A weak flow at the taps can have several causes, and a boiler is only one of them. Mains water pressure is a matter for the water company, up to a defined point on the supply, and it is worth knowing what that company must provide before paying for boiler or plumbing changes. This guide summarises the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) pages on low water pressure and on the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, and covers England and Wales. It is general information, not advice on a specific fault.

What the water company must provide

CCW says the Water Industry Act 1991 requires that a household receives water constantly and at a pressure that reaches the upper floor of the house. Ofwat, the regulator, has set that companies should maintain a minimum pressure in the communication pipe of seven metres static head, which is 0.7 bar. The communication pipe comes off the water main, belongs to the company and ends at the outside stop valve at the home.

CCW makes the limits clear. The company has no obligation to meet pressure requirements inside an external private supply pipe, whether shared or not, or inside the property. There is also no regulated upper limit, although CCW says internal plumbing should be able to withstand 10 bar to meet British standards. This distinction matters when a heating engineer or plumber says the problem is “the mains”: the company’s duty stops at the outside stop valve.

Signs and possible causes

CCW lists signs of low pressure: a shower that drops to a dribble when someone flushes a toilet or opens a tap, a bath that takes much longer than about five minutes to fill, and a toilet cistern that takes much longer than about 1 minute 40 seconds to refill. It lists possible causes including a burst on the main, repairs or maintenance in the area, high demand at particular times, cold weather, the company using another water source, a leak on the supply pipe, a shut valve, or a shared supply where others are using water at the same time. Several of these are inside the customer’s side of the outside stop valve, and others are the company’s responsibility.

How a boiler’s own flow rate and pressure affect a shower is covered separately in the guide to combi boiler flow rate and pressure.

What to record and report

CCW recommends recording the times of incidents of low or high pressure over a period, for example two weeks, and reporting them to the water company. It says the company can visit the property to test the pressure. A record with dates and times is also useful when a heating engineer needs to separate a boiler fault from a supply problem, for example before a boiler pressure problem is diagnosed.

Compensation under the Guaranteed Standards Scheme

The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) sets minimum standards required by Ofwat. If a company fails to meet a standard, CCW says it must make a fixed payment or credit the customer’s water services account. For low water pressure the company must ensure pressure of at least 7 metres head (0.7 bar) in the communication pipe, usually measured at the outside stop valve. If it fails to do this twice for more than one hour within a 28-day period, the entitlement is:

• England: £50, payable up to 5 times a year, and a customer who also experiences ongoing low pressure may be automatically entitled to £250 per year;
• Wales: £25, once per year.

CCW notes there are circumstances in which a GSS payment will not be made and points to Ofwat’s guidance for full information for both nations. It also says additional standards were introduced from 1 October 2025 as part of the GSS review, including for core priority services, customers in debt, meter readings, meter installation and water quality notices.

Other standards that can matter

Other GSS standards can arise around plumbing or heating work. For planned interruptions to supply the company must inform customers in writing at least 48 hours in advance in England (24 hours in Wales). The entitlement if it fails to do so is £50 in England and £20 in Wales, and payments for a late restoration of supply are £50 in England and £20 in Wales, with extra sums for longer interruptions. Appointments are also covered: the company must visit on the agreed day, within the morning or afternoon or a two-hour slot if requested, and give at least 24 hours’ notice of cancellation. The entitlement for failing to keep an appointment is £50 in England and £20 in Wales, except in circumstances such as severe weather.

FAQs

Does the water company have to fix low pressure inside my house?

No. CCW says the company has no obligation to meet pressure requirements inside the customer’s private supply pipe or inside the property.

How much is the low pressure payment?

In England £50, payable up to five times a year, with up to £250 a year for ongoing low pressure. In Wales £25 once per year. The standard is a failure to reach 7 metres head twice for more than one hour within 28 days.

Does this cover Scotland or Northern Ireland?

No. The CCW pages cover England and Wales.

The bottom line

In England and Wales the water company must keep pressure in its communication pipe at 7 metres static head (0.7 bar) or above, up to the outside stop valve, and pays a fixed sum under the Guaranteed Standards Scheme if it fails twice for more than an hour in 28 days. Pressure inside the customer’s own pipework and home is not the company’s responsibility. Recording the times of low pressure helps to separate a supply problem from a boiler or plumbing fault. This is general information, not personalised advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• Consumer Council for Water, “Low water pressure”
• Consumer Council for Water, “What standards are guaranteed by water and sewerage companies?”

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.

If a landlord will not repair a broken boiler or heating system, tenants in England can involve the local council, which can assess the home under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). This guide summarises the government’s Landlord and agent guide to the HHSRS (published 23 June 2026, updated 16 September 2026) and its private renting repairs page. It covers England only, and is general information, not legal advice.

Who is responsible for heating

GOV.UK’s private renting guide says a landlord is always responsible for repairs to heating and hot water and to gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation. Tenants should tell the landlord, and the guide says to carry on paying rent while waiting for repairs. The HHSRS guide adds that section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 implies a covenant that installations for supplying water, gas and electricity, and for heating and hot water, are kept in repair and proper working order, and section 9A requires a home to be fit for human habitation in certain tenancies. Wider repair routes are covered in the guide to boiler problems in a rented home.

What the HHSRS is

The HHSRS is a tool used to identify and assess risks to health and wellbeing in a home, whether rented or owned. Councils use it when taking formal enforcement action under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004, through environmental health officers or similarly trained staff. The system covers 21 hazards. GOV.UK’s repairs page says a tenant who thinks the home is unsafe can contact the council’s housing department, which will carry out an HHSRS assessment and must take action if it thinks there are serious hazards.

