I Can’t Afford a Boiler Help & Advice On What To Do Next

Advice for homeowners who can’t afford a new boiler & what to do next

The last thing you want to be doing is worrying about being able to afford a boiler as energy prices rise. Because here at Boiler Central we provide as much assistance as we can in the struggle against rising energy prices.

Boilers are expensive, and while some are within most people’s budgets, many will struggle with an unplanned breakdown.

Here are some of your options:

• Boiler Subscription (Pay monthly boiler no credit check)
• Boiler finance
• Boiler grants (ECO4)

The Energy Saving Trust states that the average new boiler cost including installation is £2,300. However, it can cost between £1,595 to £4,500+ depending on the type of boiler and the installation costs which include the labour and all the materials required.

Pay monthly for your boiler with finance

At Boiler Central and as an online boiler installation company, If you are concerned about your boiler failing and don’t have enough money to replace it, we have a number of financing options available.

Here are some of the energy-efficient boilers & options you can choose with our boilers on finance:

• 0% interest finance
• Buy now, pay in 12 months
• £0 deposit finance
• Low deposit finance

See how much you can afford here with our finance calculator

Do you need help buying a boiler?

If you think that you need help to get a new boiler then speak to one of our experts who can give you your options as to how we can help you get the boiler you need today.

Boiler Central offers boiler installation and maintenance starting at as low as £10.32/month at 9.9% interest. There are also plans available with 0% APR for two years with no hidden fees to spread out the cost.

Although a free boiler grant may not be an option for everyone. Boiler Central will give you a dependable boiler and complete installation so you can replace your old, inefficient boiler and save up to £800 annually.

Gas prices have become unaffordable

Since the energy price cap increased and bills started to average around £2,000 per year for households in the UK, a new boiler installation has become the go-to option to try and keep gas bills and costs down. And like we say, this may not be an option for people who can’t afford a new boiler.

Would you consider a heat pump or other forms of central heating? read more about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Grants here

ECO4 & Free boiler grant schemes

The government launched the Energy Company Obligation scheme in April 2013. It helps low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to get a free replacement boiler when their existing boiler stops working.

If you don’t have the funds, you can apply for an energy-efficient replacement boiler through the UK Government’s boiler replacement program.

There is no worse feeling than when your boiler suddenly stops working. Although they are a mainstay of your home, you will only notice how dependent you are on them when things go wrong.

But what do you do when your boiler breaks down? Even the most cost-effective boilers don’t come cheap.

Luckily, the Government’s ECO scheme can help you save hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds on your boiler replacement.

This article will answer any questions you may have about how to save money on your boiler.

What is the ECO Scheme?

This Government-backed initiative stands for the Energy Company Obligation scheme. It puts energy efficiency first and aims to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions in Britain.

New ECO4 Scheme

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is a UK government program aimed at improving home energy efficiency to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions.

Unlike a grant, it requires energy companies to choose and fund retrofit projects. The program started on April 1, 2022, and will run until March 31, 2026. It focuses on upgrading homes that are among the least energy efficient, specifically those rated between bands D and G.

The initiative not only aims to upgrade these homes comprehensively but also sets a new rule to improve the energy ratings of these homes: those in bands D and E should be upgraded to at least a C, and those in bands F and G to at least a D. The program supports various improvements like insulation, new heating systems, and connections to district heating.

There are many forms of financial assistance, but the ECO Scheme is still the most widely used and popular way to qualify for a free boiler replacement or heavily subsidised grants.

Some of the biggest energy companies include but are not limited to:

• British Gas
• EON
• EDF
• Octopus
• OVO
• Bulb
• Scottish Power

The scheme was originally established in 2013. It was in its third iteration, ECO3, which lasted until March 2022. The ECO4 version is currently available until March 31, 2026.

The Affordable Heat Obligation is a core tenet of the ECO scheme. Apart from implementing carbon-reducing measures such as central heating and cavity wall insulation, the Affordable Warmth Obligation also grants boiler grants to repair or replace broken boilers.

It is estimated that up to 2.5 million people could be eligible for boiler grants in the UK. These grants are available to anyone who is eligible.

How does the ECO Scheme, help you afford a boiler?

The ECO3 scheme requires medium and large energy suppliers to the UK to comply with an obligation known as the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation.

This obligation, according to OFGEM, requires suppliers to encourage the installation of measures that result in financial savings on energy bills like the ones mentioned (ie. Insulation and heating systems

Your income determines your eligibility for a grant under ECO4 or Energy Company Obligation and whether or not they are available to you. This list includes:

1. Armed Forces Independence Payment
2. Attendance Allowance
3. Carer’s allowance
4. Child Benefit
5. Constant Attendance Benefit
6. Disability Living Allowance
7. Pension Guarantee Credit
8. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
9. Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
10. Income Support
11. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
12. Mobility Supplement
13. Individual Independence Payment
14. Severe Disablement Allowance
15. Tax Credits (Child tax credits and Working tax credits)
16. Universal Credit

A grant may be available to you if your home has an EPC rating of F, E, or G. To access the EPC certification finder, click here.

The ECO scheme does not require you to be a homeowner.

However, if you are a tenant you will need permission to apply from your landlord, social housing provider, or property management company to get access to the free boiler grants. The ECO3 installer will be able to seek funding from any medium or large energy company.

Additionally, our experience shows that properties with outdated heating systems, poor insulation, and properties with cavity walls, are more likely to be able to obtain fully funded measures.

As well as, the more efficient the heating system in a home, the more likely the measures will be fully funded.

This is especially true if you do not have a gas boiler. Your energy bills and heating costs will tell you if your home’s efficiency is low.

Who can’t afford a boiler?

On average, it is suggested that households have only £765 saved up for household repair expenses. This is £1535 less than what it would we would normally believe can cost to replace a boiler.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) programme was introduced by the government in April 2013. It assists low-income, fuel-poor, and vulnerable households by offering them a free boiler replacement when their existing boiler breaks down.

Approximately 230,000 households are thought to be eligible for the programme, but this only represents 2.48% of those who cannot afford a new boiler.