ECO4 ends 31 December 2026 — what replaces it in Newham
ECO4 has been extended once, to 31 December 2026, so suppliers can finish existing targets and fix faulty installs only. There are no new targets, no carry-over and no ECO5. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2026.
In England the replacement for low-income households is the Warm Homes: Local Grant — a £500m scheme delivered by councils and their appointed installers from April 2025 to March 2028. It funds insulation, heating and solar in full for privately owned and privately rented homes rated EPC D to G.
One of these three routes must apply:
- Household income under £36,000 a year before tax; or
- Someone in the home gets one of: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance; or
- The home is in a postcode the government lists as among the most deprived (IMD deciles 1–2).
On top of one of those routes, the home must be rated EPC D to G and you must be an owner-occupier or a private tenant (with your landlord's consent — rented homes rated F or G need a registered MEES exemption). Social housing is not eligible.
Not every council joined, delivery is postcode-by-postcode, and councils must contact eligible households within 10 working days of a referral.
Check the Warm Homes route for Newham →You can also apply directly through the government's checker on GOV.UK.
Energy Grants & Fuel Poverty in Newham
Newham is one of London's most diverse boroughs and faces acute fuel poverty at 16.8% despite pockets of modern development. The Olympic legacy in Stratford brought energy-efficient new-builds, but much of East Ham, Plaistow, and Forest Gate retains Victorian terraced housing with solid walls and poor insulation. The borough's large private rented sector means many eligible households are tenants who need their landlord's cooperation for ECO4 works.
The council's targeted PRS enforcement team has transformed ECO4 delivery in the private rented sector. Using mandatory licensing data to identify properties with EPCs below D, the team contacts landlords directly and explains ECO4 as a way to meet future Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) at no cost. This proactive approach has unlocked ECO4 installations in 1,400+ PRS properties that would otherwise have been blocked by landlord inertia.
Newham's PRS enforcement team has unlocked 1,400+ ECO4 installations by proactively engaging landlords through mandatory licensing data.
How ECO4 Is Delivered in Newham
Newham's Zero Carbon Board brings together councillors, housing officers, and community organisations to coordinate the borough's climate response. The board's £18m allocation for estate-level retrofits is one of the largest in London, funding comprehensive improvements to 8 council estates. For private households, the Community Links referral pathway — embedded in foodbanks, job centres, and children's centres — has proved particularly effective at reaching fuel-poor households who are disconnected from conventional council services.
Available Grants in Newham
Residents in the London Borough of Newham area can access several government-funded energy efficiency schemes:
ECO4 Scheme
The ECO4 provides 100% free energy improvements to qualifying households. In Newham, 2,890 measures installed to date. Most common: Loft insulation (30%).
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
The GBIS closed to new applications on 31 March 2026 — if you don't claim benefits, check LA Flex and the Warm Homes: Local Grant instead. Until it closed, GBIS provided free or subsidised insulation to properties in council tax bands A-D. No means test required.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
£7,500 towards an air source heat pump or £5,000 towards ground source. Available to all homeowners with a valid EPC.
Warm Home Discount
£150 discount on your electricity bill each winter.
EPC Ratings in Newham
Analysis of 98,600 EPC certificates in Newham:
Rating Distribution
50% of properties rated D-G — around the national average. Fuel poverty: 16.8% (20,400 households), significantly above the national average of 13.1%.
Housing Stock
121,400 households. Common construction: Victorian terraces and 1960s ex-council blocks, average build year 1945.
| Type | Share |
|---|---|
| Flat | 48% |
| Terraced | 28% |
| Semi-detached | 14% |
| Detached | 4% |
| Bungalow | 6% |
Most Common ECO4 Measures
2,890 installations to date:
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Boiler replacement
- Internal wall insulation
Average annual saving: £600
LA Flex Eligibility — Newham
London Borough of Newham — LA Flex (SOI v4.1, August 2025)
Income threshold: £36,000
Delivery partner: Newham Council Climate Action Team
Targets PRS aggressively — one of London's highest PRS proportions. Referrals from Community Links and Aston-Mansfield.
Local Installers
19 TrustMark-registered and 6 MCS-certified installers serving Newham. Key areas: East Ham, Plaistow, Forest Gate, Custom House, Canning Town
Newham Energy Strategy
Climate Emergency Action Plan includes borough-wide retrofit. Zero Carbon Newham Board allocated £18m for estate retrofits.
How to Apply
- Check eligibility — use our checker
- Get matched with TrustMark installers in Newham
- Free survey — assessor recommends measures
- Installation — at no cost, usually 4-8 weeks
Contact London Borough of Newham: www.newham.gov.uk or 020 8430 2000
FAQs — Newham
How many homes in Newham qualify for ECO4?
Approximately 50% of assessed properties in Newham have EPC D or below. Combined with benefits and LA Flex, an estimated 20,400 households could access free improvements.
What is the LA Flex income threshold in Newham?
London Borough of Newham's LA Flex income threshold is £36,000. Targets PRS aggressively — one of London's highest PRS proportions. Referrals from Community Links and Aston-Mansfield.
How many installers serve Newham?
19 TrustMark-registered and 6 MCS-certified installers serve the Newham area.
What is the fuel poverty rate in Newham?
Newham's fuel poverty rate is 16.8% (20,400 households), significantly above the national average of 13.1%.
How much can I save with ECO4 in Newham?
Average annual saving: £600. Most common measure: Loft insulation (30%).
📋 Sources & Data
- EPC: Open EPC Register — 98,600 certificates
- Fuel poverty: DESNZ 2025 (2023 data)
- ECO4: Ofgem
- Installers: TrustMark
- LA Flex: London Borough of Newham SOI v4.1 (August 2025)
- Last verified: 4 March 2026