How a heating fault fits in

The HHSRS guide says a house without a properly installed heating system in good working order is a deficiency associated with several hazards. Difficulty keeping the property warm contributes to the excess cold hazard, and inadequate heating also contributes to damp and mould. The guide’s checklist of baseline indicators lists a heating system in good and safe working condition, capable of heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilets, with the main living room heated to 21 degrees Celsius and other rooms to 18 degrees when the outside temperature is minus 1 degree.

Scores of 1,000 or more fall in the high band and are Category 1 hazards, while lower scores are Category 2.

What the council can do

For Category 1 hazards the guide says the council must take action. For Category 2 hazards it has discretion. The options include a hazard awareness notice, an improvement notice, a prohibition order and emergency action. An improvement notice requires remedial work, which must not be required to start sooner than 28 days after service, and must state a completion date. The guide gives an example: an improvement notice may be appropriate for an excess cold hazard caused by the lack of a properly installed heating system in good and safe working order. The recipient can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), generally within 21 days of an improvement notice being served, and the notice is suspended while an appeal is pending.

Councils can inspect any property used for residential purposes, often after a complaint by the tenant or a neighbour.

Penalties and rent repayment

It is an offence to fail to comply with an improvement notice without reasonable excuse. The guide says the council can impose a civil financial penalty of up to £40,000 for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026 (the maximum was £30,000 for earlier offences), after a notice of intent and a 28-day period for representations. If the occupier refuses access, the guide says the landlord must show how reasonable steps were taken.

A tenant or council can also apply to the tribunal for a rent repayment order after a failure to comply with an improvement notice or prohibition order. For offences committed on or after 1 May 2026 the application can be made within two years and the order can require repayment of up to two years of rent. For earlier offences the limit is 12 months for both the application and the rent.

The energy efficiency link

The guide notes that upgrading the energy efficiency of private rented homes helps minimise the risks associated with excess cold and damp and mould, and that landlords in England and Wales cannot rent out a home with an EPC rating of F or G unless it is registered as exempt. Similar heating problems in social housing follow a separate route, described in the guide to Awaab’s Law and loss of heating.

FAQs

Does the council have to act on a heating complaint?

GOV.UK says the council must take action if it thinks a home has serious health and safety hazards, which the HHSRS guide calls Category 1 hazards. For lower-risk Category 2 hazards it has discretion.

Does this apply in Wales or Scotland?

No. The HHSRS guide applies to England. Welsh and Scottish rules are covered in the guides to Wales and Scotland.

Can a landlord appeal an improvement notice?

Yes, to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), generally within 21 days of service.

The bottom line

In England, a rented home with no properly working heating can be assessed by the council under the HHSRS as an excess cold risk. Councils must act on Category 1 hazards and can serve improvement notices, with civil penalties of up to £40,000 for offences on or after 1 May 2026, and tenants or councils can seek rent repayment orders. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• GOV.UK (MHCLG), “Landlord and agent guide to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)”
• GOV.UK, “Private renting: Repairs”

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.

Warmer Homes Scotland is a Scottish Government programme that can pay for insulation, heating and renewables in eligible homes. Its heating measures include a new gas boiler, an electric storage heater or an air source heat pump. This guide summarises the eligibility and application rules on the Home Energy Scotland and mygov.scot pages, which say the criteria may change from time to time. It covers Scotland only and is general information, not a promise that an application will succeed.

What the programme offers

Home Energy Scotland describes the programme as support worth £10,000 or more for eligible households, for improvements that make a home warmer and cheaper to heat. The measures listed are wall insulation, loft insulation, draught-proofing, central heating (including an electric storage heater, a new gas boiler or an air source heat pump) and a home renewables system. Mygov.scot says the Scottish Government will usually meet all the costs. If a household must pay some of the cost, it can apply for an interest-free loan, which Home Energy Scotland says is managed by Energy Saving Trust, subject to a credit check and includes an administration fee.

The programme is delivered by an organisation called Warmworks. Its assessor visits, checks eligibility and looks at each room and loft space to see which measures suit the home, and the improvements offered depend on that assessment. Funding is not available for work already completed, or for work by installers not approved by Warmworks.

Who can apply: the home

According to Home Energy Scotland, the applicant must be a homeowner or the tenant of a private-sector landlord and must live in the home as their main residence. The home must meet all of these conditions:

• it has a poor energy rating, which Warmworks assesses;
• its floor area is 230 square metres or less, typically up to five bedrooms;
• it is in council tax band A to G;
• it meets the tolerable living standard in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, or any shortfall does not affect how well the recommended improvements work.

The applicant must have lived there for at least six months, unless they hold an SR1, DS1500 or BASRiS form. A household supported by Warmer Homes Scotland in the last 12 months cannot apply, according to mygov.scot.

Who can apply: the household

Home Energy Scotland says the household must include either someone aged 75 or over with no working heating, someone with a DS1500 or BASRiS certificate completed by a medical professional, or someone who receives at least one passport benefit at any level or rate. The passport benefits listed include Adult Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment, Carer Support Payment, Council Tax Reduction (excluding the 25% discount), Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee (not Pension Credit Savings only), Scottish Child Payment and Universal Credit. The list is subject to change, so the current version on the Home Energy Scotland page is the one to check.

Private tenants and the repairing standard

A private tenant needs the landlord’s permission before improvements are installed, and Warmworks makes the landlord aware of which improvements the Scottish Government can fund and which the landlord may need to fund directly. Home Energy Scotland also says private rented homes covered by the statutory Repairing Standard no longer receive improvements that a landlord is legally obliged to provide. Its example is that landlords must keep heating installations working and in reasonable repair. Such homes remain eligible for other improvements. The landlord’s duties are explained in the guide to boilers and heating in a Scottish rented home.

