Write a commentThousands of homes in the UK are eligible for a new boiler and/or insulation completely free under a government funded grant scheme called 'The ECO Scheme' do you qualify?
To apply you must live in in England or Wales, you can be a home owner, tenant or landlord, the person who resides in the home will be the one applying for the grant. The boiler scheme is specifically for families on a low income, but insulation is for everyone regardless of income.
How to get a Free Boiler
You won't be able to get a free boiler or insulation if you live in a housing association property or are a council tenant. They will arrange to do this for you though their own schemes.
You usually won't qualify if...
If the property has damp. The Energy Saving Trust says this should be seen to prior.
You live in a flat and other tenants in the building aren't on board.
Your home is timber or metal framed, or made from concrete or natural stone.
What can you Save?
The cost of a new boiler varies, but typically a gas boiler replacement costs around £2,500, so this is an amazing deal not to be missed.
Boilers are one of the biggest factors that contribute to your energy bills, the more efficient your boiler, the more money you save. Depending on its age, a new efficient boiler could save you up to £300 per year.
Cavity wall insulation can cost up to £500 and can save the average home up to £140 per year on its energy bills, so over a period of time, it pays for itself.
What do you get?
Everything; you won't have to pay a penny, some consumers have reported they have been told it's free all the way, only to have a contractor turn up and talk a load of jargon and ask for money. Don't pay!! The government fund all parts and labour so if you're asked for any money, go elsewhere.
Insulation requirements
For cavity wall insulation there are no requirements, other than actually having cavity walls.
Do I have Cavity Walls?
Cavity walls didn’t really start to be used in building construction until the early 1930s, so the age of your house is usually a good indicator. Some older houses without cavity walls may have a more recent extension which could have cavity walls.
There are 3 common types of brick wall:
Stretcher bond, This is where all the bricks are laid on the long side, often indicates a cavity wall.
English bond, This is where there are alternating rows of full and half-length bricks, which are again very unlikely to have cavities.
Flemish bond, This is where the bricks alternate between a full-length brick and a half-length brick, are very unlikely to have cavities.
Boiler requirements
For boiler replacements there needs to be some sort of benefits in place, here's a list:
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit
Pension Guarantee Credit - you won’t be eligible if you only claim Pension Savings Credit
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Then you will need a second component, one of the following:
Over 60 living at household
· Child under 16 (under 20 in full-time education) living at household
Disability Premium
Attendance Allowance
Incapacity Sick Benefit
Carers Allowance
Industrial Injuries Benefit
Also, the boiler would need to be over 15 years old or faulty. So if you have both benefit components and you're boiler's deemed faulty or over 15 years old, then you qualify.
Why the Scheme Helps...
Think of insulation as your home's blanket.
Insulation can be the most important feature that helps your home’s overall energy efficiency. Without decent insulation, your home needs larger, more expensive heating systems to keep you warm. Then those devices need to work harder, consuming more electricity, gas, or oil and costing you money.
Heat rises, and a quarter of your home's heat is lost through the roof when there's no insulation in the home. Insulating your loft and walls is such a simple but effective way to stop it from happening and reduce your heating bills.
Loft insulation is effective for at least 40 years, and it will pay for itself over and over again in that time.
Some people would never find the money for a brand new shiny boiler or cavity wall insulation so this government scheme really can be a lifesaver for some people/families.
For more information and to get a quote, click here.
