What Types of Properties are Eligible for the Free Boiler Scheme?
Most people don’t know whether their properties are eligible for the Free Boiler Scheme or not. Due to this, they can’t get the maximum benefits from the Free Boiler Schemes.
If you also don’t really know about the eligibility criteria of properties, you can take the help from the following post:
Free Boiler Scheme
To know whether your property is eligible for the Boiler Replacement Scheme or not, you have to understand what the Free Boiler Scheme really is. Considering the high energy costs and carbon emissions, the UK Government has introduced the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Free Boiler Scheme. Through this scheme, they will install new boilers or replace the existing degraded boilers.
In this way, they will install boilers free of cost and also guide them about their maintenance. As these boilers are energy efficient, they will save a lot of your energy costs in the long run. Moreover, the new boilers will enhance not only the comfortability of your home but also its resale value. In this way, you can enjoy benefits through different ways just by having the grants of Free Boiler Scheme.
Eligibility Criteria for Free Boiler Scheme
Not everyone can get the grants for Free Boiler Scheme. There are certain criteria under which they decide whether you are eligible for this scheme or not. You can also check the eligibility of your property for the scheme by yourself. If you don’t know which factors to consider, you can take the help from the following guidelines.
- First of all, the property must have an ownership. The owner should apply for the Free Boiler Scheme. The tenants can also apply for this grant but they must have consent from the home owner.
- Property should not have a boiler in it. If there is a boiler, it must be at least 15 years old.
- At the same time, the owner of the home must be availing any of the government benefits. These benefits include the Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit, etc.
- The ECO4 has excluded several benefits from the eligibility criteria. If the owner of property has any of these benefits, it will make the property ineligible for Free Boiler Scheme.
- Next consideration is the Energy Performance Certificate ( EPC) of property. There is a rating mentioned on this certificate which reflects the energy efficiency of property. The Free Boiler Scheme doesn’t consider the properties with high EPC ratings. They provide their services only to those properties with EPC rating lower than D.
If you still can’t figure out whether you are eligible for the Free Boiler Scheme or not, you can ask the installers to assess your current condition. They will easily figure out your eligibility without taking much time.
People who can Apply
There are three categories of people who can apply for the Free Boiler Scheme. Every category can follow the same procedure to know their eligibility with small changes. Here are the people who can apply for Free Boiler Scheme:
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Home Owners
The home owners can apply when they are living in their property. These should not be separated from the residential area. However, banglows can get these grants even home owner lives in them or not.
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Private Tenants
Private tenants can also apply for the boilers in the renting property. However, they need to take the suggestion of the home owner or landlord. The decision of the application totally depends upon the owner of the property.
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Social Housing Tenants
Social Housing tenants also become eligible when they are facing fuel poverty.
Boilers which can Qualify
The ECO4 scheme also mentioned the qualifying factors for the boilers. These factors will help you save a lot of your time. You can figure out whether your boiler will be replaced or not by yourself. Here are the key qualifying factors for the boilers:
- Only those boilers can be replaced which are older than 8 years.
- From different boiler types in terms of fuel, only gas boilers will be replaced.
- You have to ask the assessment team to know the output rating of your boiler. The rating must be lower than G. It means the boiler uses more fuel but produces less heat.
- This scheme only considers the non-condensing boilers for replacement.
- If your property has boilers but don’t use them as a primary heating source. This makes them ineligible for the Free Boiler Scheme.
These Free Boiler Schemes also help in upgradation and maintenance of your previous boilers. That’s why if anyone wants to upgrade the existing boiler, they should fill the form and let the Free Boiler Scheme team assess your boiler’s eligibility.
Applying Procedure for the Free Boiler Scheme
Many people don’t know the right way to apply for the Free Boiler Scheme. This results in different problems and wastes a lot of time. Even in some cases, eligible people can’t get Free Boiler Grants due to wrong applying procedures.
If you also don’t know the exact procedure for the Free Boiler Scheme, you can consider the following step-by-step application guide:
- First of all, make sure you are perfectly eligible for the Free Boiler Scheme.
- Then, collect all the mentioned documents and submit them in the respective sections. You have to collect documents of income status, property type, ownership, utility bills, features of existing boilers, etc.
- Now, you will be given several options for installers. You have to select a reputed, experienced, and skilled installer to prevent any issues regarding installation. To ensure the reliability, you should check their registration on the website of the UK government.
- Along with application details, you should describe your health considerations resulting from the unpredictable breakdowns of boilers.
- When you are done with the application, it is time to submit. If your application got approved, the grant will be provided for the boiler installation and the rest of the process will be handled by the installars.
After completing your application, it is recommended to proofread all the sections. Everything must be according to the instructions mentioned in the grant program. If you are still doubting your application, you can consult any experienced application advisor.
Benefits of Free Boiler Scheme
One of the most significant benefits of the Free Boiler Scheme is their free of cost services. They are installing new boilers which are far better than the existing ones both in terms of durability and performance. Their boilers reduce the energy consumption which results in lower energy costs. At the same time, the boilers of the Free Boiler Scheme reduce the carbon emissions.