ECO4 and GBIS flex

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) are government energy efficiency schemes run by Ofgem.

They are both four-year schemes and run from 01 April 2022 to 31 March 2026.

The main aim of these schemes is to support low income and vulnerable households to:

• install energy saving measures
• improve the efficiency of the lowest rated homes

Participating local authorities can refer households they consider to be:

• living in fuel poverty
• on a low income
• vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home

Read our ECO4 and GBIS statement of intent

Eligibility

To be apply for the ECO4 and GBIS Flex schemes you live in Essex and be a homeowner, private tenant or landlord.

Depending on your circumstances, we may ask your landlord to contribute towards the installation cost.

Your property must have an energy efficiency rating between bands D to G and you must either:

• have a household income below £31,000
• have a diagnosed illness that gets worse in cold weather
• be identified as a vulnerable household which is not eligible under any other scheme

To gain funding, you must have a survey of the property done. This is to find suitable measures and check certain criteria. Not all properties will be eligible.

The Warm Homes Essex website has details of other funding, advice, and support available in Essex.

How to apply

All applications for the ECO4 and GBIS Flex schemes are being handled by our Managing Agents, Better Housing, Better Health (BHBH). To apply you can:

• call 0800 107 0044
• apply online with BHBH

What happens next

An advisor will call you to complete an eligibility assessment over the phone. This will include questions about the household and the residents occupying it.

If you pass the eligibility assessment, the advisor will share your personal data with an approved contractor. You will need to give consent for the advisor to share your data. The contractor will then contact you to arrange for a survey on your property.

BHBH will tell you the name of the contractor that will contact you. The contractor will call you to arrange an appointment. If you want to check your contractor, you can contact BHBH on 0800 107 0044.

Once the contractor has completed your survey, they will ask for extra paperwork to complete your application. They will tell you how long the work will take to complete.

Information for suppliers and contractors

We have appointed the National Energy Foundation (NEF) as our Managing Agent for ECO4 and GBIS Flex.

We can only consider declarations submitted to and by NEF for funding. We do not accept any requests made to us.

If you are an interested supplier, you must onboard with NEF first. Fees will apply for this process. Visit the NEF website for full details.