Government Boiler Scrappage Scheme Details

Information and details answering the question on how does the government boiler scrappage scheme work which has officially launched.

The government boiler scrappage scheme was announced in the pre-budget report in 2009 and is now live and is aimed at helping households replaced old inefficient boilers with new A rated boilers.

Scrappage scheme details overview

The scheme is running in England only (and not currently Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) and allows a £400 rebate on the cost of replacing an old G rated boiler with a new A rated boiler.

The scheme is run by the Energy Saving Trust and there are a few hurdles to jump through to get your rebate but it’s open to 125,000 homeowners and is not means tested.

Full Information

The boiler scrappage scheme is now effective and here’s what you need to do

Qualification criteria

The qualification for this scheme is quite straight forward. It is not means tested (in that your household income is not taken into account nor whether you are on any type of benefits etc) and so long as you have an old G rated boiler you can claim as follows:

• If you are under 60 your current boiler must be in working order and is the main source of heating in the home
• If you are over 60 the boiler can not be working but it still needs to be the main boiler in the home.

The scheme is open to home owners and tenants.

How do I claim ?

This is where there is a little work involved on your part but if you complete all the details correctly then you should have no problem in claiming back the £400 from the government via the energy saving trust

1. Check to see if you have a G rated boiler
2. Get a quote from a tradesman registered under OFTEC, gas safe, HETAS or MSC
3. Register for your £400 voucher on the energy saving trust’s website (which you need to enter a lot of information so check the site first to see what information is required) this will include the quote for the new boiler and registration information of the installer.
4. The energy saving trust will post you a rebate voucher
5. Get your new boiler installed
6. Send the final invoice and voucher back the EST
7. Within a month your rebate should be received back

Important notes

Vouchers are only valid for 12 weeks after which they will be cancelled although a new voucher can be issued. You can only receive one voucher per household. A new A rated boiler is going to cost upwards of £400 but could save you £200 in gas per year.

Other schemes

Currently 2 companies have said that they will match the government’s scrappage allowance so that both Npower and British Gas will double the £400 to £800 if you choose a new boiler from them. It’s best to get quotes from these companies as well as your local qualified boiler company as the main energy companies tend to be a little more expensive although you may receive additional guarantees from them.

There are also government grants to help some families on low incomes replace boilers as well as insulated their homes. If this government boiler scrappage scheme is as popular as the car scheme then it’s likely to be a huge success and help reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions.