Free, highly subsidised and often free replacement boilers for your homes are now available through Eco, a newly introduced Government boiler scheme that was set up in an attempt to help low income families access home improvements to cut the cost of heating their residences and also to cut their carbon footprints by enabling them to change their energy usage. This means that all households who need new boilers, as well as those that own existing ones, can apply to receive a boiler replacement on the basis that they will use it for at least one year. The costs of these boilers are heavily subsidised by the UK Government, so that they come as a complete package, including boiler installation, new gas supplies, insulation and gas bills. As it is highly likely that you will be eligible to claim one of these funds, it is worth researching each of the various options that you have available in order to find out whether or not you could qualify to claim some or all of this money.
There are two ways that you can apply to receive boiler grants. You can either approach the relevant company directly, or you can apply online by filling in an application form and sending it to the relevant company. While filling in the form may seem simple enough, many people are surprised to discover that it can take many weeks before they receive any grants, or indeed, any funds at all. That said, if you do decide to apply to receive grant money, you are more likely to receive it. There is no limit on the number of grants that you can claim, so whether or not you qualify for one today, you’ll most likely qualify next week. It’s definitely worth persevering, as there are literally thousands of families that will never be able to afford new heating controls for their homes due to the severe financial restrictions that make accepting such a large expenditure extremely difficult.
So, how can you tell whether you are eligible? To begin with, boiler grants are only provided to those who require new boilers to be fitted within the year. These include homes and businesses that are waiting to be sold, as well as those that are still being built. As long as you are buying one that you cannot currently use, you can be sure of getting approved. For most, however, this may not be a viable option. For example, if you have just had your boiler installed, you may not be able to sell it before the end of the year, while if you are buying a boiler that you will only be using for the next few years, you will most likely qualify for a grant.
If your boiler is not needed immediately, but you would like to be able to use it at some point, you may qualify for a government scheme. The most popular government schemes provide free replacement boiler grants for buyers, but you must make sure that you are buying a reliable boiler. In fact, if you are looking for boiler grants, one of the most important things to remember is that they are not government loans. So even if you find a great deal on a boiler, you are still not guaranteed of getting one free – you must still prove to the buyer that your boiler is reliable and safe, or you will not get any money from the government scheme.
The government’s main fuel bill program offers many opportunities for buyers in need of free boiler grants. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Scheme (LEIA) provides funds to low income households and families that are willing to install new, safe low emission boilers. Even if your current boiler is still in good shape, you can still apply for a tax credit under the scheme.
Other government schemes offer cash grants, but the process of applying for these usually involves a lot of paperwork, applications and assessments. Because they are often quite expensive, you will not want to waste your time applying for these schemes, so you should carefully consider each scheme before deciding on what to do. Even if you have good credit, you should look carefully at the requirements of the scheme to see if you qualify for a boiler grants. For instance, you will need to prove that you reside in a low income neighbourhood before you can qualify for this type of grant. If you have an electric meter installed, you will also be required to get a brand new meter fitted before you can qualify under the scheme.
The third option, which is the most popular, is to apply for the personal, Free B boiler grants. In this case, you will not be eligible for a tax credit or a brand new energy efficient boiler. Instead, you will be able to receive a cash grant that you can use to pay for the cost of installing a new, safe boiler in your home. This option can be very helpful to low income households that want to make a change in their home, but who do not have the necessary finances to do so. However, this grant will only be available to residents of Australia who can demonstrate that they reside in a low income neighbourhood or are capable of meeting the eligibility criteria.
If you do not qualify for one of these two options, there is still a fourth option that you may qualify for. This option is the private rented boiler grant scheme. Like the social security scheme, you will need to provide evidence that you belong to a low-income neighbourhood. You will also be required to provide proof that you have an energy company registered with the Australian Energy Agency. If you qualify for this option, you may be able to save up to 20% on the cost of installing your new boiler.