Yes, help with boiler replacement is still available in 2026, but it is not as straightforward as applying for a grant and automatically receiving a new boiler.

ECO4 is the main scheme behind much of the current free boiler support. It was originally due to finish earlier, but the government extended it until 31 December 2026. The scheme targets households that need help with energy costs and homes that meet its energy-efficiency requirements.

That makes the timing worth considering, particularly for households with an old or failing heating system.

What support is available for a new boiler?

A household may be able to get help with a new boiler through ECO4 where the existing heating system and the property meet the scheme rules.

Ofgem allows certain broken efficient boilers to be replaced when they cannot be repaired economically. An inefficient boiler can also be upgraded to a more efficient system where the relevant conditions are met. These are separate routes, so the condition and type of the existing boiler can affect the outcome.

The support does not work like a fixed payment that every successful applicant receives. Energy suppliers choose the projects they fund and decide the level of funding they provide. That is why two households with similar boilers can receive different outcomes.

Who can still qualify for boiler help?

The household needs to fall within one of the routes recognised by ECO4.

Some applicants qualify through the Help to Heat Group, which includes people receiving certain benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and several income-related benefits. Other households may qualify through ECO4 Flex, where a participating local authority can identify people who meet its criteria.

The house itself also has to fit the scheme. ECO4 focuses on less energy-efficient homes, with properties generally needing to fall within EPC bands D to G. The rules then look at the heating system and the improvements proposed.

So there is more to the assessment than checking whether someone receives a particular benefit.

Does an old boiler automatically qualify for a replacement?

No. A boiler does not become eligible just because it has reached a certain age.

ECO4 looks at whether the heating system is efficient, broken and economically repairable. For example, an efficient boiler that has broken down and cannot reasonably be repaired may qualify for replacement, subject to the scheme's limits. A working non-condensing boiler can follow a different route because it may qualify for a heating system upgrade.

That distinction prevents the scheme from working as a simple “old boiler equals free boiler” programme.

Can people over 60 still get help?

Age alone does not guarantee a replacement boiler.

Many older households may qualify because of their financial circumstances or because they receive a qualifying benefit. Pension Credit, for example, forms part of the Help to Heat Group used for ECO4 eligibility. Local authority referrals can also provide another route for households that meet the relevant conditions.

This is why searches for a boiler replacement scheme over 60s can be misleading. There is no separate nationwide entitlement that gives everyone over 60 a free boiler. The person's circumstances still need to meet the applicable rules.

What could stop an application from being accepted?

A boiler problem by itself may not be enough.

The property's EPC rating, household circumstances, type and condition of the heating system, and the route used to establish eligibility can all affect the result. Private rented homes also have additional requirements under ECO4, and some boiler replacement routes do not apply to them in the same way.

There is another point worth checking before accepting funding from different schemes. ECO4 funding cannot simply be combined with certain other government schemes for the same measure.

Is it still worth checking for help in 2026?

It is, particularly if the existing boiler is becoming unreliable and paying for a replacement would be difficult.

ECO4 is scheduled to close on 31 December 2026, and the government has confirmed that there will be no successor supplier obligation after ECO4. That makes the current eligibility rules more relevant for anyone considering support now.

Rather than choosing a boiler first and asking about funding afterwards, check the household and property requirements at the start. That gives you a clearer idea of whether grants for new boilers may be available and what type of work could potentially receive support.