The Approved Code Scheme, operated by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), covers sector-specific codes of practice that CTSI has independently assessed, and businesses that follow them must offer access to free dispute resolution if something goes wrong. For a householder choosing a heating installer, an Approved Code logo signals commitments above the legal minimum, but membership can be verified and it is separate from any legal registration the work itself requires.

What the scheme is

The scheme, which was previously called the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme, is operated by the CTSI, the representative body of the trading standards profession. It is made up of more than 20 member organisations called code sponsors, some of which are trade associations and others commercial organisations, and each has its own code of practice approved by CTSI. According to the scheme, more than 40,000 UK businesses follow these codes. A code is approved only if it has been independently assessed, sets clear standards for businesses, includes fair complaints procedures and provides access to free dispute resolution.

The twelve core principles

Every approved code has to meet the same core criteria, which the scheme summarises in twelve principles. They include measures against sharp practices, trained staff, protection against misleading advertising, clear written pre-contract information, respect for the sanctity of the consumer’s home, no high-pressure selling, clear terms and fair contracts in full compliance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015, flexibility on delivery and completion dates with suitable arrangements for delays, and a requirement that consumers understand their basic rights, including cancellation rights. Two of the principles bear directly on boiler and heating work, guarantees and payment protection.

Guarantees and warranties

The scheme says code members must ensure that consumers understand all the guarantees and warranties that apply, how they differ from standard consumer rights, and the cost of any additional or optional guarantees. That mirrors a point made in the guide to manufacturer’s guarantees and extended warranties: a guarantee is an addition to statutory rights, not a substitute for them. A member’s contract should therefore explain what is offered and what it costs. How guarantees are protected if an installer stops trading is discussed in the guide to insurance-backed guarantees.

Payment protection and contracts

The scheme states that code members should ensure that clients’ money, deposits or pre-payments are protected. It also says members must give clear and transparent contracts and terms and conditions with no confusing small print, hidden costs or surprises. Those commitments sit alongside the legal rules on unfair terms and on cancellation, described in the guide to paying for a boiler by card. A customer can ask a code member how its deposit protection works before paying.

Complaints and free dispute resolution

The scheme says that businesses following an approved code must offer access to free dispute resolution if something goes wrong, and that codes must include fair, prompt complaints procedures with access to low-cost, independent advice. Court action is a different route, and time limits are covered in the guide to limitation periods for a faulty boiler installation.

An example for renewable heating

The scheme’s directory groups codes by sector, and its Homes and Property category includes a renewable energy code. One example is the Home Insulation and Energy Systems (HIES) Contractors Scheme, which covers installing renewable energy products. The directory says its code was granted Approved Code status in 2015, that it has more than 350 members and that it was last audited in November 2025. That may matter to a household considering a heat pump, as discussed in the guide to heat pump or replacement gas boiler. The directory does not make membership of a particular code a requirement for any installer.

How to verify a member

The scheme says a business that follows an approved code can display the Approved Code logo, and that consumers can also use its online directory to check that a business is a genuine member. A householder should confirm the exact company name and address on the quote against the directory entry. Code membership is also separate from the legal registration that certain kinds of work require, so it should be checked alongside the points in the guide to checking a Gas Safe engineer and the guide to TrustMark registration.

FAQs

Is an Approved Code a legal requirement for installers?

No. The scheme describes its codes as setting standards that go beyond legal requirements, and membership is voluntary.

Does the logo prove a business is a member?

The scheme says the logo shows a business has committed to the standards, and it provides a directory so that consumers can check that a business is a genuine member.

What does an Approved Code say about deposits?

The scheme says members should ensure clients’ money, deposits or pre-payments are protected.

The bottom line

CTSI’s Approved Code Scheme gives householders a way to choose installers that have signed up to an independently assessed code, with clear contracts, protected deposits, explained guarantees and access to free dispute resolution. Membership should be verified in the directory and checked alongside any legal registration that the work requires. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

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

• Chartered Trading Standards Institute, “What are Approved Codes?”
• Chartered Trading Standards Institute, “Approved Code Directory”
• Chartered Trading Standards Institute, “HIES Quality Assured Contractors 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.

Class G of Part 14 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 grants planning permission for installing, altering or replacing a microgeneration air source heat pump on a dwellinghouse or block of flats, or within its curtilage, subject to limits and conditions. An amending order took effect on 29 May 2025, removing the former boundary-distance limit and changing the limits on numbers and size.

What Class G permits

Class G allows the installation, alteration or replacement of a microgeneration air source heat pump on a dwellinghouse or a block of flats, or within the curtilage of either, including on a building within that curtilage. The Planning Portal says the right has applied since 1 December 2011 and that a block of flats must consist wholly of flats, so a building that also has commercial premises does not qualify. The rules here are for England. The Planning Portal notes that the policy in Wales may differ, so Welsh householders should check with their local planning authority.

