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 your 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 140,000t CO₂ per year - equivalent to taking 45,000 cars off the road.

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 boiler scrappage scheme is open to 125,000 householders in England living in an owned or privately rented home. Please note:

• If you are a householder (including tenants) under 60 you can only apply for the boiler scrappage scheme if the boiler you are scrapping is in working order and is the main boiler used to heat your home.
• If you are a householder (including tenants) and 60 or over you can apply for the boiler scrappage scheme regardless of whether the boiler you are scrapping is in working order. However, it still needs to be the main boiler used to heat your home.
• Only householders and landlords who privately own and rent dwellings are eligible to apply for a boiler scrappage 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 your gas boiler 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 your boiler is gas fired and over fifteen years old it is likely to be eligible.

If your boiler 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 the:

• Government Boiler Efficiency Database 
• SEDBUK Boiler Efficiency Database

Alternatively, you can contact us to assist you in determining whether your boiler is eligible.

Want to register for the Boiler Scrappage Scheme?

If you believe that your home has a G-rated or worse boiler and wish to register for the boiler scrappage scheme to receive a £400 cashback voucher towards the cost of upgrading to an A-rated boiler then firstly, arrange for us to visit and provide you with a quote for your new boiler.

Once you have our quote then please ensure you have the following information to hand before completing the online web form - or calling the Act on CO₂ advice line on 0800 512 012:

• Your full name
• The address of the property you wish to claim the voucher for
• The make and name of the boiler being scrapped
• Our Company name, address and contact details
• The type of replacement boiler you are having installed e.g. gas, biomass.

When will the vouchers be issued?

Your £400 voucher will be issued from 18th January 2010. You will receive the voucher approximately ten days after your application. Your voucher is valid for 12 weeks from date of issue. If your 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 still available.

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

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

Your voucher 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.

Who can carry out the installation of your new boiler?

Installation of a gas or oil boiler must be carried out by an installer registered with a competent person's scheme (such as GasSafe or OFTEC). Our GasSafe registration can be verified Here.

Installation of a microgeneration technology must be carried out by a person qualified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

How will your 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 before you can then claim back the £400 by sending the voucher and invoice to 21 Dartmouth Street,
London SW1H 9BP.

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.

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.

How will the Energy Saving Trust guard against fraud?

The Energy Saving Trust will monitor the scheme and any detected fraud will be reported and prosecuted. The processes and procedures for monitoring the scheme are as follows:

• A voucher submitted for a claim must contain the customer's and the installer's signature. It must also include the GasSafe/MCS registration number of the installer.

• As a requirement of law any work undertaken on a gas boiler has to be registered with GasSafe as matter of course. Therefore, Energy Saving Trust will check periodically voucher claims against work registered with GasSafe. If the work has not been registered with GasSafe in due course this will be further investigated by the Energy Saving Trust and where necessary followed by a home visit to ensure the work has indeed been completed) In addition, a random selection of installations will be checked by the Energy Saving Trust through home visits to ensure a new boiler has been installed.

• The Energy Saving Trust will do a daily check if more than one voucher has been applied for a property. This will be done by monitoring postcode data. If multiple applications are detected the Energy Saving Trust will investigate further.

• In addition to the post-installation audits, the Energy Saving Trust will carry out a small sample of pre-installation audits to confirm that the details on a customer's application are correct. These will be carried out before a voucher is issued.

The Energy Saving Trust reserves the right to conduct other checks and monitoring procedures, as necessary.