--- title: "Grant for New Boiler 2026: What's Actually Available" url: https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/grant-for-new-boiler description: "Can you get a grant for a new boiler in 2026? ECO4 ends 31 December 2026. What's left, who qualifies, and the £7,500 grant to swap to a heat pump." lang: en --- Boiler grants · 2026 # Grant for a New Boiler in 2026: What's Still Available? Which schemes still pay for a new boiler, who qualifies before ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026, and why the grant most homeowners can get is for a heat pump instead. By **Alliant Energy Team**· reviewed by MCS Registered Engineer Last updated 27 September 2026 Check my heat pump grant: https://alliantenergy.co.uk/heat-pump-quote Request a callback: https://alliantenergy.co.uk/request-callback 31 Dec 2026 ECO4 closes £0 BUS for gas boilers £7,500 Boiler to heat pump £9,000 Oil & LPG homes Can I get a grant for a new boiler? Only in limited cases. ECO4, the main scheme that replaces boilers for low-income households, ends on 31 December 2026, and no government scheme pays for a new gas boiler for everyone else. The grant most homeowners can get is £7,500 to replace a boiler with a heat pump. ## Key takeaways - ECO4 can replace a broken or inefficient boiler for low-income households, but it ends on 31 December 2026 (Ofgem (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/energy-company-obligation-eco)). - The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays nothing towards a gas or oil boiler. It pays £7,500 to replace one with a heat pump (Ofgem BUS guidance (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-07/boiler_upgrade_scheme_guidance_for_property_owners_v5.1_20260630134104-20260701140218.pdf)). - Off-gas homes on oil or LPG get £9,000 off a heat pump on applications made by 31 March 2027. - Low-income grants under the Warm Homes Plan fund heat pumps and insulation, not gas boilers (Warm Homes Plan (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-plan/warm-homes-plan-html)). - The median BUS-funded air source heat pump cost £12,908 in April–June 2026, about £5,408 after the grant (DESNZ (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/boiler-upgrade-scheme-statistics-august-2026)). - Being a pensioner isn't enough on its own: Pension Credit is the benefit that opens up free boiler and heating grants. ## Which boiler grants are still open in 2026? In 2026 only ECO4 and some council hardship funds still pay for a new gas boiler, and ECO4 closes at the end of the year. Every other grant for replacing a boiler pays for low-carbon heating instead. Here's what's available and who it's for. | Scheme | Pays for a gas boiler? | Who it's for | Status | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ECO4 (energy suppliers and council Flex routes) | Yes, if broken or inefficient | Low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households | Ends 31 Dec 2026; some local routes already closed | | Council hardship funds | Sometimes (repairs) | Vulnerable residents, varies by council | Varies; e.g. Rochdale to 31 Mar 2027 | | Boiler Upgrade Scheme | No — heat pump or biomass only | Most homeowners and landlords, no income test | Open, funded to 2029/30 | | Warm Homes: Local Grant (England) | No — gas and oil boilers excluded | Low income, EPC D–G | Open via councils | | Warm Homes Loan Scheme | No — low-carbon measures only | Owner-occupiers and landlords, credit-checked | First phase from Sept 2026 | | Home Energy Scotland grant and loan | No — heat pumps and insulation | Scottish homeowners | Open | In Greater Manchester, for example, the ECO4 Flex route has already closed because "all three installers have now exhausted their funding" (GMCA (https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/homes-workplaces-and-public-buildings/energy-company-obligation-scheme/eco-faqs/)), though Rochdale's Crisis and Resilience Fund (https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/cost-living/crisis-resilience-fund) still helps some vulnerable residents with boiler repairs. Our Greater Manchester heat pump and boiler grants guide (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/heat-pumps-greater-manchester/grants) shows what's still open locally. ## Who qualifies for a free boiler under ECO4? ECO4 is for low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households, and Ofgem says it can fund the "replacement of a broken heating system or the upgrade of an inefficient heating system" (Ofgem ECO4 (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/energy-company-obligation-eco)). It's an obligation on energy suppliers, so you get it through a supplier, an approved installer or your council, not by applying to the government. - Someone in the home receives a means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, OR your council confirms you qualify through its Flex route (low income or a health condition made worse by the cold) - The home is privately owned or privately rented, usually with a poor EPC rating (D to G) - The installer's package improves the home's energy rating, so insulation may be required alongside the heating - The work is done before ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026, and while the installer still has funding ECO4 funding often runs out before the deadline, so don't wait. For how it compares with what's replacing it, read Warm Homes Plan vs ECO4 (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/warm-homes-plan-vs-eco4), and see which insulation grants are still available (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/gbis-closed-insulation-grants-still-available) now the Great British Insulation Scheme has closed. ## Can pensioners get a free boiler grant? Pensioners can get a free boiler or heating grant only if they receive a qualifying benefit, usually Pension Credit. The State Pension on its own doesn't qualify you for ECO4 or for the Warm Homes: Local Grant. If you get Pension Credit, apply for ECO4 before 31 December 2026, and check the Warm Homes: Local Grant (https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/homes-workplaces-and-public-buildings/warm-homes-local-grant-wh-lg-gm-wide-scheme/) through your council, which can pay for a heat pump in full. If you don't, the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/boiler-upgrade-scheme-2026) has no age or income test. ## Why won't the government pay for a new gas boiler? Government heating grants now fund low-carbon heating because the Warm Homes Plan is built around cutting carbon and bills: it says "heat pumps will be the best and cheapest form of electrified heating for the majority of our homes" (Warm Homes Plan (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-plan/warm-homes-plan-html)). The £2.7 billion for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2029/30 only covers heat pumps, heat batteries and biomass. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme also requires your fossil-fuel boiler to be fully removed. Ofgem says "you cannot keep a fossil‑fuel heating system alongside a BUS‑funded installation" (Ofgem BUS guidance (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-07/boiler_upgrade_scheme_guidance_for_property_owners_v5.1_20260630134104-20260701140218.pdf)). ## How can you replace your boiler with a grant instead? The grant-funded way to replace an old boiler in 2026 is a heat pump. There are four routes, and you can use a loan to cover what's left. | Route | Grant | Who qualifies | | --- | --- | --- | | Boiler Upgrade Scheme | £7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump | Most homeowners and private landlords in England and Wales | | BUS off-gas rate | £9,000 | Off-gas homes replacing oil or LPG, applications by 31 March 2027 | | Warm Homes: Local Grant | Up to £15,000 heating + £15,000 other upgrades | Low income, EPC D–G (England) | | Home Energy Scotland | Up to £7,500 grant + optional £7,500 interest-free loan | Homeowners in Scotland | | Warm Homes Loan Scheme | Loan up to £20,000 for an air source heat pump, before the grant | Owner-occupiers and landlords (credit-checked) | Check which apply to you with our heat pump grant eligibility checker (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/heat-pump-grant-eligibility). If you heat with oil, read our oil boiler grant guide (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/oil-boiler-grant) on the £9,000 rate. Image: Grant for a new boiler 2026: £0 BUS money for gas or oil boilers, ECO4 closes 31 Dec 2026, £7,500 heat pump grant, £9,000 for oil and LPG homes, up to £15,000 Warm Homes: Local Grant, £2.7bn BUS funding (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/__l5e/assets-v1/dbb1a1a9-2538-4d75-8326-5898f127ca80/stats-grant-for-new-boiler.webp) ### Swap your boiler for a heat pump with £7,500 off We check which grant you qualify for, deduct it from your quote and handle the Ofgem application. Get a heat pump quote: https://alliantenergy.co.uk/heat-pump-quote ## Is a new boiler or a heat pump cheaper after the grant? A new gas boiler is still cheaper upfront for most households, but the gap is much smaller after the grant. A like-for-like gas boiler swap typically costs £2,000–£3,500, with no grant. A heat pump costs more, but £7,500 comes off. | | New gas boiler | Air source heat pump (BUS median) | | --- | --- | --- | | Installed cost | £2,000–£3,500 | £12,908 | | Grant | None (unless ECO4) | £7,500 (£9,000 off-gas oil/LPG) | | You pay | £2,000–£3,500 | About £5,408 | | Low-income households | ECO4 until 31 Dec 2026 | Warm Homes: Local Grant can cover it in full | Heat pump figures are the national median from DESNZ BUS statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/boiler-upgrade-scheme-statistics-august-2026) for April–June 2026. Your price depends on heat loss, radiators and whether you need a hot water cylinder. See how to tell if a heat pump quote is inflated (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/is-my-heat-pump-quote-inflated) and our heat pump installation (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/services/heat-pumps) page for what's included. ## How do you spot a free boiler scam? Be wary of anyone promising a free boiler in 2026 without checking your benefits or EPC. ECO4 is ending, and cold callers use the scheme's name to collect personal details. - Real ECO4 installers check your benefits and EPC before promising anything - Nobody from a government scheme will ask for a fee or bank details to 'release' a grant - Boiler Upgrade Scheme emails only come from boiler.upgrade.scheme.ofgem@notifications.service.gov.uk - Check any installer on the MCS or TrustMark register before a survey More in is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme a scam? (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/is-the-boiler-upgrade-scheme-a-scam) and what the Warm Homes Plan is (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/what-is-the-warm-homes-plan). ## Boiler grant FAQs ### Can I get a grant for a new boiler in 2026? Only in limited cases. ECO4 can still replace a broken or inefficient boiler for low-income households until 31 December 2026, if an installer or council route has funding left. No government scheme pays for a new gas boiler for everyone else. Most homeowners can instead get £7,500 off a heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. ### Is there a free boiler scheme for pensioners? Not for being a pensioner alone. Pension Credit is a qualifying benefit for ECO4, which runs until 31 December 2026, and for low-income heat pump grants such as the Warm Homes: Local Grant in England. The State Pension on its own doesn't qualify you. ### Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pay for a gas boiler? No. Despite its name, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme only funds low-carbon heating: £7,500 for an air source or ground source heat pump, £9,000 for off-gas oil and LPG homes until 31 March 2027, £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps and £5,000 for biomass. Your old boiler must be fully removed. ### When does ECO4 end? ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 after a nine-month extension, according to Ofgem. Some local routes have already closed: Greater Manchester's ECO4 Flex route stopped taking new applications because its installers ran out of funding. ### What replaces ECO4? The Warm Homes Plan. Its low-income grants fund insulation, solar, batteries and heat pumps rather than gas boilers, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is funded to 2029/30. A Warm Homes Loan Scheme started lending in September 2026 to cover costs above the grant. ### Can my council help with a broken boiler? Sometimes. Some councils use hardship funds for emergency boiler repairs. For example, Rochdale's Crisis and Resilience Fund (April 2026 to March 2027) includes help with boiler repairs for vulnerable residents. Check your council's cost-of-living or energy pages. ### Is a heat pump cheaper than a new gas boiler? Not upfront for most homes. A like-for-like gas boiler swap usually costs £2,000–£3,500, while the median BUS-funded air source heat pump cost £12,908 in April–June 2026, or about £5,408 after the £7,500 grant. Low-income households on the Warm Homes: Local Grant can pay nothing. Methodology and sources Scheme rules come from Ofgem's ECO4 page and BUS property owner guidance v5.1, the Warm Homes Plan, the DESNZ Warm Homes Loan Scheme rules (September 2026), Home Energy Scotland and council pages (GMCA, Rochdale). Heat pump costs are the DESNZ BUS statistics median for April–June 2026; gas boiler costs are Alliant Energy's typical installed range. We used primary sources only, because grant rules change often. Last checked 27 September 2026. Three ways to get started ## Replace your boiler with £7,500 off a heat pump Free survey and an itemised quote with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant already deducted. We check low-income grants too. Get a heat pump quote →: https://alliantenergy.co.uk/heat-pump-quote Request a callback →: https://alliantenergy.co.uk/request-callback Accreditations ## Certified, registered, and insured. Every time. MCS certification isn't a box-ticking exercise — it qualifies your system for Smart Export Guarantee payments and government grants. Our installers are also NICEIC-approved and TrustMark-registered, and every install is fully insured. Image: Citation ISO Certification: ISO 9001 quality management, ISO 14001 environmental management and ISO 45001 occupational health and safety (https://alliantenergy.co.uk/__l5e/assets-v1/180183cd-e6fd-4b0a-984c-83e6a41390d7/accreditations-iso.jpg) Call 01282 501589: 01282501589 ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": [ "Organization", "LocalBusiness", "ProfessionalService" ], "@id": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/#organization", "name": "Alliant Energy Ltd", "alternateName": "Alliant Energy", "legalName": "Alliant Energy Ltd", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/logo.png", "width": 320, "height": 80 }, "image": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/og-default.jpg", "description": "MCS-registered renewable energy specialists installing solar PV, battery storage, EV charging and air source heat pumps for UK homes and businesses across the North West. ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified. TrustMark and NAPIT registered.", "telephone": "+441282501589", "email": "info@alliantenergy.co.uk", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Unit 214 Northlight Industries, Pendle Road, Brierfield", "addressLocality": "Nelson", "addressRegion": "Lancashire", "postalCode": "BB9 5FL", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 53.824275, "longitude": -2.2371012 }, "hasMap": "https://maps.google.com/?cid=12149377311066770099", "identifier": [ { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Google Place ID", "value": "ChIJyVF7YdmRe0gRs0pTVEtCm6g" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Google CID", "value": "12149377311066770099" } ], "openingHoursSpecification": [ { "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", "dayOfWeek": [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday" ], "opens": "09:00", "closes": "17:00" } ], "priceRange": "££", "currenciesAccepted": "GBP", "hasCredential": [ { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "name": "MCS Certification", "credentialCategory": "certification", "description": "Microgeneration Certification Scheme — qualifies installations for Smart Export Guarantee and government grant eligibility", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Microgeneration Certification Scheme", "url": "https://mcscertified.com" } }, { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "name": "TrustMark — Government Endorsed Quality", "credentialCategory": "certification", "description": "Government-endorsed quality scheme for tradespeople working in and around the home", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "TrustMark", "url": "https://www.trustmark.org.uk" } }, { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "name": "NAPIT Registration", "credentialCategory": "certification", "description": "National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers — approved electrical and renewable energy installer", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "NAPIT", "url": "https://www.napit.org.uk" } }, { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "name": "NICEIC Approved", "credentialCategory": "certification", "description": "NICEIC-approved electrical contractor", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "NICEIC", "url": "https://www.niceic.com" } }, { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "name": "ISO 9001 — Quality Management", "credentialCategory": "certification", "description": "ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification — Citation ISO Certification", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Citation ISO Certification", "url": "https://www.citation.co.uk" } }, { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "name": "ISO 14001 — Environmental Management", "credentialCategory": "certification", "description": "ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification — Citation ISO Certification", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Citation ISO Certification", "url": "https://www.citation.co.uk" } }, { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "name": "ISO 45001 — Occupational Health & Safety", "credentialCategory": "certification", "description": "ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System — Citation ISO Certification", "recognizedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Citation ISO Certification", "url": "https://www.citation.co.uk" } } ], "areaServed": [ { "@type": "AdministrativeArea", "name": "Lancashire" }, { "@type": "AdministrativeArea", "name": "Greater