The certification requirement

Paragraph G.1 says development is not permitted unless the air source heat pump complies with the MCS Planning Standards. Since 29 May 2025 the words allowing "equivalent standards" have been omitted from that paragraph. The Planning Portal describes the standard as MCS 020a. The amending order also said that a developer could carry on with development that was permitted under the old rules but no longer was, until the end of 28 May 2026, so that transitional window has now closed. The wider role of certification is explained in the guide to MCS certification.

Number and size limits

Under paragraph G.2, development is not permitted if it would result in more than one air source heat pump on or within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse that is not detached, or of a block of flats, or in more than two on a detached dwellinghouse. The volume of the outdoor compressor unit, including any housing, must not exceed 1.5 cubic metres for a dwellinghouse or 0.6 cubic metres for a block of flats. Development is also not permitted if a wind turbine is installed on the same building or within the curtilage, whether attached or stand-alone. Any additional heat pump or turbine at the same property needs a planning application.

Roofs and protected buildings

A heat pump cannot be installed on a pitched roof under Class G. On a flat roof it must not be within 1 metre of the external edge of the roof. The right does not apply on a site designated as a scheduled monument, or on a building or land within the curtilage of a listed building. Householders in those situations need to apply for planning permission, and the specific consent rules that come with listed buildings are separate.

Highways, conservation areas and the ground floor

In a conservation area or World Heritage Site, development is not permitted if the heat pump would be installed on a wall or roof that fronts a highway, or nearer to any highway bounding the curtilage than the part of the building nearest that highway. Elsewhere, it is not permitted on a wall that fronts a highway if it would be on any part of that wall above the level of the ground floor storey.

What changed in 2025

The amending order, S.I. 2025/560, changed Class G in several ways from 29 May 2025. Paragraph G.2(e) was omitted, which removed the boundary-distance restriction that the government’s announcement described as the one-metre rule. The limits on numbers were replaced, and paragraph G.2(d) was substituted to set the volume limits of 1.5 and 0.6 cubic metres. The government said in November 2024 that it planned to remove the one-metre rule so that households could install a heat pump without a planning application in England, citing evidence that planning was discouraging some customers.

Conditions and other limits

Paragraph G.3 attaches conditions. The heat pump must not be used solely for cooling, must so far as practicable be sited to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building and the amenity of the area, and must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable when no longer needed. The Planning Portal also warns that permitted development rights may be removed by a planning condition, an Article 4 direction or another restriction, and that householders may wish to discuss the position with their local planning authority. Funding for heat pumps is covered in the guide to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and hybrid systems are considered in the guide to hybrid heat pump and boiler systems.

FAQs

Do I need planning permission for a heat pump in England?

Not if the installation meets all the limits and conditions in Class G, including the MCS Planning Standards, the number and size limits and the location restrictions.

Is the one-metre boundary rule still in force?

No. Paragraph G.2(e) was omitted with effect from 29 May 2025.

Does this apply in Wales?

No. The Order covered here applies to England, and the Planning Portal says Welsh policy may differ.

The bottom line

Class G permits most domestic air source heat pump installations in England without a planning application if the unit meets the MCS Planning Standards, the number and volume limits, the roof rules and the restrictions for listed buildings, conservation areas and highway-facing walls. The 1 metre boundary rule was removed on 29 May 2025, and local restrictions such as Article 4 directions can still apply. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

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

• legislation.gov.uk, “The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2, Part 14, Class G”
• legislation.gov.uk, “The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025”
• Planning Portal, “Planning Permission: Air source heat pump”
• GOV.UK, “Help to save households money and deliver cleaner heat to homes” (21 November 2024)

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.

Under section 50 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, anything a trader says or writes to a consumer about the trader or the service is treated as a term of the contract if the consumer took it into account when deciding to enter the contract or when making any later decision about the service. Sections 51 and 52 add that, where no price or time is fixed, the installer must charge a reasonable price and finish within a reasonable time.

Statements that become contract terms

Section 50(1) says every contract to supply a service is to be treated as including, as a term, anything said or written to the consumer, by or on behalf of the trader, about the trader or the service, if the consumer takes it into account when deciding to enter into the contract or when making any decision about the service after entering into it. For a boiler job that can include what a salesperson says about which model will be fitted, whether pipework is included, how long the work will take, what the guarantee covers, or whether a mess will be cleared. The law applies to statements made by or on behalf of the trader, so an employee or agent counts. The consumer legislation applies across the whole UK, as legislation.gov.uk marks these sections.

