Skip to content

Is the ECO4 scheme legit? Yes. The people ringing you might not be.

Photo of Danny Whitfield, heating and energy writer

Written by Danny Whitfield

Heating and energy writer · Last updated 13 July 2026

Checked against GOV.UK: 10 July 2026 · Last verified: 13 July 2026

ECO4 is a genuine government scheme, created by law and policed by Ofgem, that forces large energy suppliers to pay for heating and insulation upgrades in low-income homes. The scheme is not a scam. The reason it feels like one is that a layer of aggressive middlemen has grown up around it.

You can verify every claim on this page yourself in about 3 minutes, and we would rather you did than took our word for it. That is rather the point of this site.

How to verify ECO4 is real, right now

  1. Search GOV.UK for "Energy Company Obligation ECO4". You will find the official scheme guidance, published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
  2. Search Ofgem's website for "ECO4". Ofgem administers the scheme and publishes supplier delivery data every quarter.
  3. Look up "The Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022" on legislation.gov.uk. That is the actual law obliging suppliers to fund the work.

No lead-gen site, ours included, sits anywhere in that chain of authority. We work at the edges: checking eligibility and making introductions to certified installers.

Why it feels scammy anyway

Legitimate ECO4 practice compared with rogue trader behaviour
Legitimate firmsRogues
Ask about your benefits and EPC before promising anything.Guarantee you qualify before asking a single question.
Appear on the TrustMark register under the exact trading name.Give a name you cannot find on any register.
Put any customer contribution in writing before work starts.Ask for an up-front survey, admin or processing fee.
Tell you when you do not qualify.String you along, then sell your number to five other firms.
Explain who funds the work (a named energy supplier).Imply they are from the government or your council.

The ASA has punished sites in this market

In 2024 the Advertising Standards Authority ruled against a lead generator in this exact niche for implying it was affiliated with the government and hiding its commercial nature. That ruling is why every page of this site carries a plain statement: we are independent, we are not the government or Ofgem, and we may earn a fee for introductions. If a site you are on right now does not say something similar, close the tab.

The three checks before you let anyone survey your home

  1. TrustMark register. The firm must appear under its exact trading name.
  2. MCS certificate. Required for any heat pump installation, searchable on the MCS website.
  3. The funding question. Ask "which supplier is funding this measure?" Genuine installers answer without blinking.

Once you are satisfied the scheme is real, the next question is whether you qualify. The honest breakdown is in our free boiler grants guide, or skip straight to the eligibility checker. If you are not on qualifying benefits, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme takes £7,500 off a heat pump with no income test.

Your questions, answered

Is ECO4 a government scheme?
Yes. ECO4 is the fourth phase of the Energy Company Obligation, created under the Gas Act 1986 and Electricity Act 1989 and administered by Ofgem. It legally obliges large energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency measures in low-income households.
Why did someone knock on my door about a free boiler?
Because installers and brokers get paid for delivering ECO4 measures, some use door-knocking and cold-calling to find eligible households. The scheme behind them is real, but legitimate firms do not need pressure tactics. Never sign anything on the doorstep; check the firm on the TrustMark register first.
How do I check an ECO4 installer is genuine?
Search the TrustMark register for the business name, and for heat pumps check MCS certification too. Ask which energy supplier is funding the measure. A genuine installer answers instantly; a rogue changes the subject.
Does ECO4 cost me anything?
For most qualifying households the work is fully funded. Some projects ask for a customer contribution when the funding does not cover the whole job, and a legitimate installer states this in writing before any work starts. Nobody genuine charges an up-front fee to 'check eligibility' or 'process an application'.
Is this website part of the ECO4 scheme or the government?
No. We are an independent company. We check your eligibility against the public scheme rules and introduce you to MCS-certified and TrustMark-registered installers, and we may receive a fee for that introduction. The funding itself comes from the energy suppliers under their government obligation.