As a UK landlord, making sure your rental properties are warm, efficient, and profitable has never been more challenging. Soaring energy costs, tightened regulations, and more demanding tenants are piling the pressure on property owners to upgrade their heating systems. This is why government-funded boiler grants for landlords are providing a remarkable opportunity to upgrade properties at little to no cost, and can be the right path for you.
By participating in the ECO4 scheme, landlords across England, Scotland, and Wales are able to earn free boiler replacements and other heating system upgrades that would otherwise cost thousands of pounds. It’s not just about saving money but also about future-proofing your property, getting better tenants, and being part of the future energy efficiency targets.
We have been assisting landlords with these schemes for a number of years here at ECO Boiler Grants. Our experience in dealing with all kinds of property needs means that we are able to match you up with the best offers on the market and guarantee successful applications. Do you want to find out if you qualify? Complete our quick form today and see how much you can save thousands on upgrades and energy bills.
How ECO4 Boiler Grants Works
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme is the most ambitious initiative from the UK government to enhance energy efficiency in English, Scottish, and Welsh homes. From April 2022 to March 2026, the scheme has £4 billion in funding to fit replacement heating, insulation, and other energy-efficient upgrades. The scheme is first-come-first-serve so the sooner you act the better chance you have of enhancing your property’s warmth and comfort levels.
Why landlords find ECO4 so appealing is how it is fully integrated. In contrast to earlier programs that worked on individual measures, ECO4 takes a “whole-house” approach, which means that if your property is eligible for a boiler grant, you can also get other upgrades like:
- Free insulation (loft, cavity wall, or solid wall)
- Smart heating controls and thermostatic radiator valves
- Solar PV panels where relevant
- Air source heat pumps for appropriate properties
Eligibility Criteria for Landlords
For landlords to qualify for ECO4 boiler grants, the conditions are based on the status of your tenants and not your financial position. The most relevant conditions are these:Â Â
Tenant Eligibility:
- Can a landlord claim for a new boiler? Yes but your tenants must be in receipt of qualifying government.Â
- Annual household income of less than £31,000 in certain circumstances.
- Properties that house tenants residing in specific low-income postcodes could be eligible under the Local Authority Flexibility (LA FLEX) scheme
- D, E, F, or G2 Energy Performance Certificate rating
- Properties without central heating also qualify
- Privately rented property required
The Application Process
In contrast to other schemes where landlords apply directly, ECO4 applications have to be submitted by the tenant but subject to the landlord’s consent. This ensures that the scheme is of greatest benefit to the most vulnerable while both parties’ interests are safeguarded.
Find out today if you qualify by our simple online application! It only takes 1 minute and could save thousands of pounds on essential property upgrades. Â
Government Boiler Grants for Landlords: How To Apply?
Step 1: Check Your Property’s Eligibility
Prior to making any application, you must confirm whether your rental property is within the general criteria for ECO4 funding. You can fill in our free eligibility checker to see what you qualify for. You might need all or some of the following documents so having them prepared can save you time:
- Latest EPC property certificate
- Tenancy agreement for the current residency
- Details of your current boiler (age, type, and efficiency rating)Â Â
- Tenant’s benefit documents (if they are in receipt of qualifying benefits)
Properties most likely to be eligible for free boilers for landlords have an EPC rating of D or worse and boilers over 15 years old or those that are non-condensing.
Step 2: Talk to Your Tenants
As ECO4 applications need to be lodged by tenants, communication is key. Meet with your tenants to describe the advantages of the scheme, such as reduced energy bills and increased comfort; let them know how the installation is done and the temporary inconvenience, as you will need to get their consent to complete the application. Make sure to collect their benefit paperwork and information.
Some tenants are initially reluctant to the scheme, so stress it is absolutely free and will lead to reduced heating bills for them!
Step 3: Book a Property Survey
If your initial assessment indicates eligibility, the next step is a free property survey. This comprehensive assessment includes a detailed inspection of your current heating system, an energy efficiency evaluation of the entire property, the recommendations for suitable upgrades and improvements, with cost estimates for all proposed work.
The survey typically takes 2-3 hours and is conducted by qualified energy assessors. During this visit, they’ll also verify tenant eligibility and landlord consent.
Step 4: Grant Application Submission
After the survey, we will then put in the official grant application on your behalf. This involves:
- Complex technical specifications of the whole job as outlined
- Eligibility checks from the government databases
- Landlord acceptance and tenant agreement verification
- Project plan and installation schedule
Applications are processed within 2-4 weeks, where you might be asked to provide additional details.
Step 5: Installation and Completion
Once your application is processed, installation will take place. We will conduct pre-installation checks and preparation to ensure the job goes smoothly and is done at a time appropriate for you to minimise any interference to your daily life. Our Gas Safe registered installers ensure quality and professional installations. We will then carry out testing and commissioning of all new equipment with documentation such as warranties and maintenance guides.
Boiler installations will generally be completed within 1-2 days, based on the work size.
The Hidden Costs of Keeping an Old Boiler
Most landlords do not have any idea of the real cost of having an old boiler system. Although the replacement cost can be intimidating initially, the repair cost, inefficiency, and tenant issues as a whole generally amount far more than the new system.
1.   Higher Repair Bills:
Call-outs in emergencies can range between £150-£300 per visit, with repair components for old boilers becoming increasingly more expensive and harder to get. The repeat winter break downs can cause repeat emergency repairs.
A usual 15-year-old boiler will need 3-4 repair visits every year, costing £600-£1,200 annually. That’s £3,000-£6,000 over five years – most likely, more than the cost of a full replacement.
2.   Energy Efficiency:
Older boilers are much less efficient than newer ones, which will have an instant effect on your property’s running costs and tenant satisfaction. If we look at the efficiency of both, we realise why the savings and warmth of your property becomes much better. Non-condensing boilers have a 70-80% efficiency while early condensing boilers (2005-2010) can have an 85-90% efficiency. New A-rated boilers that we install can reach 99% efficiency rates!
This difference in efficiency means a real difference in cash spent. A boiler in a property that is 15 years old may be costing £1,200 per year to heat, whereas the same property with a new boiler will cost only £800 – a reduction of £400 per year, with some properties reaching more than £500 in savings!
3.   Tenant Retention
A faulty heating system is one of the most frequent reasons for tenants to vacate rental premises. The cost of poor heating includes increased tenant turnover and related costs such as cleaning, advertising, and void periods; There will also be a challenge in finding quality tenants in the winter months, with legal complications in case of heating breakdown rendering properties uninhabitable. This all can result in poor reviews damaging your property’s reputation.
Regulatory Compliance and Future-Proofing
The UK government is increasingly imposing stricter energy efficiency standards on rental property. Existing regulation calls for:
- Minimum EPC rating of E for rental properties
- Planned increase to EPC rating of C by 2030
- Possible fines for non-compliant properties
Why Choose ECO Boiler Grants for Your ECO4 Upgrades
We here at ECO Boiler Grants have earned ourselves a strong reputation for great outcomes for UK landlords. Having an in-depth knowledge of the ECO4 scheme and a wide experience in the energy efficiency industry, we’re well positioned to handle the complexities of grant applications confidently and professionally.
Through us, not only will you receive a new boiler with ECO Boiler Grants, but you’ll be making an investment in a long-term relationship which will enable you to optimize your return on property investments. We always work to get you the maximum funding available. With our technical know-how, industry relationships, and customer service excellence, we’re the obvious choice for visionary landlords. We always make sure you get the best out of new boiler grants for landlords.Â
Ready to get started? Fill out our form today and see why thousands of landlords have placed their trust in us. Our experts wait to assist you in taking advantage of these amazing opportunities before funds run out.
