ECO is short for ‘Energy Company Obligation’, which was established by the government to combat energy poverty. The scheme obliges the UK’s 6 largest energy companies, British Gas, Npower, Scottish & Southern Energy, EDF Energy, Scottish Power and EON to fund ECO initiatives to help those most in need of energy saving measures to reduce their energy bills.
Eligibility criteria include those receiving Pension Credits, Child/Employment Tax Credits, Income Support/Employment Support Allowance or JSA, anyone receiving additional benefits to help people with low or no income, households with a broken or defective condensing boiler installed, In addition, applicants must be homeowners or private renters.
Anyone wishing to apply for a boiler grant will need to provide details of the boiler, such as the make, model and approximate age of the appliance, along with some proof of your tax credit or income-related benefits to verify your eligibility for the boiler. scheme. A new boiler is also less likely to break down or require as much maintenance, providing peace of mind and costing less to repair.
There are significant benefits to landlords encouraging tenants to apply for the grant and, as of April 2016, landlords are legally required to consider tenant applications to make their homes warmer and more economical to heat. Homeowners are advised to make the most of the ECO grant now to save money on changes they are likely to have to make in the future anyway. A new efficient boiler will help raise the property’s Energy Performance Certificate rating and from April 2018 all property owners in England and Wales will be legally required to upgrade their properties to achieve a rating of at least E, for what a great opportunity this is. to act now. Additionally, having a new, modern boiler is an attractive prospect for future tenants and all boilers installed under ECO will be A-rated condensing models, greatly reducing the property’s CO2 emissions.
Once confirmed, a fully qualified surveyor will inspect the property and carry out final checks before the grant can be processed. The installation of the replacement boiler is then carried out by a Gas Safe Registered Installer, who is also approved for the scheme.
After the installation of the new condensing gas boiler, individuals and families will begin to save money on their energy bills and help heat their homes more efficiently. Savings are usually around £250 per year for the average household.
There are currently a wealth of resources and information available on the web to provide advice and guidance on how to apply for the grant. However, some companies, such as Boiler Grants Online, offer a fully managed application service.
