Central Heating Grants from the ECO Scheme

Central Heating Grants

  • Central Heating Grants

Central Heating Grants are available from the Government's ECO4 Scheme

Central Heating Grants are available to pay for the installation of gas central heating in homes which have never had central heating before.

Under new rules introduced with the start of ECO4 on 1st April 2022, homes must have an existing mains gas supply to qualify for a grant to install central heating for the first time.

However, as part of a transition period from ECO3 to ECO4, we can continue to accept applications from householders whose homes do not have a mains gas supply, as long as the gas supply is connected on or before 30th June 2022.

Central Heating Grant Application Form

Use this form is your home has NEVER had a central heating system fitted before

Step 1 of 2

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  • 1. Your Details

  • We need this to confirm that you qualify for a central heating grant

Central Heating Grants are available if:

Your home has never had Central Heating fitted before AND

You, or someone living permanently with you, receives State Benefits, Tax Credits or Other Allowances,

OR

If your Local Authority approves your application under ECO Flex Rules.

Central Heating Grants

Central Heating Grants are available for the installation of central heating systems into homes which do not have, and have not previously had a central heating system

To qualify for central heating grants, the new central heating system must provide space heating through a boiler, connected to radiators.

Central Heating Grants Qualifying Criteria requires that the new central heating system is installed in a residential property which has never had any type of central heating system installed before..

There are two ways to qualify:

  1. You, or someone living permanently with you, must receive one of the qualifying State Benefits, Tax Credits or Other Allowances.
  2. You qualify under ECO Flex Rules, sometimes referred to as LA Flex. This applies when you do not receive one of the qualifying benefits but you satisfy rules set by your Local Authority. For more information about ECO Flex, please go to the ECO Flex page, HERE.

Central Heating Grants are available in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own scheme.

Central Heating Grants Qualifying Criteria

1. You must live in your own home or one which you rent from a private landlord

IMPORTANT – Changes introduced by ECO4 from 1st April 2022 now mean that your home MUST HAVE an existing mains gas supply to qualify for a grant to install central heating.

You will not qualify for central heating grants if you rent your home from a local council or a housing association or if you live in a shared ownership home.

Landlords can apply for central heating grants on behalf of their tenant HERE.

2. Your home must currently have one of the following heating systems OR no heating at all.

  1. Electric room heaters
  2. Inefficient electric storage heaters
  3. Gas room heaters
  4. Gas fire with back boiler
  5. Mains gas warm air system
  6. Solid fossil fuel fire with back boiler
  7. Electric underfloor or ceiling heating (not an electric boiler)
  8. Bottled LPG room heaters
  9. Solid fossil fuel room heaters
  10. Wood or biomass room heaters
  11. Oil room heaters

The heating system used to determine whether you qualify for Central Heating Grants is the one which appears as the ‘Main Heating’ system on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your home. You can see your EPC if you live in England or Wales HERE or if you live in Scotland, HERE.

3. You, or someone living permanently with you, must receive one of the following benefits OR qualify under Local Authority ECO Flex Rules

To qualify for Central Heating Grants, either you or someone living permanently with you, must receive one of the following State Benefits, Tax Credits or Other Allowances. That is, unless you qualify under ECO Flex Rules:

  • Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit
  • Pension Credit – Savings Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income-Based Job Seeker’s Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Child Benefit (subject to income thresholds)
  • Housing Benefit

The following benefits were included in ECO3 which ended on 31st March 2022 but are still allowable under ECO4 until 30th June 2022 as part of a transition period:

  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Industrial Injury Disablement Allowance
  • War Pension Mobility Supplement
  • Constant Attendance Allowance
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

ECO Flex Rules

This allows your Local Authority to authorise your application for the central heating grants scheme without the need to receive one of the qualifying benefits above. You still need to complete the form on this page and we will liase with your Local Authority.

Central Heating Grants Scheme can help fund the installation of the following central heating systems:

The central heating grants scheme provides funding to help install the following types of central heating boiler plus radiators, pipework and a room thermostat:

  1. Mains Gas Boilers
  2. Biomass Boilers
  3. LPG Boilers
  4. Air Source Heat Pumps
  5. Ground Source Heat Pumps
  6. Electric Boilers

However, most installers only offer mains gas or LPG central heating systems under the Central Heating Grants Scheme.

Central Heating Grants FAQs

Who qualifies for Central Heating Grants?

Central Heating Grants are available to householders who own their own homes or who rent it from a private landlord.

Tenants who live in local council owned properties or in housing association homes and householders who live in shared ownership homes will not qualify for a Central Heating Grant.

