Boiler Scrappage Scheme

Boiler scrappage scheme - switching from a G-rated (or equivalent) to an A-rated boiler - Get £400 off a new A-rated boiler or renewable heat technology, when you scrap your old, inefficient G-rated boiler.

What is the purpose of the boiler scrappage scheme?

The UK has one of the most ambitious C02 emission reduction targets in the world. The installation of an efficient heating system is an effective way of reducing household energy bills and CO2 emissions, as domestic heating accounts for 14% of the UK's C02 emissions.

There are currently around three and a half million homes in England with low efficiency G-rated boilers or worse.

To address this, the Government are offering up to 125,000 households £400 towards the cost of upgrading their boiler (if G-rated or equivalent or worse) to a high efficiency A-rated one or a renewable heating technology. This will help to save in the region of 140,000t C02 per year - equivalent to taking 45,000 cars off the road.

What are the benefits in upgrading your boiler?

New boilers have rated efficiencies of 90 per cent or more meaning that they use less fuel, resulting in lower C02 emissions and running costs. Renewable heat technologies do not use fossil fuels i.e. coal, oil or gas, reducing C02 emissions still further.

For example, this means by upgrading your G-rated boiler to an A-rated one, your household heating bill should drop by about a quarter - a saving, on average, of around £235 a year.

Who is eligible for the scheme?

The scheme is open to 125,000 householders in England living in an owned or privately rented home. Please note:

i. If you are a householder (including tenants) and under 60 you can only apply for the scheme if the boiler you are scrapping is in working order and is the main boiler used to heat the home.
ii. If you are a householder (including tenants) and 60 or over you can apply for the scheme regardless of whether the boiler you are scrapping is in working order. However, it still needs to be the main boiler used to heat the home, and must still be connected to the wet heating system.

Only householders and landlords who own and privately let dwellings are eligible to apply for a voucher. Boiler installers and manufacturers, local authority registered social landlords, and housing associations are not eligible to apply.

Why isn't this scheme running in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland? The devolution of power to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland means that their assemblies and governments will take decisions on whether they want similar schemes.

How can you tell if your boiler is eligible for the scheme?

A good quick test for gas boilers is to see if it has a permanent pilot light - if it has, it is very likely to be a Grated boiler. If it is gas powered and over fifteen years old it is likely to be eligible. If it is oil powered and over twenty-five years old, it is likely to be eligible, as are some elderly solid fuel boilers without thermostats.

For a better idea, why not see if your boiler make and model is listed as G-rated or worse by clicking this link.

Alternatively, you can phone the ACT ON C02 advice line on 0800 512 012, where one of our advisers will be able to assist you in determining whether your boiler is G-rated.

Do not attempt to dismantle your boiler to determine whether it is eligible, all of the information required should be plainly visible from the outside or under the flap that covers the controls etc. If in doubt ring the help line or ask your installer.

Want to register for the boiler scrappage scheme? To confirm that your home has a G-rated (or equivalent) boiler, then please call our ACT ON CO2 advice line on 0800512012

This will take you through a process to confirm the eligibility of your current boiler. Once you have determined that your boiler is eligible, you will need to obtain a quotation from an installer and register on the EST website that is accessible at the end of the eligibility check. You should then be able to receive a £400 cash back voucher towards the cost of your upgrade.

Please note that for final registration you will need to provide the following information:

i. Your full name.
ii. The address of the property you wish to claim the voucher for.
iii. The make and name of the boiler being scrapped.
iv. The name I company name and address of the installer carrying out the work.
v. Gas SafelOFTEC/HETAS or MCS registration number of installer.
vi. Confirmation that you have received a quote from the installer to carry out the work.

When will the vouchers be issued - and how is payment made?

The £400 vouchers will be issued from 18th January 2010. You will receive the voucher approximately ten days after application. Vouchers are valid for 12 weeks from date of issue. If the voucher is not redeemed within this time, it will be cancelled and reallocated. There will only be one voucher per household, but if the voucher expires, it will be possible to apply for another if available.

Please note that no vouchers will be sent out before 18th January 2010.

Which boilers and boiler manufacturers can the vouchers be redeemed against?

