Boiler Grants and Free Boiler Schemes in 2026 (England)

Search for “free boiler” and you will find dozens of sites promising a new boiler at no cost. The reality in England in October 2026 is narrower. Most government money now goes to heat pumps, insulation and solar, and the main scheme that could fund a gas boiler for low-income households closes at the end of this year. For most homeowners, a standard gas boiler replacement is self-funded.

This guide sets out what each scheme actually covers, who can get it and how to avoid the cold callers who use “free boiler” as bait.

Is there a free boiler scheme in 2026?

Not for most households. There is no national scheme that pays for a new gas boiler for anyone who asks. The schemes that do exist fall into three groups:

• The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which pays towards a heat pump or biomass boiler, not a gas boiler.
• ECO4, an energy supplier scheme for households on certain benefits, which runs until 31 December 2026.
• The Warm Homes: Local Grant, delivered by councils for low-income households, which funds insulation, solar and heat pumps but cannot fund a new gas boiler.

What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government grant for homes and small non-domestic buildings in England and Wales that are replacing fossil fuel heating (gas, oil, LPG or electric) with a low carbon system. Despite the name, it does not pay for gas boilers. The current grants are:

• £7,500 towards an air source, ground source or water source heat pump
• £9,000 towards an air or ground source heat pump in eligible off-gas-grid homes, available until 31 March 2027
• £5,000 towards a biomass boiler (rural, off-gas-grid properties only)
• £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump

You must own the property, and most new builds and social housing are excluded. You do not apply yourself: an MCS certified installer applies for the voucher on your behalf and takes it off your bill. Hybrid systems that pair a heat pump with a gas boiler are not eligible.

The government’s Warm Homes Plan says the scheme will continue, with funding rising each year to 2029/30, so it is not a “use it or lose it” offer.

Is ECO4 still running?

Yes, but not for long. ECO4 (the Energy Company Obligation) was due to finish on 31 March 2026. After a consultation, the government extended it by nine months, so it now ends on 31 December 2026. The government has also confirmed there will be no successor supplier obligation after it closes.

ECO4 is paid for by the large energy suppliers and is aimed at low-income and vulnerable households. You may qualify if you:

• receive certain means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support or Housing Benefit (Child Benefit counts only below set income caps)
• are referred by your council under ECO4 Flex as being on a low income or vulnerable to the cold
• own your home, or rent privately with your landlord’s permission

ECO4 mainly funds insulation and heating upgrades. Replacing a broken boiler that was already efficient is possible but capped nationally, so it is far from guaranteed. Suppliers decide which jobs they fund, and Ofgem notes you may be asked to contribute towards the cost. With the deadline approaching, expect limited availability.

What happened to the Great British Insulation Scheme?

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) ended as planned on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation rather than boilers, so it was never a route to a free boiler. Any website still taking GBIS applications is out of date at best.

What is the Warm Homes: Local Grant?

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is the government’s main low-income scheme for private homes in England, delivered through councils from April 2025 to March 2028. Your council (or its delivery partner) arranges and pays for upgrades at no cost to you if you meet the criteria:

• your home is privately owned (by you or your landlord)
• it has an EPC rating of D, E, F or G
• your household income is usually £36,000 a year or less, or you live in an eligible postcode or receive certain benefits

It can fund wall, loft and underfloor insulation, solar panels, smart controls and air source heat pumps. The official guidance is clear that new gas boilers cannot be funded by this grant. You can check eligibility through the GOV.UK “apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant” service. In London, the Greater London Authority reports high demand and longer waiting times.

The Warm Homes Plan also says the government intends to merge this grant with the social housing fund into a single low-income scheme from 2027/28, so the names may change again.

Are there council schemes in the TW area?

Councils are the route into the Warm Homes: Local Grant (over 97% of eligible councils in England were given funding), and many also refer households to ECO4 Flex. In the TW area that means Richmond upon Thames, Hounslow or Spelthorne, depending on where you live. Some councils also run small hardship or winter support grants for residents on low incomes. These tend to help with energy bills rather than pay for a new boiler, and they open and close through the year. Check your council’s website or ring its housing or energy advice team for what is open now.

How do you spot a “free boiler” scam?

Grant schemes attract fraudsters. Be wary of anyone who:

• cold calls, texts or knocks on your door offering a free or “government” boiler
• claims to be from Ofgem. Ofgem does not sell energy, install anything, ask for your bank details or visit your home
• asks for an upfront fee to “release” or “secure” a grant
• pressures you to sign the same day or to hand over benefit or bank details before any survey

Before anyone touches a gas appliance, ask to see their Gas Safe ID card and check the engineer on the Gas Safe Register. For grant-funded work, Ofgem advises checking the installer’s TrustMark registration and, for heat pumps, MCS certification. If you think you have been targeted, report it to Action Fraud and forward scam texts to 7726.

So who pays for a normal gas boiler replacement?

In most cases, you do. If your gas boiler has failed or is on its way out and you are not on qualifying benefits, no current national scheme will pay to replace it with another gas boiler. That is not a reason to rush, though. Getting the right type and size of boiler matters more than any offer. If you are not sure what you have now, our guide to combi, system and conventional boilers will help.

When you are ready, we’ll put you in touch with a local Gas Safe registered engineer who will quote for the boiler you choose plus the installation, with no grant small print. For a no-obligation quote, call 07360 268948 or WhatsApp photos of your current boiler, or see our boiler replacement page.