Several routes to a free or subsidised boiler or heating system replacement, depending on your circumstances.
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ECO4 is the most common route to a fully free boiler replacement. If you are on qualifying benefits (such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit or income related ESA) and your home has a poor energy rating (EPC band D to G), your energy supplier may fund a full replacement at no cost to you.
ECO4 can cover gas boilers, oil boilers, and in many cases the installation of a heat pump as an alternative.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives homeowners in England and Wales up to £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (£9,000 if you are off the gas grid replacing oil or LPG). This is not a like for like gas boiler swap. It is designed to help you switch to a low carbon heating system. There is no income limit.
Many local councils run their own boiler replacement or heating upgrade programmes. In England, the Warm Homes Local Grant can cover heating improvements for lower income households. In Wales, the Nest scheme offers free improvements for eligible homes. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland provides grants and interest free loans.
Some energy suppliers offer their own boiler replacement deals or referral programmes on top of their ECO4 obligations. It is worth contacting your supplier directly to ask what help they can offer.
If you are on benefits or a low income, start with ECO4. It is the most likely route to a fully free replacement.
If you are a homeowner and want to switch from gas or oil to a heat pump, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can take a large chunk off the cost regardless of your income.
If neither of those applies, check what your local council offers. Many areas have their own programmes that are not widely advertised.
There is no single government scheme called the "free boiler scheme." However, if you are on a low income or receiving qualifying benefits, you may be able to get a full boiler or heating system replacement at no cost through ECO4. Other routes include the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (which gives up to £7,500 towards a heat pump, not a like for like gas boiler swap) and local authority programmes.
ECO4 is the Energy Company Obligation scheme. It requires large energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements in low income and vulnerable households. This can include replacing an old inefficient boiler with a new one, or installing a heat pump. You typically need to be receiving qualifying benefits and have a home with a poor energy rating (EPC band D to G).
You are most likely to qualify if you receive benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, or income related ESA, and your home has a poor energy rating. Some local authority schemes have their own eligibility rules, so it is worth checking what is available in your area as well.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives homeowners in England and Wales up to £7,500 towards a heat pump (£9,000 if you are off the gas grid replacing oil or LPG). It does not cover a like for like gas boiler swap. There is no income test. It is a good option if you want to move away from gas or oil heating entirely.
Through ECO4, the process typically takes a few weeks from initial enquiry to installation. You will need an assessment of your home, a check on your eligibility, and then the installation itself. The exact timeline depends on your area and the installer, but most people have their new boiler within four to eight weeks.