Vouchers can be redeemed against any A-rated gas, oil or LPG boiler, boilers with a Passive Flue Heat Recovery Device, Micro CHP units or Microgeneration Certification Scheme-registered biomass boilers and heat pumps. Solar Thermal is also eligible if combined with an eligible boiler replacement. Electric boilers are not eligible.

Who can carry out the installation of your new boiler?

Installation of a gas or oil boiler must be carried out by an installer registered with a competent person's scheme (such as Gas Safe, OFTEC or HETAS). Installation of a microgeneration technology must be carried out by a person qualified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

How can you find the best deals on boilers and installation?

We recommend that you shop around by enquiring with a range of installers, manufacturers or energy companies for the most competitive deal. Some companies will be offering complementary deals to encourage you to scrap and replace your boiler with them. Once you have chosen an installer, you will need a quote from them in order to register for a voucher.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme If you are looking to replace your old boiler with a heat pump, biomass boiler, or solar hot water system then you may be eligible for a grant of up to £2500 towards installation. Visit the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website, www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk, for further details.

Please note that you can apply for both the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and the boiler scrappage scheme.

How will the Energy Saving Trust guard against fraud?

The Energy Saving Trust will monitor the scheme and any detected fraud will be reported and prosecuted. The processes and procedures for monitoring the scheme are as follows:

o A voucher submitted for a claim must contain the customer's and the installer's signature. It must also include the Gas Safe/MCS registration number of the installer.
o As a requirement of law any work undertaken on a gas boiler has to be registered with Gas Safe as matter of course. Therefore, the Energy Saving Trust will check periodically voucher claims against work registered with Gas Safe. If the work has not be registered with Gas Safe in due course this will be further investigated by the Energy Saving Trust and where necessary followed by a home visit to ensure the work has indeed been completed.
o In addition, a random selection of 2-3% of installations will be checked by the Energy Saving Trust through home visits to ensure a new boiler has been installed.
o The Energy Saving Trust will do a daily check if more than one voucher has been applied for a property. This will be done by monitoring postcode data. If multiple applications are detected the Energy Saving Trust will investigate further. The Energy Saving Trust reserves the right to conduct other checks and monitoring procedures, as necessary.

How will payment of the £400 be made? Once you have received your voucher, you can then proceed with the installation. You will need to pay for the new boiler and installation upfront and then claim back the £400 by sending the voucher and invoice to the EST.
Payment will be issued within 25 working days of receipt of the voucher and invoice.

What other schemes are available to help you with the cost of installing new heating systems or energy efficiency measures?

Warm Front

The Warm Front Scheme in England, provides owner occupier or privately rented households with a package of insulation and/or heating measures up to a maximum value of £3,500 (or £6,000 where oil, low carbon or renewable technologies are recommended).

Measures include:
1. Loft insulation
2. Draught proofing
3. Cavity wall insulation
4. Hot water tank insulation
5. Repairs of an existing heating system
6. Gas, electric, oil central heating system
7. Conversion of a solid fuel fire to a glass-fronted fire

All successful grant applicants' homes will be visited by a trained Technical Surveyor/Assessor, who will determine the full requirements of each individual property.

If you meet the following criteria then you may be eligible for the Warm Front Scheme.
1. Householders aged 60 or over in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
o Income Support
o Council Tax Benefit
o Housing Benefit
o Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
o Pension Credit
o Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
2. Householders with a child under 16, or pregnant women with maternity certificate MAT-B 1, in receipt of
one or more of the following benefits: o Income Support
o Council Tax Benefit
o Housing Benefit
o Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
o Pension Credit
o Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
3. Householders in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
o Working Tax Credit (with an income of less than £16,040, which must include a disability element)
o Disability Living Allowance
o Child Tax Credit (with an income of less than £16,040)
o Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
o Income Support (which must include a disability premium)
o Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
o War Disablement Pension (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
o Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance)
o Attendance Allowance

If you think that you are eligible for Warm Front you should visit their website, www.warmfront.co.uk, or call their enquiry line on 08003162805 to see what help can be provided before you proceed with an application under the boiler scrappage scheme.

Please note that you can only apply for the Warm Front scheme or the boiler scrappage scheme - not both.