Affordable Warmth Scheme

Those benefits marked * are subject to maximum household income thresholds

Benefits and Allowances which are excluded from the scheme:

• Contribution-Based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Contribution-Related Employment & Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Savings Credit
• Basic State Pension
• Housing Benefit
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Attendance Allowance
• Child Benefit
• Contribution-Based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Contribution-Related Employment & Support Allowance

Changes to the Affordable Warmth Scheme introduced on 1st April 2017, now mean that in some cases a contribution is required to the cost of installing electric storage heaters and central heating boilers.

A new system of ‘Deemed Scores’ is now used and is based on the type of property, how many bedrooms it has, how well it is insulated, what type of heating system you have and several other factors. Your ‘deemed score’ dictates the amount of your Affordable Warmth Scheme grant and that is compared to the cost of replacing your faulty storage heaters or faulty boiler.

If your grant is high enough there will be no contribution to make. However, it would be your decision whether or not to go ahead with the installation once you know the amount of any contribution. If you decide not to, you can withdraw your application without cost.

Savings in your heating bills may more than cover any contribution

Modern electric storage heaters are up to 30% more efficient than older models so any contribution you do have to make may be repaid with lower heating bills.

If you do have to make a contribution to the cost of a replacement boiler, you should take into account that according to the Energy Saving Trust, replacing an old gas boiler without controls, to “a new A-rated condensing boiler with a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator controls could save you up to £280 per year for a mid-terrace house, up to £340 for a semi-detached house, up to £290 for a detached bungalow and up to £570 for a detached house”.

There are some things that your Affordable Warmth Scheme Grant won’t cover

Affordable Warmth Scheme boiler grants do not cover the installation of complete central heating systems, radiators, pumps or control systems. If additional work is required such as installing the new boiler in a different position to your old one, you may be asked to make a contribution to the cost of this.

Importantly, the Affordable Warmth Scheme does not provide funding to install new boilers and heating systems in houses where there currently isn’t one installed, unless your home has never had central heating.

If this is the case and you have other inefficient storage heaters, you may qualify for a grant to replace them all. In some cases however, the grant is insufficient to cover the cost of replacing all of your storage heaters and you may be asked to make a contribution.

ECO Space Heating Rules

New ‘space heating rules’ are being considered where additional storage heaters could be installed with an ECO Grant if your only source of heating is electric and you do not have enough storage heaters to heat your home adequately.

Qualifying Boilers

The first rule is that to qualify for a boiler grant, your existing boiler must have been rated at less than 86% efficient Rated C or below) when it was manufactured AND have a fault, OR

If your boiler is A or B rated for efficiency you may qualify for a grant if it is faulty and would cost more to repair than to replace.

The Affordable Warmth Scheme was introduced to replace old, faulty, inefficient boilers in order to make homes more energy efficient and to reduce heating bills.

The Government has a target of reducing UK carbon emissions by 34% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050 (compared to the situation in 1990). This was enshrined in the Climate Change Act 2008 and in order to meet these targets the Government has introduced a wide range of measures to reduce energy consumption and switch to renewable energy sources. The Affordable Warmth Scheme is one such measure.

….And to tackle fuel poverty

The Affordable Warmth Scheme is part of ECO, the Energy Company Obligation, and it is designed to help less well-off householders to replace old inefficient electric storage heaters and central heating boilers by replacing them with more energy efficient versions. This reduces carbon emissions and helps towards the Government targets.

In the fight against fuel poverty, it also helps householders to reduce their heating bills because more energy efficient boilers will use less gas.

The Affordable Warmth Scheme also provides funding for cavity wall insulation and loft insulation.

If you are a tenant and you think you may qualify for a Storage Heater Grant by CLICKING HERE and a boiler grant by CLICKING HERE. Your landlord’s consent would be required before new storage heaters or a new boiler could be installed.

However, landlords can express an interest in the Affordable Warmth Scheme

Landlords can APPLY HERE for replacement electric storage heaters or a replacement boiler in their tenanted properties but should seek consent from their tenants before passing on personal details. Storage Heater and Boiler installations funded by the Affordable Warmth Scheme cannot be carried out without written consent of both landlord and tenant.

If a contribution is payable, who pays it?

If a contribution is required towards the cost of installing replacement storage heaters or a replacement boiler in a tenanted property, it is for the landlord and tenant to decide between them who should pay this.

If the tenant move out of the property, they CANNOT take any part of the new heating system with the; it must stay in the rental property.

In Northern Ireland there is an alternative scheme: the Affordable Warmth Grant Scheme but it is only available in areas being targeted by local councils.

A transitional ECO Scheme, referred to as ECO2t started on 1st April 2017 with slightly different grant qualification criteria. This will run for 18 months during which time a consultation will be carried out to finalise the details of a new Fuel Poverty Scheme which is expected then to run until 2022.

Because it is possible that qualifying criteria may change again, it is important therefore to apply early so that you do not miss out on an Affordable Warmth Scheme storage heater grant or boiler grant.

There is a different form for Landlords HERE.

WE’LL CALL YOU BACK…..

We will telephone you to confirm the information you have entered on the form and to fill in any gaps there may be. We will talk you through the grant application process and answer any questions you may have.

CARRY OUT A FREE SURVEY…..

A qualified assessor will visit your home to carry out your free survey, check out your existing heating system and may take copies of your state benefit award letters, together with proof of ownership or tenancy. Your ECO Accredited Installer will then officially apply for a grant on your behalf and let you know if a contribution is required or not.

AND ARRANGE YOUR NEW STORAGE HEATER OR BOILER INSTALLATION

You will be advised whether you need to make a contribution to the cost of your new storage heaters or boiler and if so, how much it is. If you are a tenant, your landlord would normally pay this. Once everything is agreed, your ECO registered installation company will arrange to fit your new energy efficient boiler or storage heaters and take your old ones away.

For your peace of mind, all boilers and storage heaters installed under the Affordable Warmth Scheme will carry a guarantee.