New Boiler Grants & Boiler Replacement Schemes UK (2026)

If your boiler is old, unreliable or has stopped working, it’s worth checking whether you can get help paying for a new one before you buy. A small number of schemes can still fund a boiler replacement for eligible households, but most government grants in 2026 are aimed at heat pumps and insulation rather than new gas boilers.

This guide explains which new boiler grants and boiler replacement schemes are available in England, Scotland and Wales, who qualifies, and what to do if you don’t.

Is There a Grant for a New Gas Boiler in 2026?

There is no general government grant for a new gas boiler. The main route to a funded boiler replacement is the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4), which can help eligible households with the cost of replacing or repairing a boiler. ECO4 is due to end on 31 December 2026, so time is short if you think you qualify.

The other large schemes, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Warm Homes Plan, fund low-carbon heating such as heat pumps, along with insulation and solar panels. They don’t pay for a like-for-like gas boiler replacement.

Boiler Grants and Schemes at a Glance

ECO4: The Main Boiler Replacement Scheme

ECO4 is funded by the larger energy suppliers, who are required to help lower-income and vulnerable households make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat. Under ECO4 you may get help with the cost of replacing or repairing your boiler, upgrading your heating, or adding insulation.

ECO isn’t a grant you apply for directly. Energy suppliers and their installers decide which measures to fund after a retrofit assessment of your home, so there’s no guarantee a new boiler will be offered.

Who qualifies for ECO4?

You may qualify if someone in your household receives one of these benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit)
• Child Benefit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Your home also needs to be energy inefficient. Homeowners need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D to G, and private renters need a rating of E to G, with the landlord’s permission.

If you don’t receive a qualifying benefit, your council may still be able to refer you through ECO4 Flex if your combined gross household income is under £31,000, or if someone in the home has a qualifying health condition made worse by the cold.

How to apply for ECO4

Contact your local council or your energy supplier and ask about ECO4. Because the scheme closes on 31 December 2026, measures need to be agreed and installed before then. In Scotland you can get advice from Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282, and in Wales from Nest on 0808 808 2244.

Is There a Boiler Replacement Scheme for Over 60s?

There’s no government boiler replacement scheme specifically for over 60s or pensioners, and no national “free boiler scheme” based on age alone. However, many pensioners qualify for ECO4 because Pension Credit, both Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit, is one of the qualifying benefits.

If you’re over 60 and receive Pension Credit, live in a home with a low EPC rating and have an old or broken boiler, contact your council or energy supplier about ECO4 before the scheme closes.

Be cautious about cold calls, texts and adverts offering a “free boiler for pensioners”. Check any offer with your council or energy supplier before letting anyone into your home or sharing personal details.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Grants for Heat Pumps, Not Gas Boilers

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme helps homeowners in England and Wales replace fossil fuel heating, including gas, oil, LPG and electric systems, with low-carbon heating. It doesn’t cover gas boilers. The grants available are:

• £7,500 towards an air source heat pump
• £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump
• £5,000 towards a biomass boiler
• £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump

Until March 2027, there’s an extra £1,500 towards an air source or ground source heat pump if your home is heated by oil or LPG and isn’t on the mains gas network. Our sister company UK Heat Pump Servicing explains every scheme in its guide to heat pump grants.

Oil Boiler Replacement Grants

There’s no dedicated grant for replacing an oil boiler with a new oil boiler. Eligible households may be able to get help through ECO4 while it runs. If you’re open to switching away from oil, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers up to £9,000 towards an air source or ground source heat pump for off-gas homes until March 2027, including the £1,500 uplift. If you want to stay with oil, see our oil boiler replacement page for prices.

Warm Homes Plan and Warm Homes: Local Grant

The government’s £15 billion Warm Homes Plan is the long-term programme for making homes warmer and cheaper to heat. It funds the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, support for low-income households, consumer loans and heat networks.

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is delivered through councils in England for low-income households living in homes with an EPC below band C. It focuses on insulation, solar panels, batteries, smart heating controls and heat pumps rather than new gas boilers. The government plans to combine its low-income schemes into a single scheme from 2027/28, so check with your council for the latest local support.

Boiler Grants in Scotland and Wales

Scotland

The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan offers owner-occupiers up to £7,500 in grant funding, plus an optional £7,500 interest-free loan, towards a heat pump, heat network connection or biomass boiler, with an extra £1,500 for rural homes. It doesn’t fund gas boiler replacements. Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 to check whether you qualify for other help, including Warmer Homes Scotland.

Wales

The Welsh Government’s Nest scheme has historically helped low-income households with home energy improvements, including new boilers. Call Nest on 0808 808 2244 to check what’s currently available for your home.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill for eligible households. It won’t pay for a new boiler, but it’s worth claiming if you qualify, as it can free up money towards your heating costs.

What If You Don’t Qualify for a Boiler Grant?

Most households won’t qualify for a funded boiler, but there are still ways to make a new boiler affordable:

• Interest-free boiler finance: spread the cash price into equal monthly payments with no interest added.
• Pay monthly finance: spread the cost over up to 10 years, with boiler finance from £22.74 a month, subject to status.
• Buy now, pay later: have the boiler fitted now and settle the balance later.
• Fixed online pricing: compare fixed-price new boiler installation packages online, with no hidden extras.

For more ideas, read our guide on what to do if you can’t afford a new boiler.

New Boiler Grant FAQs

Can I get a free boiler in 2026?

You may be able to get a boiler replaced at little or no cost through ECO4 if you receive a qualifying benefit, or your council refers you through ECO4 Flex, and your home has a low EPC rating. ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026.

Do pensioners get free boilers?

Not automatically. Pensioners who receive Pension Credit may qualify for ECO4, which can help with the cost of replacing or repairing a boiler.

What will replace ECO4?

From 2027, the government plans to deliver support for low-income households through the Warm Homes Plan, with its low-income schemes combined into one. Current Warm Homes funding focuses on insulation and low-carbon heating rather than gas boilers.

Can I get a grant for a new combi boiler?

Only through ECO4 if you’re eligible. Other grants, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, only cover heat pumps and biomass boilers.

Scheme details are correct as of November 2026, based on information published by GOV.UK, Ofgem and Home Energy Scotland. Check with the scheme provider before you apply, as eligibility and funding can change.