How to apply

Mygov.scot says to apply by contacting Home Energy Scotland, by phone on 0808 808 2282 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm) or by completing the self-assessment tool, after which an adviser gets in touch. The adviser asks about the household and home, checks eligibility and refers the household to Warmworks. Home Energy Scotland notes that completing the self-assessment does not guarantee success, that applications depend on the criteria and on funding availability, and that eligibility may be affected by arranging energy-efficiency work between the first call and the Warmworks assessment.

If you are not eligible

Home Energy Scotland says households that do not meet the criteria may be eligible for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan or an area-based scheme through their council. UK-wide schemes such as ECO4 are compared in the guide to government boiler grants. Building standards for a replacement boiler in Scotland are covered in the guide to replacing a boiler in Scotland.

FAQs

Can a landlord apply for Warmer Homes Scotland?

The programme is for homeowners and private-sector tenants who meet the criteria. A tenant needs the landlord’s permission before work is installed.

Will the scheme always pay for a new boiler?

No. The improvements offered depend on Warmworks’ assessment of the home and the household’s eligibility, and funding is subject to availability.

Can I start work first and claim later?

No. Mygov.scot says work already done cannot be funded, and eligibility may be affected by work carried out before the Warmworks assessment.

The bottom line

Warmer Homes Scotland can fund central heating, including a new gas boiler, plus insulation and renewables, for eligible homeowners and private tenants in Scotland. Eligibility depends on the home, its energy rating and council tax band, and on the household including an older person without heating, a person with a DS1500 or BASRiS certificate, or someone on a passport benefit. Applications start with Home Energy Scotland. This is general information, not advice on a specific application.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• Home Energy Scotland, “Warmer Homes Scotland”
• mygov.scot, “Warmer Homes Scotland scheme”

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.

A household that is owed money after a boiler job, and cannot reach agreement with the installer, can apply to a county court. This guide summarises GOV.UK’s guide “Make a court claim for money”, which covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different processes. It explains the process only, not whether a particular claim would succeed, and it is general information, not legal advice.

What a court claim is

GOV.UK says a person can apply to a county court to claim money owed by a person or business, and that this is known as making a court claim, which used often to be called taking someone to a ‘small claims court’. The application can be made online or by post. GOV.UK also notes that mediation could be quicker and cheaper than going to court, and that there is a different process to make a court claim in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.

The legal grounds for a claim about a boiler, such as the remedies for poor workmanship, are covered separately in the guides to workmanship under the Consumer Rights Act and remedies for a new boiler that develops a fault. Time limits are explained in the guide to limitation periods.

Making the claim

GOV.UK says a claim can be made online unless the claimant does not know how much money to claim, is claiming for more than one person or organisation, is claiming against three or more people or organisations, or the parties do not have an address in England or Wales, or the claim is against a government department. Those claims must be made by post using paper claim form N1. The online service asks for the name, address and email address of the person being claimed against, and a debit or credit card to pay the court fee, or a ‘help with fees’ reference number. GOV.UK adds that a claim cannot be made against someone protected by the ‘Breathing Space’ scheme, and that legal advice may be needed if the claim is complex.

Court fees

The fee depends on the amount claimed. GOV.UK’s fee table lists:

• up to £300: £35;
• £300.01 to £500: £50;
• £500.01 to £1,000: £70;
• £1,000.01 to £1,500: £80;
• £1,500.01 to £3,000: £115;
• £3,000.01 to £5,000: £205;
• £5,000.01 to £10,000: £455;
• £10,000.01 to £200,000: 5% of the claim.

The guide says more fees may be payable later, for example if there is a hearing or a judgment must be enforced, that a claimant who wins may be able to claim the fees back, and that help with fees is available for people on a low income or certain benefits. A claimant who does not know the exact amount must use the paper form and estimate.

What happens after you claim

The claim, including the claimant’s name and address, is sent to the defendant, who must respond by a date the claimant is told. If the defendant does not respond or refuses to pay what is owed, the claimant can ask the court to order payment by requesting a judgment. If the defendant says they do not owe the money, disagrees with the amount, or the claimant does not agree with an offered repayment plan, there might be a hearing, and the court may send a questionnaire that carries an extra fee. Anyone who is paid should tell the defendant and update the claim.

Mediation

GOV.UK says that in a claim of £10,000 or less that the defendant disputes, the claimant is told they must attend mediation, organised by the court at no charge. For a mediator from HM Courts and Tribunals Service the appointment is by telephone and lasts up to one hour. If a claim is for more than £10,000 the court may offer mediation, and independent mediation can be arranged for a claim of any amount for a fixed fee. An agreement reached is legally binding, and if no agreement is reached there is a hearing, with no longer wait for the hearing because of the mediation. A party who is told to attend and does not, or makes no effort to agree, can face sanctions, including having the case struck out or paying all court costs even if they win.

The hearing and afterwards

At a hearing the claimant can represent themselves, pay a barrister or solicitor, or ask someone to advise or speak for them, which may need the court’s permission. A claim for less than £10,000 can be heard in the judge’s room or a courtroom in a county court, and a more formal hearing is possible for larger claims. A decision is given on the day and posted. A person who thinks the judge made a mistake must appeal within 21 days of receiving the decision. If the losing side ignores an order to pay, GOV.UK says there are ways the court can collect the money, described in its guide to enforcing a judgment.

FAQs

Is a court claim the first step in a boiler dispute?

GOV.UK says mediation could be quicker and cheaper than going to court. A complaint to the installer and the routes in the guide to complaining about a boiler installation are covered separately.

Does this apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

No. GOV.UK says there is a different process in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.