Manchester" }, { "@type": "AdministrativeArea", "name": "Merseyside" }, { "@type": "AdministrativeArea", "name": "Cheshire" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Nelson" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Burnley" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Blackburn" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Blackpool" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Preston" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Lancaster" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Accrington" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Chorley" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Manchester" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Bolton" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Wigan" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Oldham" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Rochdale" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Stockport" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Altrincham" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Liverpool" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Southport" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "St Helens" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Warrington" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Chester" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Crewe" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Macclesfield" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Knutsford" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Wilmslow" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Wirral" } ], "knowsAbout": [ "Solar Panel Installation", "Commercial Solar PV", "Battery Storage Systems", "Air Source Heat Pumps", "EV Charging Installation", "Smart Export Guarantee", "MCS Certification", "Renewable Energy", "Energy Saving" ], "sameAs": [ "https://maps.google.com/?cid=12149377311066770099", "https://mcscertified.com/find-an-installer/", "https://www.trustmark.org.uk/find-a-tradesperson/" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/#website", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk", "name": "Alliant Energy", "inLanguage": "en-GB", "publisher": { "@id": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/#organization" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Guides", "item": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Grant For New Boiler", "item": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/guides/grant-for-new-boiler" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Grant for a New Boiler in 2026: What's Still Available?", "description": "Which schemes still pay for a new boiler, who qualifies before ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026, and why the grant most homeowners can get is for a heat pump instead.", "image": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/assets/grants-D3CQf_ef.jpg", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alliant Energy Team", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/about" }, "reviewedBy": { "@type": "Person", "name": "MCS Registered Engineer", "jobTitle": "MCS Registered Engineer" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Alliant Energy", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/logo.png" } }, "datePublished": "2026-01-15", "dateModified": "2026-09-27" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I get a grant for a new boiler in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Only in limited cases. ECO4 can still replace a broken or inefficient boiler for low-income households until 31 December 2026, if an installer or council route has funding left. No government scheme pays for a new gas boiler for everyone else. Most homeowners can instead get £7,500 off a heat pump through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is there a free boiler scheme for pensioners?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Not for being a pensioner alone. Pension Credit is a qualifying benefit for ECO4, which runs until 31 December 2026, and for low-income heat pump grants such as the Warm Homes: Local Grant in England. The State Pension on its own doesn't qualify you." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pay for a gas boiler?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Despite its name, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme only funds low-carbon heating: £7,500 for an air source or ground source heat pump, £9,000 for off-gas oil and LPG homes until 31 March 2027, £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps and £5,000 for biomass. Your old boiler must be fully removed." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When does ECO4 end?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 after a nine-month extension, according to Ofgem. Some local routes have already closed: Greater Manchester's ECO4 Flex route stopped taking new applications because its installers ran out of funding." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What replaces ECO4?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Warm Homes Plan. Its low-income grants fund insulation, solar, batteries and heat pumps rather than gas boilers, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is funded to 2029/30. A Warm Homes Loan Scheme started lending in September 2026 to cover costs above the grant." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can my council help with a broken boiler?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Sometimes. Some councils use hardship funds for emergency boiler repairs. For example, Rochdale's Crisis and Resilience Fund (April 2026 to March 2027) includes help with boiler repairs for vulnerable residents. Check your council's cost-of-living or energy pages." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is a heat pump cheaper than a new gas boiler?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Not upfront for most homes. A like-for-like gas boiler swap usually costs £2,000–£3,500, while the median BUS-funded air source heat pump cost £12,908 in April–June 2026, or about £5,408 after the £7,500 grant. Low-income households on the Warm Homes: Local Grant can pay nothing." } } ] } ] ```