LA Flex explained for Greater Manchester households

By ApplyFreeBoiler.uk (Reliant Energy Solutions Ltd), an ECO4 heating and insulation installer based in Bury, Greater Manchester. We are not the government, Ofgem, your council or an energy supplier.

Most people who get help through ECO4 qualify because someone in the household receives a means-tested benefit. But plenty of households in Greater Manchester struggle with heating bills without claiming benefits. LA Flex, sometimes called ECO4 Flex, exists for them. This guide explains how it works and how to find out whether your council takes part.

What LA Flex is

LA Flex is the local authority route into ECO4. Instead of qualifying through a benefit, a household can be referred for ECO4 support by its council, using criteria the council publishes in advance. Energy suppliers can then fund measures for that household under ECO4, subject to the normal survey and property rules.

To take part, a council publishes a document called a Statement of Intent. This sets out which households it is willing to refer and how. If a council has not published one, or has closed its Flex scheme to new applications, the route is not available there.

LA Flex covers privately owned and privately rented homes. Social housing is usually handled through the landlord instead. Like the rest of ECO4, LA Flex ends on 31 December 2026, and some councils may stop taking new applications before then.

The main ways to qualify

Councils use the national LA Flex routes, though the details can vary. In broad terms, a household may qualify through:

  1. Low household income. A combined household income below £31,000 is the main income test, with some adjustments for larger households.
  2. Signs of financial hardship. Councils can use combinations of indicators, sometimes called proxies, such as living in an area of high deprivation or receiving a council tax reduction.
  3. Health conditions made worse by a cold home. A household can be referred where someone has a long-term health condition that is affected by cold, often with support from a GP or NHS service.

Each council's Statement of Intent explains exactly which routes it accepts and what evidence it asks for. Always check the current version rather than relying on an older summary.

The ten Greater Manchester boroughs

Greater Manchester is made up of ten local authorities: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. Each one decides for itself whether to take part in LA Flex, how it runs referrals and when it stops accepting applications. Living in Greater Manchester does not on its own mean you can use LA Flex. It depends on which borough your home is in and what that council currently offers.

How to check your council

What happens after a referral

A Flex referral confirms that your household meets the council's criteria. It does not guarantee that any particular measure will be installed. An installer still needs to survey the home, check its energy rating and design a package that meets ECO4 rules. In many homes, insulation is considered before any heating work. Ofgem notes that contributions can apply in some cases, so ask for anything you are being asked to pay in writing.

Protecting yourself

Because LA Flex involves sharing income or health information, only give personal details to organisations you have checked. Councils do not cold call asking for bank details, and you should be wary of anyone who asks for a fee just to apply. If someone claims to be calling "from the council" about a free boiler, hang up and contact the council using the number on its official website.

Learn more

For a fuller explanation of the routes and the evidence usually requested, see the LA Flex scheme guide on ApplyFreeBoiler.uk. You can also apply through your council or an obligated energy supplier directly; the choice of who you apply through is yours.

Published by ApplyFreeBoiler.uk, run by Reliant Energy Solutions Ltd (company no. 16100301), Bury, Greater Manchester.