Free Boiler Scheme (LEAP) Explained
- Last updated date: October 28, 2024
Written by Kate Hallewell
October 2024 Update: The free boiler scheme is now open in England and Wales.
The LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership) scheme is a free service that provides free boiler upgrades to vulnerable households that have broken boilers. The scheme is designed to assist people who are in a ‘no heat’ situation.
Free boiler scheme: LEAP grants explained
Depending on your circumstances, you could be eligible for a new energy efficient boiler if your current boiler is broken. At Energy Saving Genie we have created a free grant checker to check your eligibility for all relevant energy efficiency improvement grants (including the LEAP scheme).
In addition to checking your eligibility for a replacement boiler grant, we’ll also check if you could have other energy savings measures installed in your home (e.g. loft insulation, cavity wall insulation or internal wall insulation). There are a number of home heating measures available under the various UK government energy efficiency grant schemes. It might sound complicated, but Energy Saving Genie helps to navigate the often complicated rules and eligibility criteria.
Eligibility for the LEAP free boiler scheme
If you currently claim eligible benefits, or your household income is under £31,000, or you have someone in your household who is classed as vulnerable, you may be eligible for the LEAP scheme.
To be eligible you’ll need to be a homeowner with a broken boiler that meets the following criteria.
Claiming an eligible benefit:
- Child Tax Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-based)
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based)
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Universal credit
- Working Tax Credit
OR
- Total household income is less than £31,000 per year
AND
There needs to be someone in the household who is:
- Over 65 years old
- Under 5 years old
- Has a health condition
(eligible health conditions include cancer or terminal illnesses, cardiovascular or heart conditions, respiratory conditions, mobility issues or mental health conditions)
How does the LEAP Boiler Scheme work?
The LEAP Boiler Scheme requires a referral from an authorised referral partner and the scheme is not open to applications directly from the general public.
Under the scheme, qualifying households with a broken boiler will be offered a replacement boiler. LEAP is a more inclusive scheme, giving a wider range of people the opportunity to apply for funding. Its main objective is to alleviate fuel poverty by reducing energy costs and thereby improve living conditions. It doesn’t have any EPC rules like other grant schemes.
The LEAP scheme is currently accepting applications through referral partners. We expect the funding to be allocated quickly so if your boiler is broken we suggest applying as soon as you can.
The Benefits of Upgrading Your Boiler
1. Lower Heating Bills
One major advantage of upgrading your boiler through these schemes is the potential to significantly reduce your heating bills. According to estimates, an old boiler could cost an average of £200 – £355 extra a year (for a semi-detached house). By upgrading to an energy-efficient model, you can heat your home at a fraction of the cost. The energy saving trust has more information on boiler heating costs and potential savings.
An efficient heating system requires less energy, effectively reducing your bills. Moreover, with a new boiler, the chances of frequent costly repairs are reduced. All of these cost-savings measures can, over time, amount to considerable savings.
2. Improved Efficiency with New Boiler Models
New A-rated boiler models are significantly more efficient compared to older boilers. Modern boilers have an energy efficiency of 92%-94%, compared to boilers older than 20 years which have an efficiency rate of around 65%. This implies for every £1 spent on heating, only around 6p is wasted with a new boiler, compared to 35p wasted with an older model.
Enhanced efficiency is not only good for your wallet, but also great for the environment. Less energy drawn translates to reduced carbon emissions, contributing to the UK government’s target of minimizing carbon emissions. With a new boiler, the energy you consume is utilized more effectively, providing you the same amount of heat while using less energy overall.
Free grant checker
Find Out If You Qualify Now
Energy companies are funding home upgrades, but these grants will end once they’ve met their legal obligations—so they won’t be around for long.
FAQs about Free Boiler Scheme (LEAP)
Can anyone access the LEAP boiler scheme?
While the LEAP free boiler scheme is accessible to many, not everyone can automatically receive a free boiler.
Your eligibility largely depends on whether you receive certain income-related benefits, among other factors such as health conditions, the age of the people in your household, and your overall household income.
If you receive the designated benefits or meet the other qualifying criteria, you could potentially get a free boiler grant. Check eligibility and apply here.
What happens after I apply for a free boiler?
After you apply for a free boiler, the submitted application is reviewed for eligibility. If you qualify, the application is referred to a partner with access to LEAP funding. The installer then carries out a desktop assessment and the installer contacts you directly to check eligibility and arrange the installation.
Is the installation process disruptive?
The installation process of a new boiler is usually swift and minimally disruptive. The LEAP boiler scheme installer will appoint an installation team who arranges a suitable installation date and time that works for you.
Once on site, the team carries out the work efficiently, ensuring your home is disturbed as little as possible.
Are there any other energy efficiency grants available?
There are a number of other energy efficiency grant schemes available for eligible applicants in the UK including:
- Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) – A UK government grant scheme designed to help residents in England, Wales and Scotland reduce their energy bills. The GBIS focusses on delivering single insulation measures to eligible households (such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and internal wall insulation). The UK government estimates that the scheme will make around 300,000 homes more energy efficient, and those receiving insulation upgrades will see their bills reduce by around £300-400 on average per year.
- Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO4) – The UK government introduced The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme to tackle fuel poverty, rising energy and heating costs, and climate change. This government ECO scheme is administered through Ofgem and has been through 4 different iterations, and the latest version called ECO4 has £4 billion of funding for eligible applicants. The ECO4 scheme takes a whole-house approach to energy efficiency, and can offer free grants between £7,000 – £20,000.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) – The UK government introduced Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) to tackle fuel poverty, rising energy and heating costs, and climate change. The scheme has £1.5 billion of funding for eligible applicants to install ground source heat pumps, and air source heat pumps or biomass boilers. It is administered by Ofgem and provides funding for homeowners and businesses to install heating measures in their homes at a discounted price.
Energy Saving Genie’s free grant checker will check all available grant schemes on your behalf. This ensures that you get the most funding for energy efficiency improvements to your home, based on your individual circumstances.
For more information on energy saving grant schemes you can visit the Ofgem website, or alternatively the UK Government’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero website.
Please note that all LEAP installers are able to submit applications under the GBIS and ECO4 schemes so they will check if you qualify for these schemes as part of the assessment process (ensuring you get maximum inclusions).