ANNOUNCEMENTS
21st January 2026
“Government Will Put ECO4 Mess Right”
As DESNZ seeks to move forward from ECO4 and into the Warm Homes Plan, Ed Miliband took to the airwaves, pledging homes will be put right.
This morning, Ed Miliband took to BBC and ITV news to announce the latest government-backed grant scheme for home insulation and renewables (namely, solar, batteries, and heat pumps). Clear assurances were made that the mess of ECO4 will be put right.
Nature Society, which represents the unheard voices of over 300 of those affected, emphasise ‘no homeowner must be left worse off as a result of ECO4’.
However, the continuing backdrop of the Warm Homes Plan, is one of devastation. The ‘ECO4’ scheme is fast-becomming one of the greatest scandals of modern times, leaving thousands of homes and lives in ruins, whilst fraud and profiteering has been allowed to prevail at worrying levels.
At this time, the government has offered no firm plans to remediate all homes affected.
Despite clear assurances in the Public Accounts Committee of November 2025, DESNZ has instead opted for the slow roll-out of a ‘find and fix’ programme, dedicated to External Wall Insulation only, in response to the limited focus and backlash from the preceeding NAO report.
This focus has little to do with those in greatest need. And, whilst Nature Society very much support the transition to renewables, this must be a just transition.
Reportng up to 98% of External Wall Insulation has been botched, the NAO’s investigation extended to Jan 2025, leaving the remaining 14 months of ECO4 absent of scrutiny. Whilst welcome, the report’s scope did not include solar, heat pumps, or other high-risk measures, likely due to the political risks in light of DESNZ strategy and the already unprecedented levels of public distrust.
Sadly, ‘Insurance Backed Guarantees’ offer little by way of comfort, with many now having to wait months until they find out whether support will be available. These guarantees come from a limited pool of funding with limiting factors, which fail to meet the needs of many of those affected. Many homes are not covered by IBGs at all. And, heat pump IBGs last just 2 years and do not cover negligent design.
IBGs only take effect when installers go bust. And, the ‘phoenixing’ of companies to avoid liability has been all too common. Where installers remain trading, many have simply refused to comply with requests for remediation, whether by homeowners, or regulators.
In light of the Warm Homes Plan’s focus on renewables, DESNZ must now instruct a deeper NAO review of ECO4 in its totality, together with a Serious Fraud Office inquiry in light of widespread abuse of public funds. Adequate safeguards must be put in place to ensure no homeowner is left without heat or with a leaking roof, regardless of dispute.
Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero said:
Ministers have been clear that no household should be asked to pay to fix work that is non‑compliant through no fault of their own.”
Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales said:
“I really do feel for people who have found themselves in this situation through absolutely no fault of their own. Customers of Consumer Energy Solutions will be supported and further updates will be made as soon as possible”. However, when as Liz Saville Roberts MP pressed for enquiry, attention was again drawn to the Warm Homes Plan.
Bill Esterson, Chair of the Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee said:
“We need to ensure we have trained, trusted fitters across the country with the confidence to take part in the Warm Homes Plan after the scandal of ECO.”
Edward Miliband ©House of Commons, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Beyond our advocacy for those harmed, Nature Society is a true supporter of the retrofit in concept and the urgency of emissions reduction, green jobs, and lower bills. Though, this goverment must place grant recipients first – doing so is essential if trust is to be restored.
Ed’s assurances, together with those of DESNZ must now translate into action. They come at an important time for homeowners, many of whose lives are in ruins.
Homeowners report spending months – in some cases over a year – battling for justice with regulators who have simply failed to regulate, in an industry known to have written its own checks, positioned to favour short-term profit and revenues, over long-lasting outcomes for people and homes.
An example of the carnage ECO4 has left behind.
Katie Barrett’s home has been left in turmoil since her botched installation of ECO4 works. She is unable to afford to repair the works herself and it continues to have a devastating impact on her health and wellbeing.
All too often, ECO4 installers have been able to gain basic accreditations, allocate works to poorly skilled 3rd party contractors, and pack up shop with things go wrong, avoiding liability.
The government has attempted to improve things be increasing the requirements of ‘Retrofit Coordinators’, however, standards have been the exception, rather than the norm
