We have had many people asking us about the Boiler Scrappage Scheme and what is involved in order to receive the £400 saving.  Here are a few questions and answers which should help clarify things for you:

What is the purpose of the boiler scrappage scheme?

The UK has one of the most ambitious CO2 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 per cent of the UK’s CO2 emissions.
There are currently around three and a half million homes in England with the very least efficient type of boiler (G-rated or worse).

To address this the Government is 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 140,000tCO2 per year - equivalent to taking 45,000 cars off the road.

What does the scheme involve?

The Boiler Scrappage Scheme allows Homeowners and Landlords to receive £400 cashback if they upgrade their old ‘G’ rated boiler for a new ‘A’ rated, high efficiency boiler or renewable heat technologies.

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 CO2 emissions and running costs. Renewable heat technologies do not use fossil fuels, reducing CO2 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:

Only householders and landlords who privately own and rent 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.

How can you tell if your boiler is G-rated?

A good quick test for gas boilers is to see if it has a permanent pilot light -if it has then it is very likely to be a G-rated boiler. If it is gas fired and over fifteen years old it is likely to be eligible. If it is oil fired and over twenty five years old, it is likely to be eligible.
For a better idea, why not see if your boiler make and model is listed as G-rated or worse by going to

• Government Boiler Efficiency Database
• SEDBUK Boiler Efficiency Database

Alternatively, you can ask us And we will assist you in determining whether your boiler is eligible.

Want to register an interest in the boiler scrappage scheme?

If you believe that your home has a G-rated or worse boiler and wish to register an interest in the scheme to receive a £400 cashback voucher towards the cost of upgrading to an A-rated boiler, then contact ourselves and we will arrange to visit your property and provide you with a quote. Once you have received your quote, contact ACT ON CO2 advice line on 0800 512 012

They will then send you an application form in order to apply for the scheme

When will the vouchers be issued?

The £400 vouchers will be issued from 18 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 be only one voucher per household, but if the voucher expires, it will be possible to apply for another if funds are available.

Installations made before receipt of your voucher will invalidate your claim and you will no longer be eligible to receive the £400 rebate.

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

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

Vouchers can be redeemed against a boiler from manufacturer which is for A-rated or equivalent gas, oil or LPG boilers, 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.

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 us. If you proceed with your installation before you receive your voucher, this will invalidate your claim and you will no longer be eligible for the £400 rebate.

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?

1.Warm Front

The Warm Front Scheme in England, which 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:

i) Loft insulation
ii) Draught proofing
iii) Cavity wall insulation
iv) Hot water tank insulation
v) Repairs of an existing herating system
vi) Gas, electric, oil central heating
vi) Conversion of a solid fuel fire to a glass-fronted fire

All successful grant applicant’s 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:

• Income Support
• Council Tax Benefit
• Housing Benefit
• Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
• Pension Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

2. Householders with a child under 16, or pregnant women with maternity certificate MAT-B1, in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Council Tax Benefit
• Housing Benefit
• Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
• Pension Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

3. Householders in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

• Working Tax Credit (with an income of less than £16,040, which must include a disability element)
• Disability Living Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (with an income of less than £16,040)
• Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
• Income Support (which must include a disability premium)
• Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
• War Disablement Pension (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance)
• 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 0800 316 2805 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 either the Warm Front scheme or the boiler scrappage scheme - not both.

2.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.