ECO4 Flexible Eligibility Statement of Intent Breckland Council

Publication Date: 19/02/2024
Version number: V.1

This statement sets out Breckland Council's flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 - March 2026. The ECO4 scheme will focus on supporting low income and vulnerable households. The scheme will improve the least energy efficient homes helping to meet the Government's fuel poverty and net zero commitments.

The flexible approach for Local Authorities (LAs) to identify fuel poor and vulnerable households who may benefit from heating and energy saving measures is referred to as "ECO4 Flex". The Council welcomes the introduction of the ECO4 Flex eligibility routes as it helps the Council achieve its plans to improve the homes of those in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the cold.

The Council is publishing this Statement of Intent (SoI), on the date to confirm that each of the households declared will adhere to at least one of the three available routes outlined below:

Route 1

SAP bands D-G owner-occupied households and private rented sector E-G households with a gross annual income of less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition or region.

Route 2

SAP bands E-G for owner-occupied households and private rented sector households that meet a combination of two of the following proxies:

• Proxy 1) Homes in England in a Lower-layer Super Output Area (LSOA) 1-3 on the English Indices of deprivation. [Proxy 1 cannot be used with proxy 3].
• Proxy 2) Households receiving Council Tax reduction (based on low income only, not single occupancy).
• Proxy 3) Households identified as vulnerable to living in a cold home as identified in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance . Only one from the list can be used, excludes 'low income'.
• Proxy 4) Householder receiving free school meals due to low-income.
• Proxy 5) A householder supported by a Breckland Council low-income and vulnerable household scheme for the purposes of NICE Guidance.
• Proxy 6) A household referred to the LA for support by their energy supplier or Citizen's Advice, because they have been identified as struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills.

Route 3

SAP bands D-G owner-occupied households and private rented sector E-G households that have been identified by their doctor or GP as vulnerable, with an occupant whose health conditions may be impacted further by living in a cold home. These health conditions may be cardiovascular, respiratory, immunosuppressed, or limited mobility related.

Declaration and evidence check confirmation

Please see the list ofSuitable evidence for ECO4 Flex referral routes for more information on the acceptable evidence required to support applications.

The Flexible Eligibility scheme will be administered by Breckland Council. The council will handle all enquiries and administration in order to process applications.

The authorisation of declarations will be the responsibility of the Private Sector Housing Manager. In their absence authorisation will fall to the Housing Manager.

Data Protection

Breckland Council takes your privacy seriously and will only use your personal data in order to evidence that you meet the outlined criteria for funding and to contact you about your application. All applications should be submitted to Breckland Council who are responsible for verifying and collating associated evidence to confirm household's eligibility and issue a declaration of eligibility. This declaration will then be shared to your selected ECO installer and Ofgem. For full details of how we use and store your data see ourECO4 Flexible Eligibility Privacy Notice.

Rob Walker
Deputy Chief Executive
Breckland Council

Breckland Council will administer the scheme according to BEIS' ECO4 Order and will identify eligible households via Ofgem's application process. The responsible person will oversee the process of identifying eligible households under ECO4 Flex.