Qualifications and agreed changes

Section 50(2) makes such statements subject to two things. The first is anything that qualified them and was said or written to the consumer on the same occasion. The second is any change that the consumer and the trader have expressly agreed, whether before the contract was made or later. Written quotes and messages make it easier to show what was actually said.

Information required before the contract

Section 50(3) separately says that any information the trader provides under regulations 9, 10 or 13 of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 is treated as a term of the contract. Those regulations set out the pre-contract information a trader must give in different types of sale. Under section 50(4), a change to that information, made before or after the contract, is not effective unless expressly agreed between the consumer and the trader. The cancellation rules for sales away from business premises are described in the guide to cancelling a boiler installation contract.

When no price is fixed

Section 51 applies where three conditions are met: the consumer has not yet paid a price or other consideration, the contract does not expressly fix a price or say how it is to be fixed, and nothing treated as included under section 50 fixes one either. In that case the contract is treated as including a term that the consumer must pay a reasonable price for the service, and no more. Section 51(3) says that what is a reasonable price is a question of fact, so there is no fixed formula. This is a fallback, and it is most relevant to open-ended arrangements such as work agreed by phone with no estimate. For a normal fixed quote, the quoted price applies and the guide to comparing boiler installation quotes explains what to look for.

When no time is fixed

Section 52 applies where the contract does not expressly fix the time for the service to be performed or say how it is to be fixed, and information treated as included under section 50 does not fix the time either. The contract is then treated as including a term that the trader must perform the service within a reasonable time, and section 52(3) says that what is a reasonable time is a question of fact. For a boiler replacement, whether a delay is reasonable would depend on the circumstances, such as the type of job, parts and access. A date promised in an email or quote can fix the time for these purposes, because under section 50 it can form part of the contract.

What happens if a promise is broken

Sections 50(5) and 52(4) refer to section 54, which sets out the consumer’s rights when a trader breaches a term that these sections require to be treated as included. The remedies, including repeat performance and a price reduction, are described in the guide to poor boiler installation workmanship. A guarantee promised at sale is a separate matter, covered in the guide to boiler guarantees. Time limits are in the guide to limitation periods for a faulty boiler installation.

FAQs

Does a verbal promise count?

Section 50 covers anything said or written, so a spoken promise can be a term if the customer took it into account. Written records make it easier to prove.

Can an installer change a stated price later?

Under section 50(2) the statement is subject to anything that qualified it on the same occasion and to any change expressly agreed between the parties. Changes to information covered by section 50(3) are ineffective unless expressly agreed.

Does section 51 stop an installer charging for extras?

Section 51 applies only where no price is fixed and none has been paid. Where the contract fixes a price or how to fix it, that term applies, subject to the other consumer protections.

The bottom line

Under sections 50 to 52 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, what an installer says or writes about the boiler job can become part of the contract, information given under the 2013 Regulations cannot be changed without express agreement, and where no price or time is fixed the installer must charge a reasonable price and work within a reasonable time. Those are questions of fact. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

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

• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 50: Information about the trader or service to be binding”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 51: Reasonable price to be paid for a service”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 52: Service to be performed within a reasonable time”

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.

Under section 62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a term in a consumer contract is unfair if, contrary to good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations to the consumer’s detriment, and an unfair term is not binding on the consumer. That test applies to the terms and conditions in a boiler quote or installation contract, and Schedule 2 lists examples that may be regarded as unfair.

When Part 2 applies

Section 61 says Part 2 applies to a contract between a trader and a consumer, and to a notice to the extent that it relates to their rights and obligations or purports to exclude or restrict the trader’s liability. A boiler installation agreement with a homeowner is a typical example. Part 2 is separate from the rules on faulty goods and poor workmanship, which are covered in the guide to poor boiler installation workmanship.

The fairness test

Section 62(4) says a term is unfair if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations under the contract to the detriment of the consumer. Whether a term is fair is decided by taking into account the nature of the subject matter of the contract and by reference to all the circumstances when the term was agreed and to all the other terms of the contract or any other contract it depends on. An unfair term is not binding on the consumer, although section 62(3) says the consumer may still rely on it if they choose.

The grey list in Schedule 2

Section 63 introduces Schedule 2, which gives an indicative and non-exhaustive list of terms that may be regarded as unfair. It is a guide rather than an automatic ban, so the test in section 62 still applies. For a boiler contract, the entries most likely to be relevant concern cancellation, price and changes to the deal, and they are described in the sections below.

