Struggling with the cost of a new boiler? You might be eligible for a boiler grant that could save you a significant amount of money. These grants aim to help households improve energy efficiency and reduce heating costs.
In this article, you'll learn about the different types of boiler grants available, eligibility criteria, and how to apply.
Let's get you on the path to a warmer, more energy-efficient home without breaking the bank.
✅ Boiler grants can help: If you are struggling with the cost of a new boiler, various grant schemes can significantly reduce your expenses by offering financial assistance for energy-efficient home improvements.
🏴 Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme: Managed by Warmworks Scotland, this scheme provides grants worth £10,000 or more for home improvements like insulation and new heating systems, but is aimed at homeowners or private rental tenants who meet specific criteria.
🏴 Nest Scheme in Wales: This Welsh Government initiative focuses on low-income households or those experiencing fuel poverty, offering energy-saving measures including insulation upgrades, new heating systems, and draught-proofing solutions.
🇬🇧 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): A UK government initiative that provides fixed grants to property owners in England and Wales for installing low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps and biomass boilers, with specific eligibility requirements.
🏢 Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme: This scheme mandates energy suppliers in Great Britain to improve home heating efficiency, targeting low-income, fuel-poor, and vulnerable households, and includes opportunities for free boiler replacements through energy suppliers like British Gas and Glow Green.
📝 Eligibility and Application: Each scheme has specific eligibility criteria such as income level, benefits received, and the energy efficiency of your current boiler. Applying typically involves providing necessary documentation, an eligibility check, and a home assessment.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme is a government initiative in Great Britain aimed at addressing fuel poverty and reducing carbon emissions. Launched in 2013, ECO has had four phases, with ECO4 running from April 2022 to March 2026. The scheme mandates energy suppliers to improve the heating efficiency of homes, focusing on low-income, fuel-poor, and vulnerable households.
| ECO Scheme Phases | Duration | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| ECO1 | 2013 - 2015 | Carbon Emissions Reduction, Fuel Poverty |
| ECO2 | 2015 - 2017 | Energy Efficiency, Affordable Warmth |
| ECO3 | 2018 - 2022 | Vulnerable Household Support |
| ECO4 | 2022 - 2026 | Home Heating Cost Reduction for Low-Income |
You must be a homeowner or tenant. Additional criteria include being on specific benefits or having a low income and being considered vulnerable.
| Eligibility Criteria | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Home Ownership | Homeowner or Tenant |
| Income Level | Low-income, Fuel-poor, Vulnerable Households |
| Benefits Received | Specific Benefits like Universal Credit |
ECO+ is a segment of the ECO scheme that targets insulation improvements. It provides grants for loft and cavity wall insulation.
| Insulation Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Loft Insulation | Adds insulation to attic spaces |
| Cavity Wall Insulation | Fills gaps in walls to prevent heat loss |
Glow Green offers free boiler replacements through the ECO scheme. The deal includes an energy-efficient boiler and installation at no cost for eligible households.
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Boiler Replacement | Energy-efficient boilers |
| Installation Fee | Free for eligible households |
British Gas provides free boiler replacements under the ECO scheme for qualifying homes, focusing on enhancing energy efficiency.
BOXT offers deals on free boiler installations for homes that qualify under the ECO scheme. The focus is on modern, efficient boilers.
Heatable provides high-efficiency boilers at no cost through the ECO scheme. It aims to help fuel-poor and low-income households.
| Steps | Action |
|---|---|
| Check Eligibility | Visit the official ECO website |
| Gather Documents | Proof of ownership/tenancy, income |
| Application | Through energy supplier/approved installer |
| Approval and Installation | Upon approval, schedule the installation |
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a UK government initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions. It has a £450 million budget to help homeowners in England and Wales replace fossil fuel boilers. The scheme promotes low-carbon heating systems, like heat pumps and biomass boilers.
You can get a fixed grant towards installing low-carbon heating systems. An air source or ground source heat pump installation gets £7,500. A biomass boiler installation offers £5,000. These grants help offset the cost of green upgrades.
| Heating System | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| Air Source Heat Pump | £7,500 |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | £7,500 |
| Biomass Boiler | £5,000 |
To qualify, you must own a property in England or Wales. You'll also need a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding insulation recommendations. This ensures your home is already energy-efficient before the upgrade.
| Step | Action | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check EPC Status | Verify no pending issues | Valid EPC with no insulation recommendations |
| 2. Apply for Grant | Use an approved installer | Provide property and EPC details |
| 3. Install System | Choose an approved installer | Proceed with grant-approved installation |
The Warmer Homes Scotland Scheme, managed by Warmworks Scotland, helps those struggling financially to heat their homes. The program provides grants for home improvements, including insulation, draught-proofing, and heating systems.
The scheme offers funding worth £10,000 or more for eligible households. Improvements can include:
To be eligible, you must be a homeowner or private rental tenant. Your household must include someone who is either over 75 and has no central heating, terminally ill, or receiving benefits.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | £10,000 or more |
| Home Improvements | Wall insulation, loft insulation, draught-proofing, central heating, renewables |
| Eligibility | Homeowner or private rental tenant with someone meeting specific criteria |
| Boiler Replacement Qualification | Current boiler must be broken or old |
| Application Process | Online form or helpline, followed by a home visit assessment |
Nest is a scheme by the Welsh Government designed to improve household energy efficiency. It offers free, impartial advice to help you lower your energy consumption and monthly bills. Nest aims to support you in accessing various benefits and better managing your energy usage.
You can receive multiple energy-saving measures to improve your home's efficiency. The scheme includes insulation upgrades, new heating systems, and draught-proofing solutions. Additional services may involve expert advice on energy tariffs to further reduce your costs.
| Measure | Details |
|---|---|
| Insulation | Loft, cavity wall, and external wall insulation |
| Heating Systems | New energy-efficient boilers, heating controls |
| Draught-Proofing | Sealing gaps around windows, doors, and floors |
| Advisory Services | Energy tariff advice, tips on reducing energy consumption |
Eligibility mainly focuses on low-income households or those experiencing fuel poverty. You shouldn’t have to worry about the costs if you meet these criteria. Homeowners and private rental tenants are both eligible. Furthermore, specific qualifying benefits or certain income thresholds may apply.
You can qualify for a replacement boiler if your existing boiler is inefficient, old, or beyond economic repair. Eligibility often depends on your household income and receipt of specific benefits.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Income Threshold | Low-income households |
| Benefits | Certain qualifying benefits (e.g., Pension Credit, Income Support) |
| Housing Type | Homeowners and private rental tenants |
Nest offers a straightforward process to help you access energy efficiency improvements, reducing your energy bills and enhancing your overall home comfort.
The Boiler Scrappage Scheme helped many households upgrade their heating systems to improve energy efficiency.
The Boiler Scrappage Scheme was a UK government initiative announced in December 2009 by Chancellor Alistair Darling and launched on January 5, 2010. It aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting energy efficiency by subsidising the installation of newer, more efficient boilers for up to 125,000 English households. The total cost was £50 million, with an added £150 million for the Warm Front Scheme.
| Scheme Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | January 5, 2010 |
| Cost | £50 million (plus £150 million for Warm Front Scheme) |
| Target Audience | Up to 125,000 English households |
| Purpose | Reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency |
| Announced By | Chancellor Alistair Darling in December 2009 |
To qualify for the Boiler Scrappage Scheme, you needed to live in England and have a working G-rated boiler. If you met these criteria, you could receive a £400 voucher to offset the cost of a modern A-rated boiler or a renewable heating system such as a biomass boiler, heat pump, or micro CHP. The scheme was highly popular, and all 125,000 vouchers were claimed within a few months, leading to its closure.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Residency | Must live in England |
| Boiler Rating | Must have a working G-rated boiler |
| Voucher Value | £400 |
| Voucher Use | Towards A-rated boiler or renewable system |
| Voucher Availability | 125,000 vouchers (all claimed within months) |
Most new build properties are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Exceptions exist for specific self-build properties that might qualify under different criteria.