You also need to receive one of the qualifying benefits for central heating grants unless you qualify under ECO Flex rules.

Your home must have an existing mains gas supply and either no heating at all or one of the following heating systems:

  1. Electric room heaters
  2. Inefficient electric storage heaters
  3. Gas room heaters; including fixed mains gas room heaters
  4. Gas fire with back boiler
  5. Mains gas warm air system
  6. Solid fossil fuel fire with back boiler
  7. Electric underfloor or ceiling heating (not an electric boiler)
  8. Bottled LPG room heating
  9. Solid fossil fuel room heaters
  10. Wood/biomass room heating
  11. Oil room heaters

How do I apply for a Central Heating Grant?

To apply for a central heating grant please complete the form on this page.

We will telephone you to let you know whether you qualify or not, to arrange your free home survey and to answer any questions you may have.

I don't receive any benefits, can I still apply for Central Heating Grants?

If your home has never had a central heating system installed but you don’t receive benefits, you may qualify for central heating grants under ECO Flex rules.

ECO Flex rules or LA Flex rules allow Local Authorities to recommend that householders qualify for central heating grants without the requirement to receive benefits.

Each local authority can set its own rules but generally it would apply to households who spend a high proportion of their income to heat their homes.

Do Central Heating Grants cover the full cost of installing central heating?

In many cases, Central Heating Grants cover the full cost of installing a central heating system in your home.

However, this is subject to a survey and some applicants in smaller homes may have to contribute. You will not know this until after a survey of your home has been carried out but the survey is free.

What if my home doesn't have a mains gas supply?

ECO4 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2026

Unfortunately, due to changes to the ECO scheme from 1st April 2022, only properties which have an existing mains gas supply will qualify for Central Heating Grants.

What is involved in the process of applying for Central Heating Grants?

To apply for a central heating grant you should first complete the form on this page.

If we cover your area and you qualify, we will telephone you to let you know and to answer any questions you may have.

A free survey of your home and its existing heating system will be carried out and with your permission an electronic check will be made with the DWP to confirm that you receive the correct benefits. You will need to sign a declaration that your home has never had central heating installed before.

Your ECO accredited installer will make a formal central heating grant application on your behalf and once the grant has been confirmed, they will arrange installation of your new central heating system.

Your new central heating system will include an A rated boiler, radiators, all of the necessary pipework and a room thermostat.

What do Central Heating Grants include?

Central heating grants pay towards the cost of supplying and installing an A rated central heating boiler, all of the associated pipework, central heating radiators and a room thermostat.

Any plaster work which is damaged during the installation of your new central heating system will be repaired but central heating grants do not include the cost of re-decoration.

What if my home has had central heating installed before but it has been removed?

The central heating grants scheme is to install first time central heating systems only.

If your home has had central heating fitted before but it has been removed, you will not qualify.

All householders applying for central heating grants must sign a declaration with the following wording:

“I, the owner of the premises, declare that to the best of my knowledge, at no point prior to the installation of the first time central heating, first time district heating system or first time renewable heating system, did the premises have a central heating system, district heating system, or renewable heating system nor, immediately prior to the installation, did the premises did have a working, efficient electric storage heater(s).”

Why does my home need to be well insulated before I can have central heating installed?

Your home needs to be well insulated before you can have central heating installed if it is funded by central heating grants. This is to save energy and make the new central heating system more effective in heating your home. However, in most cases the installer of your central heating system may be also be able to install the necessary insulation.

Adequate insulation in the walls and roof of your home will ensure that you avoid unnecessary heat loss from your new central heating system.

Are central heating grants available throughout the whole of the United Kingdom?

The central heating grants scheme is part of the Government’s ECO4 Scheme and is available to householders in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own scheme and we do not deal with that here.

Where does the money come from for the central heating grants scheme?

The central heating grants scheme is part of the Affordable Warmth Scheme section of the Government’s ECO Scheme. This is funded by a small levy on the electricity bills of every household in England, Scotland and Wales.

More information about the Affordable Warmth Scheme can be found HERE.

Central heating grants are paid directly to the installer once your new central heating system has been installed.

When will the central heating grants scheme end?

The central heating grants scheme is part of the Affordable Warmth Scheme section of the Government’s ECO4 Scheme. ECO4 started on 1st April 2022 and is expected to run until 31st March 2026.

It is important therefore, that if you think you may qualify for a central heating grant, you should apply without delay as funds could be used up prior to March 2026.

Central Heating Grants
Central Heating Grants
Central Heating Grants are available from the Government’s ECO4 Scheme for householders whose homes have never had central heating installed before.
Apply for Central Heating Grant