ECO4 Anyone?

Had a 1900 mid terrace, with benefit tenants, upgraded under EC04. The company was sourced by my tenants, credentials all checked out and verified, (there should be a gov list of approved companies etc).
It helped that the tenant is an x-builder so knew exactly what to check for, plus I’ve had them for some 20 years so there’s a large element of trust.

The work was well done, mainly internal wall insulation throughout, (I was hoping for solar panels but no). However they did not redecorate. The independent EPC evaluation, (£70), confirmed a move from low ‘D’ to upper ‘C’, the tenants certainly noticed the difference this winter.

The redecoration costs on a 3 bed, 2 reception room property ran to almost £2500.

I have tenants on benefits who is based in Cornwall. They were approached early dec 2024, out of the blue, by a company who seemed to only find tenants that were eligible.
Her apply was approved by ?
Then week before Christmas a company from midlands were contacting us to get worked started asap. I think a contract of over 100 pages was sent to tenants who forwarded to me. A lot of pressure to sign asap. As a landlord I was concerned they had a plan for fitting the solar panels on 4 roof surfaces.
I could not accept this design as the property has another tenant who was also able to apply for the ECO4 grant
The work commenced in Jan. Scaffolding erected on4 sides of detached property, with no prior notification.
Solar panels were fitted but no batteries.
New extractor fans In en-suite and another on in kitchen 3 months later. The storage heaters were updated in every room.
The property has a flat roof, and requires more installation. Which still has to be installed.
The tenant has lung issues and will have to find alternative accommodation whilst work is carried out and a deep clean is made after all the mess and dust
Finding suitable accommodation in Cornwall between may and September will be expensive and. Difficult.
There was no mention the grant will pay for this and no mention of any redecoration.
Some installers were not very good at attending appointments they arranged.

On a positive note the tenants were very happy with their heating costs from march.
But until the whole work is completed there is no point in getting a new ECP !
So I have no idea if the target of C has been achieved.

Reply to the comment left by Tim Rogers at 23/05/2025 – 09:37
assuming redec not part of the deal then. Any other costing to consider that LL liable for?

Was the company trustmark registered and did you contact the LA to see if they were registered with them at all?

Eco4 is real and the funding made available by energy suppliers I have just stumbled on a company’s post yesterday as well – https://gotoeco.co.uk/free-boiler-installation-how-to-apply-for-the-grant/

And to my surprise some of my friends confirmed it is true.

There’s no cap on the number of properties you can get grants for through either the Energy Company Obligation (current phase is 4) or Great British Insulation Scheme but there needs to be an eligible tenant in situ (and the property has to qualify of course)

There’s more info at https://energysavinggenie.co.uk/eco4-scheme/

(the increase in promotion of the grants might be due to the energy companies getting closer to reaching their obligation …. which could cause the last chance dash for the grants)

Had a couple of properties done , both tenants were claiming some kind of benefits (one was claiming UC at 69PENCE a week !) – issue is even though you may be eligible funding may not be available as it looks like its being rationed.

The energy companies have to reach their obligation so providing the property and tenants qualify there’s no rationing (until the obligation is met). Tenants can qualify through one of the 6 ways here: https://energysavinggenie.co.uk/2024-update-6-ways-to-qualify-for-eco4-grants-pdf-guide/ (although for flex applications they are more complicated as the council signs the declaration off). If a tenant gets 1p of an eligible benefit if the installer gets a matched result they have 12 months to complete the installation (providing the obligated supplier is still obligated – as soon as they reach their obligation they’ll pull funding)

From what I have been able to work out… the government ECO4 funding is given to the energy suppliers (eg Eon, EDF etc). The energy suppliers though do not deal with the actual installers directly.

There seems to be an ‘inbetween layer’. These are companies that hold the funding given to by the energy suppliers and who are the ones that ultimately pay the installers.

The installers have to apply to be aligned to these fund holding companies. They have to be Trust mark registered. They are then are often given a contract for a specific period of time (eg three months) after which they have to apply again to be on their books as it were. ( I can only assume this is because that is when the money is released by the energy company to them?)

The installer has to assess the property, fill in the forms to show the occupier is eligible/type of works to be done etc and then send this off to the fund holding company.

Once the work is completed then installer sends off the end paperwork and then they get paid from the fund holder. The installer produces the guarantee/warranty etc.

As an end consumer (or the owner of the property where work is done) then the concerns I have is then picking the right installer AND understanding the exact detail of the funding. I presume redecorating (after internal insulation) is NOT part of the funding? or is this case specific? Anyone know?

Can anyone recommend one they have ACTUALLY used that does work on properties in the Midlands? I am looking at internal and external insulation installers in particular. (All tenants will be eligible).

Reply to the comment left by JeggNegg at 23/05/2025 – 12:05
so what happened? Did you pay to put the tenants up elsewhere in the end?