Can the court fee be recovered?

GOV.UK says a claimant who wins may be able to claim the fees back.

The bottom line

In England and Wales a household owed money by a boiler installer can apply to a county court online or by post. The fee rises with the amount claimed, disputed claims of £10,000 or less go to free court mediation, and a decision at a hearing can be appealed within 21 days. GOV.UK notes that mediation can be quicker and cheaper than court. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Make a court claim for money”
• GOV.UK, “Make a court claim for money: Make a claim”
• GOV.UK, “Make a court claim for money: Court fees”
• GOV.UK, “Make a court claim for money: Resolve your claim through mediation”
• GOV.UK, “Make a court claim for money: What happens at the hearing”

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.

A boiler is a fixed combustion appliance, so it can trigger a legal duty on a landlord to fit a carbon monoxide alarm. This guide summarises the government’s guidance booklets for landlords and for local authorities on the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 as amended in 2022. It covers England only and is general information, not legal advice on a particular tenancy.

What the rules require

The landlord booklet says the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 came into force on 1 October 2022. From that date relevant landlords must ensure at least one smoke alarm is equipped on each storey used as living accommodation, ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation that contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers), and ensure that alarms are repaired or replaced once the landlord is informed and finds them faulty.

The booklet defines a fixed combustion appliance as a fixed apparatus where fuel of any type is burned to generate heat. A gas, oil or solid-fuel boiler in a room used as living accommodation therefore falls within the definition. The regulations specifically treat a hall or landing as a room.

Which homes are covered

The booklet says the regulations apply to homes rented by private landlords or registered providers of social housing, unless excluded. Excluded tenancies include shared accommodation with the landlord or the landlord’s family, long leases, student halls of residence, hotels and refuges, care homes, hospitals and hospices, and low-cost ownership homes. The regulations do not apply to owner-occupiers, including owner-occupiers in shared-ownership homes. Unlicensed houses in multiple occupation are covered; licensed ones are subject to similar requirements through the Housing Act 2004 licensing rules.

Choosing and placing alarms

The regulations do not specify the type or position of alarm. The booklet recommends that landlords choose alarms suited to the building and tenants, compliant with British Standard BS EN 50291 for carbon monoxide alarms, and that sealed-for-life battery alarms are a better option than replaceable batteries. In general, it says, an alarm should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and be positioned at head height on a wall or shelf, roughly 1 to 3 metres from the potential source.

How an installer positions a boiler flue and air supply is a separate topic, covered in the guide to Approved Document J in England.

Start-of-tenancy checks and records

The booklet says the regulations require landlords to check that each prescribed alarm is in proper working order on the day a new tenancy begins. It is the landlord’s responsibility to keep a record of when alarms are tested, and the local housing authority decides whether the evidence proves the requirements were met. If an alarm stops working during a tenancy, tenants are advised to replace the batteries and, if that does not fix it or they cannot do it, report it to the landlord, who is responsible for repair or replacement of faulty alarms.

How councils enforce the rules

The local authority booklet explains that local housing authorities must serve a remedial notice where they have reasonable grounds to believe a landlord has not complied, for example after being told by a tenant or housing officer that the required alarms are not installed. The authority does not have to enter the property first. The notice must be served within 21 days of deciding there are reasonable grounds, and the landlord has 28 days from service to comply or to make written representations, which suspends the notice while they are considered.

If the landlord still does not comply, the authority must arrange for an authorised person to carry out the remedial action where the occupier consents, giving at least 48 hours’ notice. The authority can also issue a civil penalty of up to £5,000 by penalty charge notice. Both booklets say the fine applies per breach rather than per landlord or property. A landlord can ask for a review and then appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

When a tenant will not give access

Both booklets say landlords must take all reasonable steps to comply with a remedial notice but are not expected to go to court to gain access. Examples of reasonable steps include writing to explain that the alarms are a legal requirement, arranging visits at convenient times and keeping a written record of access attempts, and working with the tenant to find a solution. The separate gas safety duty is covered in the guide to the landlord gas safety certificate, which is a separate duty from the alarm rules.

FAQs

Do the rules say a boiler in a cupboard needs an alarm?

The duty attaches to a room used as living accommodation that contains a fixed combustion appliance. A boiler in a room that is not used as living accommodation is not covered by that wording in the guidance.

Does an alarm replace an annual gas safety check?

No. The alarm regulations are separate from the gas safety duties, and the booklet describes them as one of several laws on safety in rented homes.

Who checks that a landlord has complied?

The local housing authority, which enforces the regulations through remedial notices and civil penalties.

The bottom line

In England, landlords must equip a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation that contains a fixed combustion appliance such as a boiler (gas cookers excepted), test the alarms on the first day of a new tenancy, and repair or replace faulty ones. Councils enforce this by remedial notice and a penalty of up to £5,000 per breach. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022: guidance for landlords and tenants”
• GOV.UK, “Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022: guidance for local authorities”

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.

Nest is a Welsh Government scheme that provides free advice and home improvements. Where a property has no heating or hot water, the Welsh Government’s guidance says the household may be eligible for a repair or replacement of boilers or electric storage heaters. This guide summarises the eligibility rules on GOV.WALES as they stood in September 2026 and covers Wales only. This guide is general information, not a promise that an application will succeed.

What Nest offers

GOV.WALES describes Nest as a Welsh Government scheme that provides free advice and home improvements to help people save energy and money. Its free energy advice covers making sure a household is on the best energy and water tariff, checking benefit entitlement, lowering a carbon footprint and installing low carbon technology. Nest can also confirm whether a household is eligible for a package of free home energy efficiency improvements, such as a heat pump, insulation and solar panels. Where a property is without heating or hot water, the guidance says that a repair or replacement of a boiler or electric storage heater may be available. The scheme is free to eligible households, and the advice service can be used by households that are not sure of their eligibility.

