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Heating your home in winter can be so expensive. Especially if one has never had a central heating system in the past. If your house doesn’t have central heating, be assured you are not alone. Indeed, as many as 367,000 households in the UK find themselves in the same boat.
Whenever those temperatures dip below zero, electric heaters or open fires often become common features in a lot of households, even though they are expensive and inefficient.
For that, the UK government fully funds the installation of a central heating system through their ECO4 scheme. This is to help heat a house. So that means with fully funded ECO funding, one will have a warm and cosy home without bearing any burden.
In this blog, we are going to outline the funding criteria and how you can apply for your first central heating system.
What is First-time Central Heating?
It literally means installing a complete central heating system in a house that has never had one installed. This is installing a brand-new boiler, new radiators, and all the pipework to install heat around your house.
A central heating system can make a property so much warmer and more comfortable. Actually, in the long run, it makes it far cheaper to heat – especially if previously you have relied on some pretty inefficient or outdated methods of heating, such as electric heaters or open fires.
What Funding is Available for a First-Time Central Heating System?
Many government schemes provide funding in the UK for the first time central heating system. The most popular is the first-time central heating funding available under the ECO4 scheme. It basically provides all free first-time central heating grants. Let’s see what funding options are available to you:
1. Funding under the ECO4 Scheme
The first-time central heating grant is considered part of the government ECO4 scheme. It is one out of several government schemes focusing on energy efficiency in the home and a reduction in carbon emissions.
If eligible, this might cover the full cost of the installation of a central heating system with no need for any charge in this regard.
2. Local Authority Grants
Many councils offer grants for first-time central heating. These vary depending on where you live but often target low-income households or are in areas of fuel poverty. Check with your local council about what support might be available locally.
3. Scheme for Affordable Warmth
The others deal with the Affordable Warmth Scheme to help low-income families cope with energy improvements within the household. It is part of the broader ECO programme.
The attention is focused on those properties that need a heating system replacement and/or enhancement in the insulation.
It covers works that ensure that households with inferior financial incomes enjoy warm comfort in their home.
What are the Funding Criteria for First-Time Central Heating Systems?
To be eligible for a free first-time central heating grant, here are some of the major criteria you should meet:
- Property Ownership or Tenancy: Your property has to be either self-owned or on private tenancy. This scheme does not take social housing into consideration.
- Energy Efficiency Standards: Your house has to have a low EPC rating. For homeowners, an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G. Homes in the higher range of band D may not qualify. For private tenants, EPC rating of E, F or G only.
- Existing Heating System: The property should have no heating or be heated by an outdated method, such as electric heaters or solid fuel.
- Gas Connection: The gas connection installation must be installed at your home securely before April 2022.
Government Benefits: You or someone in your household must receive at least one qualifying benefit, such as:
- Income Support (IS)
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Pension Savings Credit
What If I Don’t Receive Benefits?
Even if you don’t qualify for any of the above benefits, you may still be able to get the grant under ECO Flex rules. These allow local councils to recommend households for grants because of specific circumstances, including:
- Low Income: A total household income of less than £31,000 per year.
- Medical Conditions: Those are conditions such as respiratory or cardiovascular diseases that are exacerbated by cold living conditions.
- Vulnerable Occupants: If someone in your home is vulnerable because of age, disability, or other factors.
- Fuel Poverty: Unable to afford high energy costs or utility debts.
Some options, however, will come directly through local councils. Local councils also run their own schemes to support low-income and vulnerable households. These options are going to vary, so it will be worth contacting your council to find out what’s in your area.
Which Heating Systems Qualify for First-Time Central Heating Grant?
Your home must not currently have a full central heating system to qualify for a first-time central heating grant. This, of course, would apply if, at the moment, you use a less effective and/or older version, such as:
- Oil room heaters
- The LPG room heaters
- Fan heaters or electric room heaters
- Gas room heaters
- Electric storage heaters
- Solid fuel heating-e.g., coal, peat
- Wood heaters or biomass heaters
If any of these apply to you, you may be eligible for funding for a full modern central heating system.
What does the First-Time Central Heating Installation Include?
The funding under ECO4 covers all components that may be required for the first-ever installation of central heating in one’s home:
- Brand New Boiler: The grant provides an A-rated gas boiler if your home has a gas meter. It will efficiently heat your home using less energy.
- Full Central Heating Installation Cost: All the components required for a functioning central heating system are included so every room in your home can stay cosy.
- Radiators in Every Room: Radiators are placed in every house so that the heating can be distributed everywhere without any cold spots.
- Pipework and Fittings: Essential pipework and fittings ensure the system works seamlessly.
- Home Insulation Upgrades: The grant might also be used to improve the insulation, thereby minimising the loss of heat and energy bills. It makes the heating system work even more efficiently.
- Smart Thermostats: Many of the grants include things like wireless thermostats for the heating. So with this, you can then control remotely and, as a result, save on energy bills.
- Heat Pumps for Homes Without Gas: If your house has not been connected with a gas connection, you may claim the grant for the installment of an air source heat pump. This is a much greener alternative, using low carbon to heat up your home efficiently.
Air Source Heat Pump Grants
Cost of Installing a New Central Heating System
The cost of installing a new central heating system can be high. The typical costs range from £3,500 to £10,000 for the common systems. Obviously, it depends on the size of your home, what type of system you have been using, and the conditions of the existing infrastructure. Usually, pipework would be something like £700 for smaller homes, nearer to £1,600 for medium-sized homes.
The added cost could also involve the use of special thermostats or zone heating. The installation work might involve opening walls or ceilings. If this happens, costs can reach £10,000–£14,000.
First Time Central Heating in Wales
If you live in Wales and your house is without any central heating system, you may well get a completely free first-time central heating grant.
The government created the new ECO4 scheme to help homes save energy. It offers funding to make your home more energy-efficient. So, it also helps reduce your energy bills.
To qualify in Wales, your home has to not possess full central heating. And has to meet the norm of either receiving one of the government benefits mentioned above or having an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G.
Apply for Free Central Heating Funding in 3 Easy Steps
Getting started is easy. Here’s how:
1. Check Eligibility
Use an online eligibility checker or contact an energy company providing ECO4 services – such as ourselves! You will need to provide some details about your current heating system to confirm whether you are eligible or not.
2. Book a Home Survey
Where eligible, a surveyor will visit your home to assess your current heating setup. And so they decide which upgrade you need. Then they will recommend the best solution for your property.
3. Installation Day
Once approved, a certified installer will install your new central heating system within a few days.
The Bottom Line
A free first-time central heating grant can be your very key to opening the door toward warmer homes across the UK. It warms your house, cuts down energy bills, and reduces your carbon footprint-all free.
If that is your case, take advantage of this opportunity to install a brand-new central heating system completely free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Homeowners or private tenants with a household income below £31,000, properties with an EPC rating of E, F, or G, and homes without existing central heating. Certain benefit recipients may also qualify.
Homes with no central heating or using inefficient systems like electric room heaters, gas fires, solid fuel fires, LPG heaters, or biomass room heating.
Yes, the property must have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G and a gas connection installed before April 2022.
Check eligibility, contact an approved ECO4 provider or local council, and complete the application process, which may include a home assessment.
