Help from your energy supplier: the Energy Company Obligation

You might be able to get help for energy-saving improvements to your home if you either:

  • claim certain benefits and live in private housing (for example you own your home or rent from a private landlord)
  • live in social housing

You may get help with the cost of:

  • insulation work, for example to your loft or cavity walls
  • replacing or repairing your boiler - or other upgrades to your heating

If you claim benefits and live in private housing

You might be eligible for help if you live in private housing and get one of the following benefits:

  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Guarantee Credit
  • Pension Savings Credit
  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Child Benefit
  • Housing Benefit

If you own your house, it must have an energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G to be eligible.

If you rent from a private landlord, the house must have an energy efficiency rating of E, F or G to be eligible. You must have the owner’s permission to do the work.

Use the energy performance certificate register to find your property’s energy efficiency rating, or ask your landlord.

If you’re a social housing tenant

If you live in social housing that has an energy efficiency rating of E, F or G you might be eligible for help with insulation or installing a heating system for the first time.

Use the energy performance certificate register to find your property’s energy efficiency rating, or ask your landlord or housing association.

Apply for help

Contact your local council to find out if they’re taking part in the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, or contact an energy supplier directly.

You can find contact details of suppliers who are taking part in the scheme on the Ofgem website.

Installers or agents might contact you directly. If you’re not sure if an offer is genuine, contact your local council or the energy supplier they represent to check.

Get more information and advice on ways to save energy in your home.

If you’re unhappy with any work

If you’re unhappy with work or products installed under the scheme, contact either the installer or the company that guaranteed the work.

If they do not solve the problem, contact Citizens Advice.

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