Who can apply: the basic conditions

According to the eligibility page, applicants must own or privately rent their home, so local authority and housing association tenants are outside the scheme. They must either receive a means-tested benefit or live in a low-income household. The home must also have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of 54 (E) or less, or 68 (D) or less where someone in the household has an eligible health condition. A home rated 68 (D) or less with no eligible condition is placed on a reserve list.

Owners provide evidence such as a mortgage statement, buildings insurance policy or property deeds. A private tenant provides the landlord’s details so that Nest can request permission for any work. The rules on private rented homes in Wales are explained in the guide to boiler repairs in a rented home in Wales.

The benefit and income tests

The means-tested benefits listed include Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Council Tax Reduction related to income, and Child Tax Credit with an individual income below £18,660 a year. Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and Working Tax Credit are noted as having moved to Universal Credit in March 2026, with some households having had an extension until July 2026. Evidence such as a benefit award letter or Council Tax statement is needed.

A household without a qualifying benefit can qualify on income. The thresholds depend on the age and number of people in the household and are based on total household income after mortgage or rent payments, with disability-related payments and benefits not counted. Examples in the guidance are £15,521 a year for a single adult householder with no children, £23,166 for a couple with no children and £15,521 for a single pensioner. Households not covered by the tables are asked to phone the advice line.

EPC rating and health conditions

The EPC condition is set out above. The eligible health conditions listed by Nest include respiratory disease, circulatory disease, mental health conditions, dementia and intellectual and developmental disorders. Evidence is required, for example a prescription medication package, a treatment plan or a GP or hospital appointment or referral letter. Nest says the household’s EPC rating can be checked on GOV.UK, or Nest can help. How a new boiler affects an EPC is covered in the guide to boiler installation and EPC ratings.

How to apply

The guidance says to call Nest free on 0808 808 2244, Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, or to request a callback. A household with difficulty communicating by telephone can email the advice team at the address given on the GOV.WALES page. Calls and emails are welcome in Welsh. If the household is eligible, Nest arranges for an assessor to visit and gather more information about the home, which is used to develop a tailored package of support. A household that does not think it is eligible, or is unsure, can still contact Nest for energy efficiency advice, help with other grants and tariffs and a check of benefit entitlement.

Other schemes

Other funding routes for boilers, including ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, are compared in the guide to government boiler grants. The Nest guidance page also points to the Green Homes Wales scheme as an outside source of support.

FAQs

Can a council or housing association tenant apply to Nest?

No. The eligibility page says the applicant must own or privately rent the home, and it excludes local authority and housing association homes.

Does Nest replace a boiler in any home?

No. GOV.WALES says a repair or replacement of boilers or electric storage heaters may be available where a property is without heating or hot water, subject to the eligibility conditions.

How do I apply?

Call Nest on 0808 808 2244 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) or request a callback through GOV.WALES.

The bottom line

Nest is a Welsh Government scheme under which a home without heating or hot water may be eligible for a boiler or electric storage heater repair or replacement. The applicant must own or privately rent the home, receive a qualifying benefit or be on a low income, and the home must meet the EPC condition. Applications are made by phone or callback. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• GOV.WALES, “Get help with energy efficiency in your home from Nest”
• GOV.WALES, “Get free home energy efficiency improvements from Nest: Overview”
• GOV.WALES, “Get free home energy efficiency improvements from Nest: Eligibility”
• GOV.WALES, “Get free home energy efficiency improvements from Nest: Apply”

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.

A home with an LPG boiler and a bulk tank is tied to whoever fills the tank, but not indefinitely. Orders made after a competition investigation limit how long a supplier can tie a household in, how much notice it can require and what happens to the tank when the household switches. This guide summarises the CMA’s published guidance on those orders as it stood in September 2026. It covers domestic bulk LPG supply, not mains gas or oil, and is general information, not regulated advice.

Where the rules come from

The CMA says the orders resulted from the Competition Commission’s domestic bulk LPG market investigation and were made under the market investigations provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002. Its guidance page lists an order for individual tanks, a separate order for metered estates and a tank transfer price calculator, and says the orders are intended to make it easier to switch LPG suppliers. The CMA enforces the orders but says it does not intervene on behalf of individual customers.

Exclusive contracts are capped at two years

The CMA’s switching advice says a household using LPG for the first time, or with an existing contract, may be required to sign an exclusive contract, and the supplier will typically own the tank. Signing one means being tied to one provider for a maximum of 2 years. Customers nevertheless have the right to change supplier either during a contract or at the end of the exclusive period, and suppliers must make it easy. Information on how to switch must be provided in all new contracts and on every invoice. If an exclusive supply contract runs for longer than 2 years, the CMA says it may be unlawful. The general point about tie-in terms on supplier-owned tanks is in the guide to LPG boilers.

Notice and switching fees

The CMA says the period of notice to end supply agreements must not exceed 42 days. Once the exclusivity period is over, which can only be 2 years long, the current supplier cannot charge a fee to switch. If a customer switches before the end of the contract, the supplier must explain how, but the customer may have to pay a fee for ending the contract early. The provider must tell the customer the fees involved and the notice period, which cannot be longer than 42 days. Suppliers must also provide a telephone point where customers can be quoted prices, according to the CMA’s list of requirements.

How a switch works

The CMA advice says a customer can contact the current supplier and say they want to terminate the contract to transfer to another supplier, or contact a new supplier and say they want to transfer to their services. It recommends contacting both to complete the switch. The switch is usually completed within 28 days, unless the tank needs to be replaced. Suppliers charge different amounts for taking on new customers, so the advice suggests comparing suppliers and their costs before choosing, and it points to the Liquid Gas UK website for suppliers in an area.

