The Affordable Warmth Scheme: could you get a free boiler in Northern Ireland?

NI Housing Executive Affordable Warmth Scheme explained—who qualifies, grant amounts up to £7,500, boiler replacement criteria, and how to apply through NIEAS.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive's Affordable Warmth Scheme provides grant aid of up to £7,500 to help low-income homeowners and private tenants improve their home's energy efficiency — including replacing old, inefficient boilers. If you've been putting off a boiler replacement because of the cost, this is the scheme worth checking first.

What is the Affordable Warmth Scheme?

Run by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), the Affordable Warmth Scheme is designed to tackle fuel poverty by funding energy efficiency improvements in homes across Northern Ireland. It covers a range of measures — from loft insulation and draught-proofing to central heating installation and boiler replacement — and in most cases you shouldn't have to contribute anything towards the approved works.

The scheme is means-tested and directed at households on lower incomes. Funding is subject to availability, so applying sooner rather than later is advisable.

Who qualifies?

You may be eligible if all of the following apply:

You live in Northern Ireland
You own and occupy the property as your main home — or you rent from a private landlord
Your total annual gross household income is less than £23,000
The property is not a holiday home, bed and breakfast, or commercial premises

The scheme is not available to Housing Executive or housing association tenants. If you rent privately, your landlord must consent to the works and contribute 50% of the total cost.

What does it cover?

The scheme works through a priority order — insulation and ventilation come first, then heating. You can't skip ahead to a later priority unless the earlier ones don't apply to your property.

Priority 1 — Insulation, ventilation, draught-proofing

Loft insulation (up to 300mm)
Cavity wall insulation (where suitable)
Hot water cylinder jacket
Draught-proofing of doors and windows
Removal and replacement of ineffective cavity wall insulation

Priority 2 — Heating (including boiler replacement)

This is where the scheme is most relevant to Heat NI customers. Priority 2 covers:

Replacing solid fuel, LPG, or Economy 7 heating with natural gas or oil central heating
Economy 7 conversion to high-efficiency electrical storage (where gas and oil aren't available)
Boiler replacement or system upgrade

For boiler replacement specifically, your boiler must be at least 15 years old, and you must also meet at least one of the following:

You are aged 65 or over
You have a child in receipt of Child Benefit or Kinship payments
You receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, or Industrial Injuries Benefit

If you don't meet the boiler-specific criteria but do qualify on income, the scheme may still fund other Priority 2 heating measures — such as installing central heating where none exists.

Priority 3 — Windows

Replacement of single-glazed windows.

Priority 4 — Solid wall insulation

Solid wall insulation for detached properties — funded up to £10,000 in these cases.

How much grant can you receive?

Scenario	Maximum grant
Standard energy efficiency measures	Up to £7,500
Property with solid wall construction requiring insulation	Up to £10,000
Your contribution (in most cases)	£0

In most cases, approved works are fully covered by the grant. If a contractor quotes higher than the grant amount, NIHE recommends getting at least three estimates to find a competitive price. You'd only pay the difference if NIHE doesn't approve the additional cost and you still want to proceed.

How to apply

The application process runs through the NI Energy Advice Service (NIEAS), not directly through a contractor. Here's how it works:

Step 1 — Contact NIEAS

Call 0800 111 44 55 (free) or email NIenergyadvice@nihe.gov.uk. They'll carry out an initial eligibility check over the phone.

Step 2 — Complete the application form

If NIEAS believes you're eligible, they'll send you an application form. You'll need to return it with supporting documents proving: ownership or tenancy, that the property is your main residence, and your income (payslips, benefits letters, or bank statements).

Step 3 — Technical inspection

If your application is approved on paper, a NIHE Technical Officer visits your home to assess what measures are needed. The inspection takes up to 60 minutes and may cover all rooms, the roof space, boiler location, and — if cavity walls are present — a borescope inspection of the wall cavity.

Step 4 — Approval pack and contractor appointment

If you qualify, NIHE sends an Approval Pack confirming what measures are covered and by how much. You must not start any work until this arrives in writing — NIHE will not pay for work begun before written approval.

You then appoint your own Gas Safe registered contractor to carry out the work. You have three months from the approval date to complete it.

What to look for in a contractor

NIHE is clear that it's your responsibility to appoint a competent contractor, and all gas boiler installations must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This isn't optional — it's a legal requirement.

When choosing a contractor for Affordable Warmth work, look for:

Gas Safe registration (verifiable at gassaferegister.co.uk)
Experience with Affordable Warmth and NIHE grant-funded installations
A clear written quote that matches the approved grant amount
Willingness to complete the work within the three-month window

HeatNI and Affordable Warmth installations

HeatNI engineers are Gas Safe registered and experienced in boiler installations across Belfast, Bangor, Lisburn, Newtownards, Holywood, Dundonald, Comber, and Donaghadee. If you've received an Affordable Warmth Approval Pack and need a boiler installed as part of the scheme, we can provide a quote and carry out the work within the required timescale.

If you're not sure whether you qualify, the first step is always contacting NIEAS — they carry out the eligibility check. Once you have approval in hand, get in touch with us and we'll take it from there.

The Affordable Warmth Scheme is subject to funding availability and eligibility criteria set by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Scheme details may change — always verify current terms and availability at nihe.gov.uk or by calling NIEAS on 0800 111 44 55. HeatNI is an independent heating contractor; we are not affiliated with NIHE or the Affordable Warmth Scheme.