ECO boiler grants are available to certain homeowners who meet a set of criteria, allowing them to replace their old boiler for free or at a subsidised rate. This new boiler grant is funded by contributions from the energy companies and has allowed thousands of UK residents to replace old and inefficient units with the latest gas combi boilers.
If you cannot afford to install a new heating system, it is worth checking to see if you qualify for free boiler grants, or at least for a discount on a new model. Not only does this boiler grant scheme provide a new and more reliable boiler for the home, it will also be more efficient than the unit it replaces. This means it will save you money on your energy bills (estimated to be up to £300 per year), and that there is less gas wastage, which is good news for the environment.
Find out more about ECO boiler grants, what they involve, why they exist and who can benefit from them, in this article. If you want to find out if you qualify for a new boiler grant, call our friendly and helpful team on 0330 055 2210 and they will be able to find out what you can claim.
What is the New Boiler Grant?
The new boiler grant is part of the government’s ECO funding scheme. ECO stands for Energy Company Obligation, with the money used to fund the scheme coming from the country’s big energy suppliers. The ‘Green Tax’ that you pay on your energy bills is collected in a pot and controlled by the major energy firms, who are obliged to plough it into providing gas boiler grants.
As the country attempts to hit challenging targets for cutting carbon emissions, these free boiler grants and subsidies for low income families and the vulnerable form part of the solution. The companies also provide insulation for some households too.
The boiler replacement grant is a one-off payment to householders, who have no obligation to pay anything back at all. They can use this new boiler grant to pay the full cost, or a significant chunk of the cost, of a new boiler from approved installers such as Clever Energy Boilers.
The level of the free boiler grants are determined by the energy efficiency of the home, the family income and other factors. You may need to undergo a free energy assessment before the new boiler grant is calculated.
Why Do Government Boiler Grants Exist?
Creating a more energy efficient society is one of the main reasons behind the supply of grant boilers. New boilers waste much less energy than older, inefficient models, which use up a significant amount of gas simply in order to run. A modern, efficient condensing gas boiler turns more of that gas into heat, wasting as little as possible. This is due in large part to the effective condensing technology that comes as standard with new boilers.
In addition to the carbon targets, free boiler grants help tackle the problem of fuel poverty. The definition of fuel poverty is when a household bears fuel costs that are above the national average and that, if they are to pay that, they would be left with an income that leaves them below the official poverty line.
ECO 3, the current incarnation of the ECO boiler grants scheme, features the Affordable Warmth Obligation, which has focused the gas boiler grants system much more on helping the less well off and the vulnerable, rather than purely concentrating on cutting carbon emissions.
Who Qualifies for a Boiler Grant?
The answer to who qualifies for a boiler grant has changed over time. Homeowners can apply for free boiler grants if their current boiler is five or more years old, they are on the mains gas supply and they receive one or more of a series of different benefits.
If you receive the following benefits, then you automatically qualify for a new boiler grant:
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (and have a household income of less than £16,010 per year)
However, there are a number of other qualifying benefits where you also need to either receive a supplementary benefit or meet certain requirements to qualify for government grants for boilers. If you receive:
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Support
you need to also meet at least one of the following criteria; have a child under 16, have a child under 20 who is not in higher education, or receive employment support, pension premium or Disability Living Allowance.
If you receive:
- Working Tax Credits (and the household income is lower than £16,010 per year)
you need to also meet one of the following criteria; be over 60-years-old, receive disabled worker element, receive severe disability element, have a child under 16 or a child under 20 who is not in higher education.
If you receive:
- Universal Credit (and your monthly take-home pay has been less than £1,250 over the past 12 months)
you also need to meet one of the following criteria; have a child under 16 or under 20 and not in higher education, receive Disability Living Allowance, receive a Personal Independent Payment, have a limited capability for work and work related activity.
Who qualifies for a boiler grant is not an exact science, so make sure you call us on 0330 055 2210 to find out what you can claim.
Which Boiler to Install on the Boiler Grant Scheme?
The boiler grant scheme is perfect for allowing you to install the most efficient boilers on the market. To make the most of your new boiler grant, we would suggest a Worcester Bosch boiler. You can have a Worcester unit fitted and working in your home from £399 when using the boiler grant scheme.
We recommend Worcester Bosch as they are seen by the industry as the best on the market. Consumer organisations agree that they provide reliability, efficiency and value for money. Find out more about these boilers that you can buy using boiler grants in the reviews section.
Clever Energy Boilers is dedicated to installing your new boiler in a clean and tidy manner. We bring covers to protect your furnishings and clean up afterwards as a matter of standard. Talk to us about gas boiler grants today.