Social housing properties are excluded from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. These properties often receive support through other government initiatives, excluding them from this specific grant.
Properties that have already received government funding for a heat pump or biomass boiler are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. This ensures the grants reach new, unfunded homes.
Properties under construction by developers aren't eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The policy aims to promote existing property upgrades instead of new builds.
Finished new build properties with fossil fuel boilers might be eligible for grants to install heat pumps. This provides an incentive to switch to greener energy once the property is occupied.
| Property Type | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Under Construction | Not Eligible |
| Finished with Fossil Fuel Boiler | Potentially Eligible |
Self-build properties can benefit under specific conditions. If you're building your own home, you might be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, given you meet the criteria.
| Self-Build Status | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Under Construction by Self | Potentially Eligible |
| Completed Self-Build | Potentially Eligible if not previously funded |
Exceptions and nuances exist, tailoring eligibility to unique property circumstances while avoiding redundancies.
Understand Eligibility Criteria
Ensure you meet the grant program's specific criteria. Common factors include income, age of your current boiler, and your home’s energy efficiency rating.
| Eligibility Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Income | Varies by grant; often targeted at low-income households |
| Age of Current Boiler | Typically needs to be over 10 years old |
| Energy Efficiency Rating | Homes rated D or lower often qualify |
Research Available Grant Programs
Look into various grant programs in your region. Explore both government and private initiatives. Reach out to local energy agencies or community organisations for information on lesser-known grants.
| Grant Program | Key Organisations |
|---|---|
| ECO Scheme | Energy companies like British Gas and EDF |
| Warmer Homes Scotland | Scottish Government |
| Local Grants | Local councils and community energy initiatives |
Prepare Necessary Documentation
Gather required documents beforehand. These typically include proof of income, energy bills, and details about your current heating system.
Get a Professional Assessment
Have a professional assess your home’s energy efficiency. This can highlight areas for improvement and strengthen your grant application.
Apply Early
Submit your application as soon as possible. Grants often have limited funding and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Follow Up
Keep track of your application status. Reach out if you haven't received a response within the expected timeframe.
Utilise Accredited Installers
Some grants require the use of accredited installers. Ensure you use qualified professionals to avoid delays or disqualification.
| Key Steps for Documentation | Tips |
|---|---|
| Proof of Income | Use recent payslips or tax returns |
| Energy Bills | Provide recent utility bills |
| Current Heating System | Include maintenance records |
There are several government schemes aimed at improving home energy efficiency, including Warmer Homes Scotland and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. These schemes offer various forms of financial assistance for home improvements like insulation and boiler replacements.
Eligibility for Warmer Homes Scotland typically includes being a homeowner or a tenant receiving certain benefits. The scheme aims to help those in need of improving their home's energy efficiency.
The ECO scheme is a government initiative that requires energy suppliers to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty by providing funding for home energy efficiency improvements.
The ECO+ scheme provides grants for insulation and boiler replacements, aimed at improving home energy efficiency. Homeowners and tenants might qualify based on specific conditions, such as the type of property and the occupant's income level.
New build properties are excluded from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. However, finished new build properties and self-build properties might be eligible under specific conditions.
Exclusions include new build properties, social housing, and properties that have already received funding for heat pumps or biomass boilers.
To maximise your chances, understand eligibility criteria based on income, boiler age, and energy efficiency rating. Research available grant programs, prepare necessary documentation, get a professional assessment, apply early, follow up on applications, and use accredited installers.
Yes, tenants can apply for certain home energy efficiency grants, provided they meet the eligibility criteria, which often includes being on specific benefits.
Necessary documents generally include proof of income, proof of ownership or tenancy, and details of the property's energy efficiency status. Specific requirements may vary based on the grant program.
Benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), income-related benefits, and certain disability benefits can qualify you for a boiler grant, subject to meeting other applicable criteria.
