An essential guide to boiler grants
Over the past few years the UK government have gone to great lengths to involve the main energy providers in supplying boiler grants to UK consumers, aiming not only to meet carbon emission targets, but to also help with the high bills that UK households face up and down the country. However, very often consumer can be confused by the amount of schemes that are running, and in some cases are even subject to fraudulent companies representing themselves as official bodies dealing with boiler grants, so this guide aims to introduce you to the campaign, and help ensure that you get the best deal.
How boiler grants work
Today the main providers are signed up to the boiler grant scheme (including British Gas, Eon, Scottish Power, SSE and N-Power). These companies are required by legislation to contribute financially to consumers having new boilers installed.
Boiler grant eligibility
In order to qualify you need to meet a few eligibility guidelines which are as follows:
• Your boiler’s over 5 years old,
• Have a gas supply,
• Own your home or if you are a tenant, you must have a permission from the property owner,
You must also personally be in reception of one of the following benefits:
• Pension credit,
• Child tax credit or working tax credit,
• Income support, employment support allowance or income based job seekers allowance.
How much will you receive for your new boiler?
There’s no doubt about it, boilers are expensive. In fact they can range anywhere from £600 up to £2000, and then you have to consider the price of having it professional installed. Different grants vary deal by deal as to how much they contribute towards your new biler so you’ll need to check with directly how much you’d be likely to receive. The current government boiler grant scheme will end in 2022, but as there is a set budget homeowner may miss out if not applying on time.
The types of boiler grants available
The following grants will help you meet these costs:
The Green Deal
The majority of boiler grants have now been replaced by one official, overarching scheme known as the Green Deal. This deal provides cash advances to homes that are looking to improve the overall energy efficiency of their home. However you must bear in mind that this deal isn’t a so much a grant as a loan, and the cash will be paid back through your lowered bills or through an installed repayment meter.
Energy Supplier Grants
This is where the large energy providers offer grants for their customers that are aiming to make their homes energy efficient. Each company will have different eligibility criteria so you’ll check with them directly as to whether you’re eligible or not.
Local Government grants
Local government grants for boilers may be available to you, despite many local authorities having cut back in recent years. To find out whether any schemes are still running in your area contact your local Home Improvement Agency (HIA), who’ll be able to provide you with further details.
You may also want to read about: Home Improvement Grants