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Free Boiler Replacement for Pensioners: Are You Eligible? (2025)
- There are multiple boiler schemes for pensioners available in the UK, such as ECO4, Free Boiler Scheme 2025, Affordable Warmth Scheme, and LA Flex.
- In order to qualify, pensioners must live in a property with an EPC rating of D and below, be 60+ years of age, meet health requirements and certain income thresholds, or receive certain benefits.
- After checking your eligibility, submit your application with all the required documents on the grant's website. The estimated waiting time for the application review and approval is 24 hours - 1 week.
A 2024 Age UK report stated that a whopping 59% of people over 60 living off £20,000 or less per year were concerned about their ability to heat their homes. Are you among these people? Then, you might be eligible for the free boiler replacement for pensioners.
As of 2025, several schemes cover the installation of modern, energy-efficient boilers for the elderly. So, if eligible, you can heat your home more effectively and save up to £490 a year on heating bills. This guide explores various boiler grants for pensioners and the eligibility criteria for free boiler replacements.
However, while most schemes cover both boiler costs and installation, getting your home assessed by a professional installer before applying is crucial to understanding whether your home meets any grant's requirements.
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Can you get free boiler replacement for pensioners in the UK?
Yes, you can absolutely get help with boilers for pensioners through several schemes. Currently, such grants as ECO4, Free Boiler Scheme, Affordable Warmth and LA Flex are available in the UK and cover up to £20,000 of energy-saving improvements. Let's look at them in more detail:
ECO4
- Eligible countries: England, Wales, Scotland
- Running time: Ends in March 2026
- Eligibility criteria: Households with gross annual income of £31,000 or less, properties with an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of D and below which are connected to the gas mains supply, existing boiler is 8+ years old
- Max. grant amount per household: Up to £20,000
- Measures covered: Insulation (loft, cavity wall, solid wall), heating system upgrades, boiler replacements (excluding LPG, biomass, and oil options), renewable energy systems
The Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO) is the largest boiler replacement programme in England, Scotland, and Wales, currently running in its fourth iteration.
The ECO scheme is funded by energy companies, and it's focused mainly on benefitting recipients. To qualify for a free boiler, you must be a homeowner or a private tenant and receive at least one of the following government benefits within 18 months of installation:
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit),
- Universal Credit (for mixed-age couples),
- Housing Benefit,
- Working Tax Credit (for those over 60),
- Child Tax Credit (in some rare cases where a pensioner is responsible for a child).
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) no longer qualify for the free replacement boilers for pensioners.
The property you're applying for should be your primary residence and subject to council tax. Therefore, mobile homes and vehicles aren't eligible.
If you're applying for a rented household, your landlord should give their permission for the installation. If approved, the expected installation time is around 1-3 months and depends on the installer's availability.
Free Boiler Scheme 2025
- Eligible countries: England, Wales, Scotland
- Running time: Ends in March 2026 (part of ECO4)
- Eligibility criteria: Existing boiler at least 8 years old, households with annual income less than £31,0000 receiving certain benefits, properties with an EPC rating of D and below
- Max. grant amount per household: Varies
- Measures covered: Boiler replacements, first-time central heating systems (radiators, pipework, smart thermostats, thermostatic radiator valves)
Free Boiler Scheme 2025 is a government-funded scheme aimed at helping households in England, Wales, and Scotland replace their old, inefficient boilers and reduce heating bills.
It is a part of ECO4, and the household's eligibility criteria are the same. However, the Free Boiler Scheme targets audiences with a total household income below £31,000 per year and focuses primarily on boiler replacement.
If your annual income is over £31,000, you need to receive one of the following benefits to qualify: Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit), Universal Credit (for mixed-age couples), Housing Benefit, and Working Tax Credit (for those over 60).
Please note that you do not automatically qualify for the scheme if you receive only the State Pension.
Based on your home's condition and requirements, a system, conventional, biomass, or combi boiler will be installed.
In some cases, when a property has sufficient insulation or the existing heating system is old and inefficient (oil-fired or LPG boilers, electric storage heaters, coal or wood-burning stoves as primary heating source), an air source heat pump will be offered.
