Boiler Scrappage Scheme

The first vouchers to be issued to householders under the UK Government's Boiler Scrappage Scheme took place on the 18th January 2010. The scheme was originally proposed some time earlier and was based in part on a similar project that had been implemented by a private tradesman. Essentially, the Boiler Scrappage Scheme provides up to 150,000 qualifying households with a £400 voucher to replace old boilers with new, more energy efficient central heating systems.

To qualify for the voucher, applicants must live in England and be either a homeowner, landlord or private tenant (housing association tenants are covered by other measures). The boiler belonging to applicants who are aged under 60 years must be in working order and used as the primary source of heat for the home, whereas those over 60 years can apply regardless of whether or not the boiler works. In regard to the boiler itself, applicants must have a G-rated boiler, which represents the least energy efficient. Gas or oil fired boilers are also covered under the scheme provided that they are more than 15 years and 25 years old respectively.

Many companies offer additional incentives to customers who wish to avail of the scheme, so it is advisable for applicants to shop around in order to find the best quote. Once an applicant has been approved under the Boiler Scrappage Scheme, he will be sent the £400 voucher within a certain time frame; although, where the scheme reaches peak demand, it is likely that the service will be hit by temporary delays. However, by replacing a G-rated boiler for a significantly more energy efficient A-rated boiler, the customer stands to benefit from lower carbon emissions and savings of up to £235 per year.