be included under certain conditions, but ECO4 is not a general free window replacement scheme.

Does the council charge residents £50?

No. Leicester City Council states that its £50 ECO4 Flex administration charge is paid by the installer and should not be charged to the household.

When does ECO4 close?

ECO4 is scheduled to close on 31 December 2026. Providers may stop accepting new applications earlier if projects cannot be completed in time.

Check Your Leicester Home for Energy Grant Support

InstantGrant can help you identify whether ECO4, ECO4 Flex or another Leicester funding route may suit your household and property. Final approval remains subject to assessment and funding availability.

Start Your Eligibility Check