Affordable Warmth Scheme
- Eligible countries: Northern Ireland
- Running time: Ends in March 2026 (part of ECO4)
- Eligibility criteria: Homeowners and private tenants with gross annual income less than £23,000, an existing boiler is at least 15 years old, and it's a non-condensing gas mains boiler
- Max. grant amount per household: Up to £7,500 (£10,00 for solid wall insulation)
- Measures covered: Insulation (loft, cavity wall, solid wall), heating system upgrades, boiler replacements, renewable energy systems, single glazed window replacements.
Affordable Warmth Scheme is available in Northern Ireland only and is delivered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on behalf of the Department for Communities. Unlike ECO4, to qualify for the Affordable Warmth Scheme, you're not required to receive specific benefits, and your total gross household income should be less than £23,000 per year.
To be eligible, the property you're applying for should be your main residence. Both homeowners and private tenants (but not social housing tenants) can apply. However, the property can not be a commercial establishment, a holiday home, or a bed & breakfast.
How can pensioners get a free boiler under this scheme? First, they're required to be 65+ years of age and meet the income, property and boiler requirements, with the latter being at least 15 years old. This scheme offers free gas boilers for pensioners as well as oil and LPG boilers and air source heat pumps.
Affordable Warmth Scheme was initially introduced to help low-income households occupied by people with disabilities improve their homes' energy efficiency. Yet it's important to mention that receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer's Allowance, and Attendance Allowance is no longer included in the calculation of income of the scheme and does not increase your eligibility chances.
Age UK Warmer Homes
- Eligible countries: England and Wales
- Running time: Continuously
- Eligibility criteria: Homeowners aged 65+ with long-term health conditions, receiving means-tested benefits and whose gross annual income is less than £19,980, properties with an EPC rating of D and below
- Max. grant amount per household: Potentially the same as ECO4
- Measures covered: Home Energy Check (assessment and installation of small efficiency measures such as draught excluders, energy-saving light bulbs, and reflective radiator panels), energy advice, benefit entitlement checks, help with applying for ECO4
Age UK is a charity organisation for the elderly that partners with energy companies and approved installers to provide energy-saving improvements and potentially free boilers for pensioners.
Age UK doesn't directly install boilers, but it can guide pensioners on accessing the schemes that do, such as the ECO4 grant. In this case, the eligibility criteria are the same as for ECO4.
If you're unsure whether your benefits are eligible or have trouble applying for the ECO4 grant, reach out to Age UK's Advice Line at 0800 678 1602 for help.
If you’re more interested in renewable energy solutions instead of replacement gas boilers, apply for the newly established Warm Homes: Local Grant (starting April 1, 2025). Eligible low-income households in London will get up to £30,000 for energy performance upgrades and low-carbon heating solutions (air and ground source heat pumps, solar thermal heaters and advanced storage heaters).
Alternatively, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which operates in England and Wales, offers £5,000 towards the installation of a biomass boiler and £7,500 towards the installation of an air source heat pump.
Who is eligible for the free boiler scheme for pensioners?
Generally, to be eligible for a free boiler replacement, a pensioner should:
- Be 60+ years of age;
- Receive Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit), Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit;
- Have an annual income of up to £31,000;
- Be a homeowner or a private renter;
- Live in the property with an EPC rating of D and below with an inefficient heating system.
Here's a detailed overview of the eligibility criteria to be met under the available boiler grants for pensioners.
| Criteria | Eligibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Age requirement | 60+ | Individuals with certain health conditions may be prioritised |
| Property EPC (energy efficiency rating) | D and below | E, F, or G for those not on benefits |
| Income | £23,000–£31,000 | Varies per grant |
| Benefits | Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit), Universal Credit (for mixed-age couples, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit | Child Tax Credit (if a pensioner is responsible for a child); Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) do not qualify |
| Boiler eligibility | 8-15 years of age | Varies by grant; must be a non-condensing and an inefficient boiler |
| Property ownership | Homeowner or private tenant's main residence | Social housing, commercial establishments, holiday and mobile homes, or bed & breakfast properties do not qualify. In some cases must be connected to the gas supply |
| Homeowner | Evidence of receiving required benefits and having low income, proof of homeownership, recent energy bills, home's efficiency report | |
| Private tenant | Same as above, landlord's permission letter |
Please note that each case is evaluated individually, so it's advisable to check the specific grant's requirements before applying. If you have trouble evaluating your home's energy efficiency rating or the state of your boiler, a qualified installer can help you out.