What happens to the tank

When most customers switch, the CMA says the tank does not change and the new supplier takes ownership and responsibility for it. Some new suppliers prefer to fill tanks they have installed. In that case the customer needs to ask the existing supplier to remove its tank before the new one is installed. The existing supplier must sell the tank to the new supplier if the new supplier wants to buy it, and the CMA says the sale must take no more than 42 days. The customer should not be charged for the removal of existing tanks, and the whole tank transfer process must, subject to exceptions, be at no cost to customers. For a customer who owns the tank, the new supplier can either remove it or buy it, and a price has to be agreed. The CMA’s tank transfer price calculator helps suppliers agree prices for transfers between them, and the CMA updated it on 13 April 2026.

When something goes wrong

The CMA says a customer should report a possible breach of the order if information about switching is unclear, if the contract notice period is longer than 42 days, or if a fee is charged to switch at the end of the contract. It says the CMA will not act for individual customers but does enforce the requirements, and that a customer who thinks a supplier has overcharged or misinformed them should contact the relevant consumer advice organisation. A separate closed case page says the Office of Fair Trading’s earlier undertakings from bulk LPG suppliers were released on 25 June 2026, and that the CMA expects suppliers to review their terms and practices to comply with current consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

FAQs

How long can a bulk LPG supplier tie me in?

The CMA says exclusivity periods can be a maximum of 2 years, and a longer exclusive contract may be unlawful.

How much notice can a supplier require?

The period of notice to end a supply agreement must not exceed 42 days, according to the CMA.

Can I be charged to remove the old tank?

The CMA says a customer should not be charged for the removal of existing tanks, and that the whole tank transfer process must, subject to exceptions, be at no cost to customers.

The bottom line

Under the CMA-enforced LPG orders, exclusive periods for domestic bulk LPG cannot exceed 2 years, notice cannot exceed 42 days, switching information must be given, and tank transfer must be at no cost to the customer, subject to exceptions. Switching is usually completed within 28 days unless the tank needs replacing. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Advice on switching bulk LPG supplier” (CMA guidance, published 24 May 2022)
• GOV.UK, “Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market orders and calculator” (CMA, last updated 10 June 2026)
• GOV.UK, “Domestic bulk LPG suppliers: unfair contract terms” (CMA case page)

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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.

Awaab’s Law is the name given to the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025. It sets fixed timescales for social landlords in England to deal with certain hazards, and government guidance lists a broken boiler among examples of emergency hazards. Excess cold will be added from 30 November 2026. This guide covers social rented homes in England only, follows non-statutory government guidance updated on 31 July 2026, and is not advice on a particular repair.

How the law works and who it covers

The guidance says Awaab’s Law came into force for the social rented sector on 27 October 2025. From that date social landlords have had to address all emergency hazards, and all damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm, within fixed timeframes. The primary legislation is the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, which implies into social housing tenancy agreements a term requiring landlords to comply with the Regulations. If they do not, the guidance says tenants can take legal action in the courts for breach of contract, and other routes are the landlord’s complaints procedure and the Housing Ombudsman Service. Rented homes in the private sector are outside these Regulations, and heating in those homes is covered in the guide to boiler problems in a rented home.

A broken boiler as an emergency hazard

The guidance says emergency hazards are issues that could cause immediate harm to the mental or physical health or safety of tenants if not addressed within 24 hours. An emergency hazard is one that poses an imminent and significant risk of harm, defined in the Regulations as a risk that a reasonable lessor with the relevant knowledge would make safe within 24 hours. Its examples of hazards that could be emergency hazards include gas or carbon monoxide leaks, broken boilers, total loss of water supply and exposed wiring. It adds that a broken boiler is likely to be a more severe issue in colder months, and that landlords should consider whether a specific condition of the tenant or other circumstances would increase the risk.

For an emergency hazard the landlord must investigate and complete the relevant safety work within 24 hours of becoming aware of the hazard. Some hazards, such as gas leaks, may have their own, possibly shorter, statutory timescales.

Temporary measures

The triage guidance says a reasonable landlord should particularly consider using temporary measures to make a hazard safe. Its example is providing temporary heaters while fixing a boiler. It notes that this does not remove the wider duty to carry out work to stop the hazard recurring, within the Awaab’s Law timescales, once an issue is in scope.

Excess cold from 30 November 2026

The Phase 2 guidance says that from 30 November 2026 Awaab’s Law will be extended to excess cold, excess heat, falls, structural collapse, fire and explosions, electrical hazards and domestic hygiene hazards, where they present a significant risk of harm. It relates to the Regulations as they will be amended by the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, and the triage guidance says one change is subject to parliamentary approval. The dates and timescales below are therefore those the guidance says will apply, and the Regulations themselves are the authority.

Under the guidance, for a significant hazard a landlord will have to investigate within 10 working days of becoming aware, give the tenant a written summary within 3 working days of the investigation concluding, and carry out relevant safety work within 5 working days of the investigation concluding. Work to prevent recurrence must begin, or steps be taken to begin it, within 5 working days, and within 12 weeks at the latest if it cannot start sooner. Emergency hazards keep the 24-hour timescale.

How excess cold is triaged

The triage guidance defines excess cold by reference to the extent a dwelling can maintain an appropriate internal temperature, taking heating provision, insulation and ventilation into account. It expects a reasonable landlord to treat as a significant hazard a situation where tenants are likely to have serious health outcomes if the matter is not addressed within set timescales, which may include a property that cannot be adequately heated. It describes an emergency hazard as one where the tenant is particularly vulnerable or is already experiencing symptoms of cold-related ill health, for example a complete loss of heating during colder periods. Its example scenario of an older tenant whose boiler stopped working in January is categorised as an emergency.

