Quick answer: Some households can get loft insulation free or at a reduced cost through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4), a government scheme delivered through energy suppliers. Ofgem's page says ECO4 will run until 31 December 2026. The Great British Insulation Scheme has ended: Ofgem says it ended on 31 March 2026 and is closed to new installations. Eligibility is decided under each scheme's own rules, not by us, so check GOV.UK first.
To be clear about our part in this: Middlesbrough Insulation Company does not decide who qualifies for any scheme, and we are not promising free work. This page summarises what the official sources said when we checked them on 21 October 2026. Rules and dates change, so always check the current position on GOV.UK before relying on it.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)
What it is
Ofgem describes the Energy Company Obligation as a government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain designed to tackle fuel poverty. The government sets the policy and Ofgem administers it. Under the scheme, obligated energy suppliers must promote energy-saving measures for low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households. ECO4 is the current phase, and Ofgem's page says it will run until 31 December 2026.
Who may be eligible
GOV.UK says you might be able to get help if you claim certain benefits and live in private housing. The benefits it lists include Universal Credit, Pension Guarantee Credit, Income Support and Child Benefit, among others. It also sets energy rating conditions:
- if you own your home, it must have an energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G;
- if you rent privately, the rating must be E, F or G;
- if you live in social housing, the rating must be E, F or G.
Ofgem's homeowners and tenants page also describes a route through local councils, known as ECO4 Flex, for some households that don't receive a qualifying benefit. That page currently mentions households with a combined gross annual income under £31,000, or where someone has certain health conditions made worse by the cold. Councils decide whether they take part and how referrals work, so check with your own council.
What it can pay for
GOV.UK says help can include insulation work, for example to your loft, as well as replacing or repairing your boiler. Which measures a home gets is decided through an assessment of that property.
Is it really free?
Not always. Ofgem says ECO is not a grant scheme, that being eligible doesn't guarantee you will get measures installed, and that you may be asked to contribute to the cost. It suggests comparing offers. Ofgem also says installers working under ECO must be TrustMark accredited, and that you should only agree to ECO measures once you have received a contract.
How to apply
GOV.UK says you can contact your local council to see whether it is taking part, or contact an energy supplier directly. Ofgem adds that you can approach any of the obligated suppliers, not only your own, and lists their contact details. Tenants need their landlord's permission.
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
The Great British Insulation Scheme was aimed at low-income and vulnerable households and at homes with an energy rating of D to G in the lower council tax bands, and mostly delivered single insulation measures. Ofgem's page says the scheme began in April 2023, ended on 31 March 2026, and is now closed to new installations. GOV.UK says its service for checking eligibility has closed. If you applied before it closed and have questions, GOV.UK says to contact the energy supplier you applied to.
Where to check first
- GOV.UK: Improve the energy efficiency of your home. If you own a property in England or Wales you can get recommendations for home improvements, and the page links to energy grant information and to the ECO page. It also lists a phone line for advice: 0800 098 7950.
- GOV.UK: Help from your energy supplier: the Energy Company Obligation for current ECO eligibility.
- Your local council, to ask whether it takes part in ECO4 Flex.
Because ECO4 is scheduled to end on 31 December 2026, check GOV.UK for any changes or new schemes rather than relying on older articles, including this one.
Protect yourself from misleading offers
Offers of free insulation sometimes arrive by cold call, text or doorstep visit. Before agreeing to anything:
- check your eligibility through GOV.UK, your council or an energy supplier rather than taking a caller's word for it;
- ask how the work is funded and whether you will have to pay anything;
- for ECO work, ask to see the installer's TrustMark registration and check it, as Ofgem advises;
- don't sign until you have a written contract that says exactly what will be installed.
Where we fit in
We provide free assessments and written quotations for loft insulation and other loft work. A quotation from us is a quote for the work described in it. It isn't an application for any scheme, and we can't tell you whether you qualify.
If you aren't eligible for a scheme, or would rather not wait, an assessment will show what your loft actually needs. Sometimes that is a simple top-up. Sometimes a loft inspection shows the insulation is already adequate and nothing is needed. Our guides on whether loft insulation is worth it and how thick it should be help you judge that, and the loft insulation cost page explains what affects the price.
We cover homes across Teesside and the North East.
Every job starts with a free assessment and a written quotation that sets out the scope, materials and price before anything is agreed. The work is carried out by The Insulation Company or an approved installation partner. Call 0800 229 4668 (Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm) or request your free assessment online.