However, searching for available and trustworthy engineers can be quite a hassle and takes days (if not weeks) of research.
We can help you to receive up to 3 free quotes and avoid stressful searches. Simply fill out our 30-second form below, and professional boiler installers in your area will contact you to conduct a free assessment of your property.
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Are there free boilers for pensioners who are not on benefits?
Yes, there are free boilers available for pensioners who do not receive any benefits. Such individuals may have their new boiler cost covered through the LA Flex (Local Authority Flexible Eligibility) scheme, which is an extension of the ECO4 program.
However, since not all local councils participate in the LA Flex scheme, obtaining such a grant can be challenging, yet not impossible. Ofgem states that suppliers can deliver up to 50% of their ECO obligation under this scheme.
Search your council's website for terms like "ECO4" or "LA Flex," or contact your local authority's housing or energy efficiency department to confirm participation.
So, who qualifies for a boiler grant under LA Flex? Applying pensioners must meet the following requirements:
- Total gross annual household income of £31,000 or less;
- The applicant must reside in England, Wales or Scotland;
- A homeowner or a tenant whose property's EPC rating is E, F, or G;
- The current boiler must be 5-8 years old;
- The applicant has any health condition which is exacerbated by cold (asthma, arthritis, psoriasis, cardiovascular conditions, autoimmune diseases, immunosuppression or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);
- The home is located in the LSOA 1-3 areas (Lower Layer Super Output Areas, also known as the most deprived neighbourhoods). You can use a postcode checker to find out your LSOA, such as Indices of Deprivation Explorer for England. If your area is ranked within 10-30% of the most deprived LSOAs, it falls within the LSOA 1-3 category.
- The applicant receives a Council Tax rebate based on low income or support from a Local Authority scheme for low-income families.
Under this scheme, free boilers for pensioners not on benefits include gas, oil, and LPG solutions and even the whole central heating system, provided it's fitted for the first time at the property.
Pensioners who reside in Northern Ireland and don't receive any benefits can apply for the Affordable Warmth Scheme as described in the corresponding section above.
How does the application process work?
Applying for a grant usually consists of 5 main steps:
- Eligibility check and application: You'll need to visit the grant's website and provide proof of homeownership or landlord permission letter, recent energy bills (last 3 months), the home's efficiency report, and evidence of receiving qualifying government benefits.
- Application review: Usually, within 48 hours, an Energy Advisor will contact you to inform you of the next steps of the grant process and schedule the property assessment.
- Home survey: An approved installer will perform a 15-minute assessment of your current boiler and identify any other improvements to be made.
- Application approval: The grant's administrators will verify your eligibility, determine your funding, and notify you of the proposed improvements. You will be informed about the next steps within 24 hours - 1 week.
- Boiler installation: An installer will schedule a date (within 1-3 months of approval) to remove an old boiler and install an energy-efficient model.
In case your application has been unsuccessful, the grant administrator can contact you via email, phone, or letter to explain the reasons for the decision. If you don't hear from the scheme administrators within the expected timeframe (24 hours–1 week), reach out to them and check the status of your application.
It's important to note that grants' eligibility criteria and application processes are subject to change, so it's important to check the latest updates on the grant's official website. Don't rely on third-party information, as it can be outdated.
Do you need help with free boilers as a pensioner?
Finding replacement boilers for pensioners is a surefire way to keep the house warm without the financial burden. ECO4, Free Boiler Scheme 2025, and Affordable Warmth Scheme are governmentally-funded boiler replacement schemes for pensioners that can help you with it.
All of these schemes cover the cost of efficient heating systems, provided the applicants meet the eligibility requirements. If you're not fully sure about how to apply, you can call Age UK's Advice Line to get help and the necessary information.
In case you're unsure whether your current heating system is eligible for a free replacement, you can have it assessed by a professional installer before applying for any grants. They can provide you with information on your property's EPC rating and your boiler's condition and recommend the best boiler in the UK for your situation. Yet, finding an experienced installer on your own can march on for days, involving calling up companies and assessing their prices. Even then, you many not find the best one.
Thankfully, GreenMatch can do the legwork for you and connect you with up to 3 trustworthy engineers near you. Simply complete the 30-second form below and receive free, non-binding quotes within 48 hours.
Click the button below to get started.
- Quotes from local engineers
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- Save up to £975
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