The Affordable Warmth Scheme, part of the ECO4 scheme, is to end on 31st March 2026 but there is still time to apply for a heating or insulation grant – Apply Today.
The scheme will be replaced by the Warm Homes Plan and more information can be found by clicking HERE.
We have helped tens of thousands of householders to apply for ECO Scheme Grants
You may qualify for a heating or insulation grant from the Affordable Warmth Scheme if you satisfy ALL THREE of the following qualifying criteria:
The Affordable Warmth Scheme is part of the Government’s ECO Scheme which was introduced in January 2013 to fight fuel poverty and to help reduce carbon emissions and the effects of climate change. First Time Central Heating Grants were introduced on 1st January 2020 for householders who live in home which have never had central heating fitted before. Central Heating Grants are still available under ECO4 which started on 1st April 2022 and is expected to run until March 2026.
The scheme also provides funding to replace broken electric storage heaters and broken central heating boilers for home owners who can’t afford to replace them.
This is why it targets householders who receive a means-tested State Benefit and groups such as Pensioners and Single Parents.
Major changes to the ECO Scheme were introduced on 1st October 2018 with a widening of Affordable Warmth Scheme qualifying criteria and a more focused targeting of fuel poverty and this has continued into ECO4.
Changes to the Affordable Warmth Scheme introduced in October 2018 restrict grants to help replace broken boilers and broken electric storage heaters to owner occupiers.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, replacing an old, inefficient or faulty central heating boiler with a modern A rated boiler could reduce your energy bills by up to £350 per year, whilst providing peace of mind that you have an energy efficient boiler to keep your home warm.
Modern electric night storage heaters are much more energy efficient than previous versions. They are also better insulated so as not to lose the heat stored in them overnight. Both heat input and heat output are more controllable to ensure that you are not wasting energy, whilst your home stays warmer.
Cavity Wall Insulation Grants and Loft Insulation Grants are also available from the Affordable Warmth Scheme.
1. Your Home
2. Your State Benefits
To qualify for a CENTRAL HEATING GRANT or a BOILER GRANT with the Affordable Warmth Scheme you must receive at least one of the following State Benefits, Tax Credits or other Allowances and satisfy any associated qualifying criteria.
First time central heating grants are only available to home owners and tenants in privately rented homes which have never had a central heating system fitted before.
If you do not receive one of the qualifying benefits, you may still qualify if your Local Authority approves your application under ECO Flex rules.
Click on the benefit you receive below for more information and to see any additional qualifying requirements.
You receive Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit
Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit is an additional payment on top of your ordinary State Pension, which you must have made a claim for.
Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
With Pension Credit – Savings Credit, the amount of your capital savings will affect the amount you receive.
You receive Universal Credit which is a monthly payment to help with your living costs.
You receive Child Tax Credit.
Under ECO4 Affordable Warmth Scheme rules from April 2022 total household income thresholds apply to the receipt of this benefit.
You receive Working Tax Credit.
Working Tax Credit is designed to top up your earnings if you work and are on a low income. But it’s being replaced and people now have to claim Universal Credit instead.
You receive Child Benefit.
You get Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:
Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.
It’s paid every 4 weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.
You may have to pay back some of your Child Benefit if your (or your partner’s) income is above £50,000.
You receive Income Related Employment & Support Allowance. Contribution Based ESA does not qualify.
You receive Income Based Job Seeker’s Allowance. Contribution Based JSA does not qualify.
You receive Income Support.
You receive Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. It’s being replaced by Universal Credit.
You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if either of the following apply:
Otherwise your new claim would be for Universal Credit.
3a. Heating Systems
First time central heating grants are only available to home owners and tenants in properties which have never had a central heating system fitted before.
If your home had a mains gas supply and meter at at 1st April 2022 you may qualify for a new mains gas central heating system. If it didn’t have mains gas you may qualify for an air source heat pump grant.
For electric storage heaters and solar PV panels you may need to have additional measures installed to meet ECO4 rules.
Only non-condensing mains gas boilers can be replaced, oil, LPG and coal boilers are now excluded.
3b. Insulation
Affordable Warmth Scheme grants are available for:
We have processed over 35,000 Affordable Warmth Scheme ECO Scheme Grants.
