Energy Guide

Heating grants

If you're looking to improve your home’s energy efficiency - and cut down on your heating bills at the same time - there are a host of grants available to help you ditch your old boiler, insulate your home or even generate your own electricity.

• Warm front
• Boiler scrappage scheme
• Energy provider grants
• Local authority grants
• Winter Fuel Payments

Warm front

The Warm Front scheme offers a package of home insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £3,500 - or £6,000 if oil central heating low carbon or renewable technologies are recommended - to low income families and other vulnerable households around England.

If you own your own home or rent from a private landlord, you might qualify for a grant under the government-funded scheme.

To qualify for a Warm Front grant you must:

• Receive a designated income benefit or tax credit, and have a child under 16
• Receive a designated disability-related benefit or Disabled Person’s Tax Credit
• Be aged 60 years or over and in receipt of an income related benefit

Even if you don’t qualify for the full Warm Front grant, you may still be eligible for a £300 rebate against the cost of improving your home heating system.

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Boiler scrappage scheme

If you have an old, G-rated boiler - or worse - you may be able to get up to £400 off the cost of installing a new, energy saving A-rated model through the Boiler Scrappage Scheme.

The government-funded plan is aiming to replace up to 125,000 old boilers with energy saving models that will cut CO2 emissions as well as cutting hundreds of pounds off your heating bills.

To qualify, you must own your own home or rent privately and be replacing a G-grade or older boiler - which is still in working order. You can register online to find out if you're eligible or not.

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Energy provider grants

In order to reach their CO2 reduction targets, most major gas and electricity providers offer grants to help with the cost of installing renewable energy solutions such as home wind turbines and solar panels.

Homeowners over 60 or on certain benefits might also be eligible for funding to have cavity walls filled, lofts insulated or heating controls upgraded.

You should get in touch with your energy supplier to find out if you're eligible for any grants.

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Local authority grants

Local authorities also offer grants and discount schemes to help people save on their energy bills by better insulating homes, installing green energy heating systems or simply offering them free energy saving light bulbs.

Contact your local council to find out whether or not you qualify for a local authority grant. Even if you don’t, make sure that you also ask about any discount schemes your council is running.

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Winter Fuel Payments

If you're aged 60 or over, you might be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments to help with the cost of heating your home during the cold winter months.

The government payments, of between £125 and £400 depending on your situation, are made automatically to anyone aged over 60 by a set date each year and in receipt of certain benefits.

If you don’t claim benefits, don’t get State Pension, or if the only benefits you get are Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit, you will need to call the Winter Fuel hotline on 0845 9 15 15 15 to apply.