What the law does not do

The guidance says landlords should ensure adequate and controllable heating is available, particularly in bedrooms and living areas, but they are not responsible for tenants’ energy costs. It also says Awaab’s Law is not intended to drive large improvement works such as insulation upgrades, which can arise from the Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. From 2035 a new Decent Homes Standard will apply, including a requirement for a heating system that heats the whole home and is programmable by tenants, as explained in the guide to the Decent Homes Standard and heating.

FAQs

Is a broken boiler always an emergency hazard?

Not automatically. The guidance lists broken boilers among examples that could be emergency hazards, and the outcome depends on the specifics, including the tenant’s circumstances and the weather.

Does Awaab’s Law apply to private landlords?

No. These Regulations apply to social landlords in England.

When does excess cold come into scope?

The guidance says from 30 November 2026, under the amended Regulations.

The bottom line

In England, social landlords must already investigate and make safe emergency hazards within 24 hours, and government guidance lists a broken boiler among examples that could qualify. From 30 November 2026, excess cold is due to be added, with investigation and safety work timescales for significant hazards. Temporary heaters are a stated example of a temporary measure. This is general information, not advice on any specific repair.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• GOV.UK, “Awaab’s Law Phase 2: Guidance for social landlords” (updated 31 July 2026)
• GOV.UK, “Awaab’s Law Phase 2: Guidance to support triaging of hazards” (updated 31 July 2026)

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.

A landlord who replaces a boiler in a let home has two tax questions: whether the cost can be deducted against rental income, and whether it counts as a repair or a capital improvement. HMRC’s Property Income Manual and Business Income Manual set out how it approaches those questions. This guide summarises that guidance as it stood in September 2026 for income tax and corporation tax on property businesses. It is general information about HMRC’s published view, not tax advice.

A boiler is a fixture, not a domestic item

PIM3210 explains “replacement of domestic items relief”, which allows a deduction for replacing certain items in a let dwelling. HMRC says domestic items are things such as moveable furniture, furnishings, household appliances and kitchenware. It says fixtures are not domestic items and do not qualify, and it defines fixtures to include any boiler or water-filled radiator installed in a dwelling-house as part of a space or water heating system, alongside baths, washbasins and toilets.

PIM3210 adds that, because these items are fixtures of the building, the cost of replacing them may be an allowable expense as a repair to the building. It warns that expenditure is not on repairs if an “entirety” is replaced.

Repair or capital: the entirety

BIM46910 says the cost of repairing a worn or dilapidated asset is normally an allowable expense, while the cost of replacing the whole or the “entirety” of an asset is capital expenditure and not allowable. Whether something is a separate asset is a question of fact and degree, and there are no fixed tests. The same page says that if something is a fixture it has become part of the building and is not an entirety in its own right, and that, except where an integral feature is being replaced, replacing a fixture is a repair to the building.

Same job as before, or something better

The other test is whether the work restores or improves. BIM46915 says that if the taxpayer restores an asset to what it originally had been, the expenditure is normally allowable, but if the asset is altered or improved it is not a repair and the expenditure is capital. BIM46920 puts the test as whether, after the work, the asset can just do the same job as before, in which case the work is a repair, or whether more can be done with it or it can do something it could not do before, in which case it is an improvement. Trivial increases in performance or capacity arising solely from newer but broadly equivalent materials are still a repair, according to PIM2030.

BIM46925 covers changing technology. It says that using new technology as part of a repair does not necessarily make it an improvement, and that what counts as an improvement can change over time as a technology becomes the industry standard. Its example is double glazing, which HMRC says ceased to be an improvement once it became the norm. Whether a given replacement is like for like is a question of fact and degree.

When repairs and improvements are bundled

PIM2030 says work commissioned on a property may include capital works and separate repairs at the same time. Expenditure on the repairs remains allowable, and the total can be apportioned on a reasonable basis. A split shown in the contractor’s bill may be a sensible basis, but it must be done fairly and can be reviewed if capital expenditure is wrongly described as repairs. If the work is an alteration or improvement, BIM46915 says no revenue deduction is available for any part of it, including redecoration after the main work, and no deduction is available for the notional cost of simply repairing the old asset. An installer’s itemised quote and invoice therefore matter, (see comparing installation quotes).

A boiler replaced soon after buying the property

PIM2030 says repairs to reinstate a worn asset are usually deductible, and that buying the asset not long before the repair does not by itself make the repair capital. A change of ownership combined with other factors can make it capital, for example where the property was not fit for use in the business until the repairs were carried out, or where the price paid was substantially reduced because of the dilapidated state. The guide to buying a home with an older boiler covers what to check at purchase.

Integral features and the accountant

BIM46945 lists a space or water heating system among the “integral features” for which special capital allowances rules apply, including a rule about spending that represents more than half the cost of replacing the feature. PIM2030 also states that there are no capital allowances for the cost or depreciation of residential property. The accountant can confirm which rules apply to a particular property. The landlord’s separate safety duties are covered in the guide to landlord gas safety certificates.

FAQs

Does replacement of domestic items relief cover a boiler?

No. PIM3210 says fixtures are not domestic items and defines fixtures to include a boiler installed as part of a space or water heating system.

Is replacing a boiler with a more efficient model an improvement?

It depends on the facts. BIM46920 asks whether the asset can only do the same job as before, and BIM46925 says new technology does not automatically make a repair an improvement.

Can a landlord split one invoice into repair and improvement?

