An old boiler is not great news, either for you, your home or the environment. You have the uncertainty of whether it will keep going, the worry of potential repair or replacements costs and you’ll be paying more for your energy bills as it is unlikely to be all that efficient. That being said, the thought of a new boiler is very off-putting – the hassle, the inconvenience and above all the expense! So it’s worth taking a look at the government’s ECO (Energy Company Obligation) scheme for 2016 to see if you qualify for a free boiler grant. This is a scheme where if you meet the eligibility criteria you can receive a grant towards a brand new boiler with an A-rated energy efficiency score.
Under the government backed ECO scheme, families on low income can receive help with reducing their fuel bills. The funding applies to people who receive certain income related benefits and are for replacing an old, inefficient boiler with a new condensing style model – these grants can be accessed by both tenants and homeowners alike. The applicable benefits include pension credit and child tax credit, and in some circumstances income support, jobseekers’ allowance, working tax credit and universal credit. The grants apply to boilers that are performing at less than 86% efficiency, which is typically boilers over five years old, and the cost of the grants are met by UK energy companies. They are free, and there is nothing that needs to be repaid.
In winter, paying for heating can be a worry. With the HHCRO (Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation) in place you may be eligible for funding towards other measures to keep your house warmer and more energy efficient – this scheme is also known as affordable warmth. It may include measures such as cavity wall insulation or loft insulation, and again it is available for those who are in receipt of qualifying benefits to help with lowering the costs of heating your home.
Once you have made a successful application an approved installer will visit to carry out the work, and you should be warm with lower energy bills in no time!
