The UK government is providing several free boiler schemes in 2025. These schemes provide their boilers to low-income households. They want to help them live a comfortable life. In the following blog post, there is a detailed discussion about the free boilers schemes, eligibility criteria, and application procedure.
What is the Free Boiler Scheme?
The UK government initiated several schemes to help low-income households by providing them with several types of boilers. They do this through the free boiler schemes. Along with this help, they wanted to make the country energy-efficient and carbon-free. That’s why they provide energy-efficient and low-carbon heating systems.
Which Schemes Provide Free Boilers in 2025?
Some of the most important schemes for free boilers in 2025 are the following:
Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)
The UK government started a scheme known as the Energy Company Obligation in 2013, in collaboration with energy companies. They aimed to make the homes of low-income households more energy efficient. At the same time, they want to promote low-carbon heating systems. That’s why they provide the following benefits to the low-income families:
- Central heating systems
- Boiler upgrades include condensing boilers, electric heating systems, gas heating systems, combination boilers, system boilers, and regular boilers.
- Insulation upgrades, such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and solid wall insulation.
- Low-carbon heating systems, such as the Air Source Heat Pumps, Ground Source Heat Pumps, and solar thermal systems.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is another government scheme, especially for boiler upgrades. This scheme was specifically designed to promote renewable energy resources. In this way, they want to make the country carbon-free and energy-efficient. That’s why they provide low-income households with the following benefits:
- They provide £7500 for the Air Source Heat Pumps.
- This scheme also provides Ground Source Heat Pumps. For this purpose, they provide £7500.
- Moreover, they provide £,5000 for the biomass boiler.
- At the same time, they also provide hybrid heating systems and solar thermal heating systems.
Home Upgrade Grant (HUG)
The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) is a comprehensive government scheme for low-income households. The UK government provide several home improvement benefits through this scheme. Some of the most important benefits of this scheme are the following:
- First Time Central Heating System
- Boiler Upgrades, such as Condensing Boilers, Combination Boilers, System Boilers, and Regular Boilers.
- Insulation Upgrades, such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and solid wall insulation.
- Door and window improvements, such as the double and triple glazing and draught proofing.
- Heat Pumps, such as the Air Source Heat Pumps, Ground Source Heat Pumps, and Biomass Boilers.
What are the Qualifying Criteria for the Free Boiler Schemes?
The Free Boiler Schemes don’t provide boiler upgrades to every household that applies for the scheme. They provide the boiler upgrades only to those households who qualify their criteria, such as the following:
- These free boiler schemes are initiated to help low-income households. That’s why they only consider those households whose annual income is lower than £31,000.
- At the same time, they ensure that the households or any of their family members should be receiving the government benefits, such as the following:
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Disability Credit
- Low-income Benefit
- Home Allowance
- Jobseeker Allowance
- These schemes want to improve the energy efficiency of the homes. That’s why they choose homes which have low energy efficiency. They consider homes with EPC ratings D, E, F, or G for their benefits.
- Sometimes, the local authorities also recommend households due to their high energy bills, disabilities, and diseases to the free boiler schemes.
What is the Application Procedure for the Free Boiler Scheme?
The application procedure for the Free Boiler Scheme involves simple steps, such as the following:
- First of all, you need to select the right scheme for free boilers. In this step, most applicants make mistakes. You can make the right decision by making a list of free boiler schemes in your area. Then, analyze the benefits of all the schemes and compare them to find the most suitable option for your home.
- Then, check your eligibility for the respective scheme. You can use the online eligibility checkers or read the eligibility criteria from the online resources.
- You need to complete the initial application processes and then arrange the home survey. In this survey, they will assess the conditions of the home to know the heating requirements.
- Then, complete the application process and submit all the required documents.
- You need to wait for the approval of your application. When they approve your application, they will send an approval letter and discuss the timeline for the installation process.
- The installers team will arrive at your home and they will start the installation process. They will complete the installation of the boiler according to the timeline. Moreover, they will hand over all the details about the heating system.
At the same time, the installers team also guide you about the maintenance processes.
What are the Benefits of the Free Boiler Schemes?
The free boiler schemes come with several benefits, such as the following:
- First of all, they provide free-of-cost boilers. These free boilers are very energy efficient. In this way, they save huge energy bills. In this way, they can become financially beneficial in both the long and short term.
- Secondly, they promote the renewable energy systems. These systems consume renewable energy resources which are cheaper in rates and are present in huge quantities. In this way, the world will never end with these resources.
- At the same time, they provide low-carbon heating systems. Actually, their heating systems reduce the combustion processes. In this way, they will decrease the production of carbon dioxide. In this way, they can protect the environment from carbon emissions.
Conclusion
Whatever scheme you choose, you need to select the boiler which is suitable for your home. If you don’t know which boiler is best for your home, you should get help from the experts in this field. At the same time, the size of the boiler also matters a lot. Larger or smaller boilers can result in extra energy bills.