PIM2030 allows apportionment on a reasonable basis where repairs and capital works are done together, and warns that the figures may be reviewed.

The bottom line

HMRC treats a boiler as a fixture, so replacing it can be a repair to the building if the new boiler does the same job as the old one, but replacing an entirety or making an improvement is capital expenditure and not deductible against rental profits. Mixed jobs can be apportioned on a reasonable basis. This is general information, not tax or regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• HMRC, “Property Income Manual PIM3210: Furnished lettings: Replacement of domestic items relief: 2016-17 onwards”
• HMRC, “Property Income Manual PIM2030: Deductions: repairs: is it capital?”
• HMRC, “Business Income Manual BIM46910: Repairs and renewals: what is a repair: the entirety”
• HMRC, “Business Income Manual BIM46920: Repairs and renewals: what is a repair: different materials”
• HMRC, “Business Income Manual BIM46925: Repairs and renewals: what is a repair: changing technology”
• HMRC, “Business Income Manual BIM46945: Repairs and renewals: assets on which capital allowances given”

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.

Regulation 811/2013, as retained in Great Britain, sets energy labelling rules for space heaters and combination heaters up to 70 kW, which covers ordinary domestic gas boilers. It places duties on suppliers, on dealers and on anyone advertising a specific model, and it defines the efficiency classes printed on the label. This guide summarises the text on legislation.gov.uk as it stood in September 2026 and does not cover Northern Ireland.

What the Regulation covers

Article 1 says the Regulation establishes energy labelling requirements, and requirements for supplementary product information, for space heaters and combination heaters with a rated heat output of 70 kW or less. It also covers packages that combine a heater with temperature control and a solar device. Article 1(2) excludes several categories, including heaters using solid fuels, heaters generating heat only for hot drinking or sanitary water, and heaters for distributing gaseous heat transfer media such as vapour or air.

The efficiency classes on the label

Annex II sets the classes. For space heating, Table 1 runs from A+++ at a seasonal efficiency of 150% or more down to G below 30%. The band for class A is 90% or more but under 98%, class B is 82% to under 90%, class C is 75% to under 82%, and class D is 36% to under 75%. Class A is not the top of the scale, since A+, A++ and A+++ sit above it. Table 2 uses different thresholds for low-temperature heat pumps and heat pump space heaters for low-temperature application, so classes cannot be compared across heater types without checking which table applies. The guide to boiler efficiency ratings explains how the bands relate to running costs.

A combination heater also carries a water heating class. Table 3 in Annex II gives thresholds for each declared load profile, from 3XS to XXL, so a combi is graded for hot water against the profile it declares.

What suppliers must provide

Article 3 places the first duties on suppliers, meaning those who place heaters on the market or put them into service. From 26 September 2015 a supplier must provide a printed label for each space heater and a product fiche, make an electronic label and electronic fiche available to dealers, and supply technical documentation to the authorities of Great Britain on request. Article 3(2) applies the same approach to combination heaters, with a label showing both the space heating and water heating classes. Article 3 also provides for a printed label in the format of point 1.2 of Annex III from 26 September 2019, and point 2.2 for combination heaters.

What dealers must do

Article 4 covers dealers. Each space heater at the point of sale must bear the supplier’s label on the outside of the front of the appliance, in a clearly visible way. Where a heater is offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase and the customer cannot be expected to see it displayed, the offer must be marketed with the information from the supplier, and Annex IX applies where the offer is made through the internet.

Article 4(3) deals with packages of heater, temperature control and solar device. Any offer for a specific package must include the seasonal space heating efficiency and class for the package, shown by displaying the package label and providing the completed fiche. The role of controls is explained in the guide to heating controls.

Advertisements and promotional material

Articles 3 and 4 both require that any advertisement for a specific model that contains energy-related or price information includes a reference to the seasonal space heating efficiency class under average climate conditions. For a combination heater, the reference must include the water heating class as well. The same requirement applies to technical promotional material that describes the specific technical parameters of a model. A leaflet or web listing showing a boiler price and running costs without the class therefore falls short of the Regulation as written.

Enforcement and how to use the label

Article 5 requires the label information to be obtained by reliable, accurate and reproducible measurement and calculation methods, and Article 6 says the authorities of Great Britain apply the verification procedure in Annex VIII to check the declared classes and efficiency. When comparing quotes, the label and fiche give a like-for-like basis for the model, as covered in the guide to comparing installation quotes. The separate minimum efficiency floor for new boilers is in the guide to ecodesign rules for new gas boilers.

FAQs

Does every boiler have to carry an energy label?

Regulation 811/2013 applies to space heaters and combination heaters with a rated heat output up to 70 kW, subject to the exclusions in Article 1(2), such as solid fuel heaters and water-only heaters.

Where must the label be shown in a shop?

Article 4 says it must be on the outside of the front of the appliance at the point of sale, in a clearly visible way.

Must a boiler advert state the efficiency class?

Yes, where the advert relates to a specific model and contains energy-related or price information, Articles 3 and 4 require a reference to the seasonal space heating efficiency class for that model.

The bottom line

Under Regulation 811/2013 as retained in Great Britain, suppliers must provide a label and fiche for boilers up to 70 kW, dealers must display the label on the appliance at the point of sale, and adverts for a specific model that give energy or price information must state its efficiency class. Packages with controls carry a package rating. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• legislation.gov.uk, “Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 811/2013, Article 1: Subject matter and scope”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 811/2013, Article 3: Responsibilities of suppliers and timetable”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 811/2013, Article 4: Responsibilities of dealers”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 811/2013, Annex II: Energy efficiency classes”
• legislation.gov.uk, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 811/2013, Article 5
• legislation.gov.uk, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 811/2013, Article 6

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.