Free Boiler Question

james_uk

Hi, Can anyone help with a query regarding the free boiler schemes?

My uncle has recently told me that he got a free boiler and recommended that i look into it for my mum and dad who are now both retired.


All the schemes i have seen seem to mention it as a replacement scheme, but my mum and dad haven't got one to start with to replace.


Currently they have no hot water apart from the electric shower.


My uncle is receiving benefits but as far as i know my mum and dad are not receiving any benefits, not even pension credit as far as i am aware.


Does this automatically exclude them from getting a free boiler or could they still get one?


Even though they are not getting benefits they do live very poorly and do not have a great deal of money to be spending on a new boiler.


Can anyone advise on this matter?


Thanks


James

A.Penny.Saved

It's not a simple replacement job and would require a lot of work fitting radiators and pipework so the regular free boilers people will probably not be interested. The fact that they are not receiving any benefits will also not help them. The energy savings trust I think it was, was doing free boilers and heating systems at one time to people who qualified but things have become a lot more strict recently.

I don't fancy your chances of a result in this case.

thenudeone

Get them to ring the Energy saving trust on 0300 123 1234 to see whether they are eligible.
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Take-action/Find-a-grant/Green-Deal-and-ECO

Alternatively ring their own electricity company. They may get a better deal from their own company. As an example of "a better deal", under the previous ECO scheme which ran until last month, EON would contribute 50% of the cost of a new oil-fired boiler but only to their customers; none of the other providers or schemes offer anything to oil-fired boiler owners, so being a customer of theirs definitely gets a better deal than available anywhere else.

If they were considering installing a new system then even a partial contribution from the energy companies would help.

Since1981

Yes there is a scheme where companies are paid to install a new boiler for low income families so this is well worth looking into James_uk

captainhindsight_2

They would need to be receiving a benefit the main ones are pension credit or child tax credit. From what you've said they don't get this so they won't qualify for a free boiler.

An alternative is a Green Deal Plan which will mean they should be able to get a new central heating system at no or very little upfront cost which would be worth looking into.

The first step would be to get an assessment, some installers are doing these for free or you could get an independent one for around £100-£150