Under section 30 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a guarantee given without extra charge takes effect as a contractual obligation on the guarantor from delivery, must be written in plain and intelligible language and must state that the consumer’s statutory rights are not affected, and section 31 prevents contract terms from excluding or restricting the core statutory rights.

What counts as a guarantee

Section 30 applies to a contract to supply goods where there is a guarantee in relation to the goods. The Act defines a guarantee as an undertaking to the consumer, given without extra charge by a person acting in the course of business, that if the goods do not meet the specifications in the guarantee statement or any associated advertising, the consumer will be reimbursed for the price paid or the goods will be repaired, replaced or handled in any way. The provisions apply across the UK. A manufacturer’s boiler warranty included in the price fits that description, whereas a paid-for extended plan is a different product, as our guide to manufacturer’s guarantees versus extended warranties explains.

A binding obligation from delivery

Section 30(3) says the guarantee takes effect, at the time the goods are delivered, as a contractual obligation owed by the guarantor under the conditions set out in the guarantee statement and in any associated advertising. In other words, what the guarantee promises, and what the advertising around it promises, can be enforced as a contract, and the conditions in the statement, such as a registration or servicing requirement, form part of that obligation. The practical detail is covered in our guide to boiler warranties.

What a guarantee must say

Section 30(4) requires the guarantor to ensure that the guarantee sets out in plain and intelligible language its contents and the essential particulars for making claims, states that the consumer has statutory rights in relation to the goods and that those rights are not affected by the guarantee, and, where the goods are offered within the UK, is written in English. Section 30(5) says the contents must include the name and address of the guarantor and the duration and territorial scope of the guarantee. A guarantee that is silent on how to claim, or that suggests the buyer has no other rights, does not meet these requirements on its face.

Getting a copy

Under section 30(6), the guarantor, and any other person who offers to supply the goods to consumers, must on request make the guarantee available within a reasonable time, in writing and in a form accessible to the consumer. Section 30(7) states that what is a reasonable time is a question of fact. A buyer comparing installers can therefore ask for the written guarantee terms before signing, and the guide to comparing installation quotes like for like lists other points to ask for.

Enforcement

Section 30(8) provides that if a person fails to comply with the requirements of the section, the enforcement authority may apply to the court for an injunction, or in Scotland an order of specific implement, requiring compliance, and the court may grant it on such terms as it thinks appropriate. The guarantee itself remains enforceable as a contract under section 30(3).

Statutory rights sit alongside it

Section 31 says a term of a contract to supply goods is not binding on the consumer to the extent that it would exclude or restrict the trader’s liability under provisions including satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose, description, installation as part of conformity and delivery. It also says such a term is not binding to the extent that it would make a right or remedy or its enforcement subject to a restrictive or onerous condition, or disadvantage a person for pursuing a right. Section 15 adds that goods do not conform to the contract where installation forms part of the contract, the trader installs them or they are installed under the trader’s responsibility, and they are installed incorrectly. The full route is explained in the guide to consumer rights remedies for a faulty boiler.

FAQs

Is a boiler guarantee legally binding?

Under section 30(3) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a guarantee given without extra charge takes effect as a contractual obligation on the guarantor from the time the goods are delivered.

Can a guarantee remove my rights under the Consumer Rights Act?

No. Section 30(4) requires the guarantee to state that statutory rights are not affected, and section 31 makes terms that exclude or restrict the core statutory liabilities not binding on the consumer to that extent.

Can I ask to see the guarantee before I buy?

Section 30(6) says the guarantor and any person offering to supply the goods must, on request, make the guarantee available in writing within a reasonable time.

The bottom line

A free boiler guarantee is a legal promise from the moment of delivery, must be in plain English and must say that statutory rights are unaffected. Section 31 stops contract terms from removing the core statutory rights, and section 15 treats incorrect installation by the trader as non-conformity. Reading the guarantee statement and keeping a written copy protects a claim. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 24 September 2026:

• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 30: Goods under guarantee”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 31: Liability that cannot be excluded or restricted”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 15: Installation as part of conformity of the goods with the contract”

Related guides

Best Boiler Deals is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation — always confirm the details with a Gas Safe registered engineer.