The Affordable Warmth Scheme may provide funding to replace broken electric panel heaters BUT NOT BROKEN ELECTRIC STORAGE HEATERS.
ECO funding also pays for a FREE SURVEY to establish whether you qualify for the scheme. The amount of your storage heater grant will depend upon the type of property you live in, how many bedrooms you have and several other factors.
If you qualify for a storage heater grant, Affordable Warmth Scheme funding will only cover the cost of replacing the existing electric panel heaters and a limited amount of electrical work.
Modern electric storage heaters are fitted with a heater and convector fan to provide heat additional to that stored overnight. If you are on the Economy 7 electricity tariff or similar, you may need an additional electrical supply to your new heaters to enable the convector fan to work. The full cost of this may not be covered by your Affordable Warmth Scheme storage heater grant.
If additional work is required, you may be asked to pay for this. Also, because of the way storage heater grants are calculated, your grant may not cover the full cost of your new storage heaters installation and a contribution may be required.
If this happens in your case, you can refuse to contribute (but the work may not be carried out), negotiate a lower amount with the installer, or even apply again to get another quotation from a different installer. We advise you to consider your options with care.
The Affordable Warmth Scheme provides funding to replace broken mains gas boilers.
ECO funding also pays for a FREE SURVEY to establish whether you qualify for the scheme. The amount of your boiler grant will depend upon the type of property you live in, how many bedrooms you have and several other factors.
If you qualify for a boiler grant, Affordable Warmth Scheme funding will only cover the cost of replacing the central heating boiler and a limited amount of pipework. It does not cover full heating systems, radiators, pumps or control systems.
If additional work is required, you may be asked to pay for this. Also, because of the way boiler grants are calculated, your Affordable Warmth Scheme grant may not cover the full cost of your boiler installation and a contribution may be required.
If this happens in your case, you can refuse to contribute (but the work may not be carried out), negotiate a lower amount with the installer, or even apply again to get another quotation from a different installer. We advise you to consider your options with care.
First time central heating grants are only available to home owners and tenants in privately rented homes which have never had a central heating system fitted before.
The way that Central Heating Grants, Boiler Grants, Storage Heater Grants, Cavity Wall Insulation Grants and Loft Insulation Grants awarded under the Affordable Warmth Scheme are calculated is complicated to say the least.
Factors dictating the amount of your ECO4 grant include:
Property types are classified as:
The following factors will generally result in higher ECO4 grants:
Taking account of all of the factors which can affect your ECO4 grant, there are over 10,000 different permutations.
Affordable Warmth Scheme Long Term Savings of Carbon Emissions
Your Affordable Warmth Scheme grant calculation will produce a figure which approximates the long term savings in carbon emissions you will achieve over the lifetime of your new heating system or insulation, by having it upgraded. The greater your long term savings in carbon emissions, the higher your grant.
The main driving force behind the ECO Scheme is to reduce carbon emissions from the domestic housing stock in the UK. This can generally be best achieved by improving the energy efficiency of large badly insulated buildings with off-gas heating systems. It is no surprise then, that this type of home attracts the highest ECO grants.
Once the ECO grant for your home is calculated it is compared to the cost of replacing your boiler or electric panel heaters to determine how much, if any, your contribution will be.
If you require a more detailed explanation of the calculation of the ECO grant in your particular case, you need to speak to the accredited installer who is dealing with your ECO4 grant application.
If you are a private landlord you are responsible for providing a working heating system in your rental properties under MEES Regulations.
However, your tenant may qualify for a grant to install electric storage heaters if the property has an EPC rating of E or better AND the main source of heating is electric panel heaters or electric room heaters.
First time central heating grants are only available to home owners and tenants in privately rented homes which have never had a central heating system fitted before.
Affordable Warmth Scheme funding is provided by the big six energy companies
We deal with applications for Affordable Warmth Scheme Grants throughout most of England and Wales
Central Heating Grants, Boiler Grants and Insulation Grants from the Affordable Warmth Scheme
First time central heating grants are only available to home owners and tenants in privately rented homes which have never had a central heating system fitted before.
Affordable Warmth Scheme, part of ECO4