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At its origin, the local authority’s flexible eligibility serves the vulnerable households who are not on means-tested benefits. As the LA Flex is an extension to the main ECO4 scheme, and that scheme provides grants to those on benefits only, the LA Flex extends that eligibility based on low income or health conditions.
We have compiled this guide to help households obtain free heating systems through their local authority. It’s pretty much different from the standard ECO4 criteria for grants.
What Is the LA Flex Scheme?
LA Flex diverts half the government’s £4 billion Energy Company Obligation funding to working families on tight budgets. Not just to benefit claimants any more.
Your council checks real income, the state of the property, and actual fuel poverty. It does not consider the benefit status anymore. The fact that about 3.5 million UK homes live in fuel poverty while working is aggravating. That’s why local councils publish that statement of intent and help those homeowners get out of fuel poverty.
Air Source Heat Pump Grants
LA Flex Eligibility Criteria: The Routes That Qualify You
Councils evaluate you in three ways. You only need one path. Pass any one test, and you’re accepted. Simple as that.
Route 1: The Income Limits
The lower income route will apply to those homeowners whose household income is £31,000 and below, or whose EPC rating is E or below.
Calculate it right:
- Gross income before tax
- Wages, business profit, pensions, and rent income count
| Income Type | Employed | Self-Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Main proof | 3 months payslips + P60 | SA302 form> |
| Extra docs | Bank statements | Business accounts |
| Wait time | 1-2 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
Zero-hours contract? Seasonal gigs? Just made redundant? Councils accept irregular income. It won’t block you.
Route 3: Health Conditions Override Income
Health conditions exempt the low-income or benefits conditions altogether. Meaning, it doesn’t really matter how much you earn or whether or not you meet the standard or any eligibility route; if you have any of the following conditions, you will automatically qualify, on one condition: your property EPC must be E or lower.
Health conditions that work:
- RESPIRATORY: Asthma, COPD, bronchitis, sleep apnea
- CARDIOVASCULAR: Heart disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation
- LIMITED MOBILITY: Movement: Arthritis, nerve problems, chronic pain
- IMMUNOSUPPRESSION: Cancer, autoimmune disease, HIV/AIDS
You need a GP letter or an NHS certificate stating how cold homes make it worse.
Who Gets In: Property Rules?
The homeowners go directly through the approved installers. Mortgage, own outright, shared ownership doesn’t matter. Meet the income, health, or poverty test, and you’re good.
Can Renters Apply?
Yes. But you need landlord permission in writing first.
Can they say no? Legally, no. Not unless for a good reason. Free upgrades boost property value. Zero cost to them. Make that clear.
Social housing, a different story. Housing associations have different schemes in place. LA Flex bypasses social tenants altogether.
EPC Ratings: The Make or Break Factor
You need a rating of E, F or G. Properties rated at A, B or C already work efficiently. They’re out.
For a G rating? Full access, insulation, new boiler, heat pumps, solar. D or E rating? Limited to specific fixes only.
Recent EPC works best; under 10 years old is ideal. Many installers do free EPC checks anyway during the first assessment.
What You Actually Get
Full install costs covered. Zero out-of-pocket. Here’s what councils approve.
Heating:
- A-rated boiler swap-30%+ better efficiency
- Complete central heating from scratch
- Air source heat pump (£7,500 grant typical)
- Ground source heat pump
Insulation:
- Loft work (£2,000 typical)
- Cavity walls (1920s-1980s homes)
- Solid walls (homes built pre-1920s)
- Floor and internal walls
Renewable:
- Solar panels, 4-6kW systems
- Battery storage
- Solar water heating
Heat pumps plus solar? Exceptional. Solar feeds the pump. Consumption of grid has drastically reduced.
How Councils Decide?
Every council publishes a Statement of Intent. This controls everything, income caps, health conditions, and local focus areas.
Timeline:
Days 1-3: Installer checks eligibility. TrustMark-registered only. They verify household, income, and property against council rules.
Right away: Submit documents. Income proof, ID, property papers, and current EPC.
Weeks 1-4: Council reviews. They check against published rules. Missing docs cause delays.
Final: Approval arrives. Formal Declaration of Eligibility. Install gets scheduled fast.
Manchester wants older homes with kids. Birmingham focuses on health issues. Leeds targets the elderly in F-G properties. Local needs shape priorities.
Five Steps to Confirm Eligibility
Step 1: Get your council’s Statement of Intent. Try the housing or environment pages on their site.
Step 2: Add up gross income for everyone 18+. Self-employed? Grab SA302 and business accounts now.
Step 3: Check EPC rating today. E, F, or G move faster than D.
Step 4: Ring approved installers nearby. Never pay for checks. Upfront fees mean dodgy outfit.
Step 5: Get docs ready early. Payslips, bank statements, pension info, tenancy papers, GP letters for health.
The Bottom Line
The LA Flex scheme represents £4 billion in government funding specifically designed for households previously excluded from energy efficiency programmes. Once you understand your local council’s specific eligibility criteria, collect comprehensive documentation, and engage in outreach,
TrustMark-registered installers decide if you can get free boiler replacement, solar PV installation, or heat pump upgrades. Check out your local authority’s Statement of Intent today, and you may find that you are closer to qualifying than you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, that is just why the scheme is in place. LA Flex targets working households, the self-employed, and others not in receipt of benefits but who are still in fuel poverty. The eligibility criteria recognise that modest wages above benefit thresholds do not eliminate heating cost struggles.
Gross income is considered as employment wages, self-employment profits, pensions, rental income, investment returns, and savings interest. Universal Credit, Child Benefit, and Pension Credit do not count; they’re worked out separately. Combined income for all adults in the household aged 18+ is used for eligibility.
Both qualify. Private tenants must have written permission from their landlord, which cannot be unreasonably withheld for government-funded works. Social housing tenants do not qualify, and local councils must target private-sector properties under flexible eligibility. No tenure-related restrictions apply to homeowners.
Health-based routes override strict income limits: Respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, or immunosuppression may confirm eligibility despite a moderately higher income. Special consideration also goes to age-related vulnerability – children under 5, occupants over 60. Your council’s Statement of Intent clarifies whether health conditions trump their income criterion.
This is usually 1-4 weeks from submission to council approval, depending on the workload of the local authority and whether the documentation is complete. Incomplete applications extend the timelines substantially. Scheduling of the installation normally follows within weeks after approval, although the supply chains for heat pumps can occasionally result in longer delays.
