How can you get a free boiler grant?

The government introduced the free boiler scheme as part of its obligation to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions and help with the battle against climate change. Old and inefficient boilers contribute to emissions because of the amount of energy that is lost when they take longer to heat up the home. This also means your bills would be higher than if you had a “greener” boiler.

To help the situation as part of the ECO3 scheme, grants for new boiler installations are available to qualifying individuals. Not only will this save you money but also be very beneficial for the environment, so it is a great scheme to apply for if you are eligible.

How can you qualify for a free boiler grant?

To qualify for a free boiler grant you must meet specific criteria set out by the scheme. This includes being a homeowner (or a privately renting tenant) and having a boiler that is more than seven years old. Boilers that are less than seven years old are excluded from the scheme as it is likely to be more worthwhile having it repaired than completely replaced. Also, you need to be claiming one of the benefits listed below to be eligible for a free boiler grant.

·        Child tax credit

·        Income related Employment Support Allowance

·        Income based Job Seekers Allowance

·        Income support

·        Pension guaranteed credit

·        Working tax credit

·        Universal credit

·        Disability living allowance

·        Personal independence payment

·        Attendance allowance

·        Carer’s allowance

·        Severe disablement allowance

·        Industrial injuries disablement benefits

·        Ministry of justice benefits

·        War pensions mobility supplement

·        Constant attendance allowance

·        Armed forces independence payment

·        Child benefit

If you or anyone in your household receives one or more of the benefits listed and fits the other criteria, it is highly likely that you can qualify for a free boiler grant through the scheme. Even if you are not receiving a benefit you could get a boiler through an alternative option such as “buy now pay later”, or you could get a subsidised boiler. So, it is always worth checking your eligibility and applying.

Is your boiler costing you more than it should to run?

The ECO scheme was put in place to help provide eligible people across the UK with efficient and affordable heating. Research has shown that boiler models over seven years old only function at around 65% of their full efficiency. This means that as much as 35p of every pound you spend on your heating costs is being wasted because of an inefficient boiler. By comparison, your new A-rated boiler would be predicted to work at no lower than 90% efficiency, which equates to a minimal loss of 10p per pound or less.

As well as financial benefits, having a new boiler fitted can be very beneficial to the environment. Using an energy efficient boiler means less energy is needed to heat your home effectively, and so fewer carbon emissions are produced. This has a big impact in terms of lowering your home’s carbon footprint and doing your part to reduce the effects of global warming.