Cancellation charges and deposits

Schedule 2 includes a term that lets the trader keep sums paid where the consumer decides not to conclude or perform the contract, without giving the consumer equivalent compensation where the trader cancels. It also includes a term requiring a consumer who does not conclude or perform the contract to pay a disproportionately high sum in compensation or for services not supplied, and a similar term for a consumer who fails to fulfil their obligations. A term letting the trader dissolve the contract at its discretion when the consumer has no equivalent facility, or keep sums for services not yet supplied where the trader dissolves it, is also listed. Statutory cancellation periods are covered in the guide to cancelling a boiler installation contract.

Price rises and changes to the job

Several entries concern the price and the scope of work. Schedule 2 lists a term allowing the trader to increase the price without giving the consumer the right to cancel if the final price is too high compared with the agreed price, and one giving the trader discretion to set the price after the consumer is bound where no price or method of determining it was agreed. It also lists a term that lets the trader alter the contract unilaterally without a valid reason specified in the contract, and a term allowing it to change the characteristics of the goods or services without a valid reason. Those points are useful when comparing quotes, as covered in the guide to comparing boiler installation quotes.

Other suspect terms

The list also includes terms that give the trader the right to decide whether the goods or services conform to the contract or the exclusive right to interpret it, terms that limit the trader’s obligation to honour commitments made by its agents, terms that let the trader transfer its rights and obligations where this may reduce the guarantees, and terms excluding or hindering the consumer’s right to take legal action, such as requiring disputes to go exclusively to arbitration not covered by legal provisions. Guarantees are discussed in the guide to insurance-backed guarantees.

Price, main subject matter and transparency

Section 64 says a term cannot be assessed for fairness to the extent that it specifies the main subject matter of the contract or concerns the appropriateness of the price compared with what is supplied, but only if the term is transparent and prominent. A term is transparent if expressed in plain and intelligible language and legible, and prominent if brought to the consumer’s attention so that an average consumer would be aware of it. Section 68 requires a trader to ensure that a written term is transparent, and section 69 says that where a term could have different meanings, the meaning most favourable to the consumer prevails.

FAQs

Is a term on the grey list automatically unfair?

No. Schedule 2 is an indicative and non-exhaustive list of terms that may be regarded as unfair, and section 62 still requires the significant imbalance test.

Does an unfair term cancel the whole contract?

Section 62 says an unfair term is not binding on the consumer. It does not say the whole contract falls away.

Does this replace the 14-day cancellation right?

No. Part 2 concerns the fairness of terms, whereas cancellation periods come from separate regulations.

The bottom line

An unfair term in a boiler contract is not binding on the customer, and Schedule 2 flags terms to watch for: disproportionate cancellation payments, price rises without a right to cancel, one-sided changes and limits on legal action. Written terms must be transparent, and ambiguity is resolved in the consumer’s favour. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

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

• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 62: Requirement for contract terms and notices to be fair”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 64: Exclusion from assessment of fairness”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, Schedule 2: Consumer contract terms which may be regarded as unfair”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 61: Contracts and notices covered by this Part”

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 (EU) No 813/2013, in the form published on legislation.gov.uk for Great Britain, sets ecodesign requirements for space heaters and combination heaters with a rated heat output of up to 400 kW. From 26 September 2015 most boilers up to 70 kW must reach 86% seasonal space heating efficiency, and from 26 September 2018 gas boilers must emit no more than 56 mg/kWh of nitrogen oxides.

What the regulation covers

Article 1 says the Regulation establishes ecodesign requirements for placing on the market and putting into service space heaters and combination heaters with a rated heat output of 400 kW or less. Combination heaters are the boilers commonly called combis, which provide heating and hot water. The Regulation does not apply to several categories, including heaters using solid fuels, heaters that only provide hot drinking or sanitary water, and heaters designed for gaseous or liquid fuels made predominantly from biomass. The text on legislation.gov.uk is the version that applies in Great Britain, so this guide covers England, Scotland and Wales only.

Minimum space heating efficiency

Annex II sets minimums that took effect on 26 September 2015. Fuel boiler space heaters and combination heaters with a rated output of up to 70 kW must reach a seasonal space heating energy efficiency of at least 86%. There is a lower figure of 75% for two categories of type B1 boilers, which are natural draught boilers connected to a shared flue: those up to 10 kW and combination versions up to 30 kW. For larger fuel boilers, above 70 kW and up to 400 kW, the useful efficiency must be at least 86% at full output and at least 94% at 30% of the rated output. How these figures relate to the labelled bands is explained in the guide to boiler efficiency ratings.

Water heating efficiency for combi boilers

Combination heaters also face a floor on water heating energy efficiency, which depends on the declared load profile, a measure of the hot water draw-off pattern the boiler is designed for. From 26 September 2015 the minimums ran from 22% for the smallest profiles to 32% for the largest. From 26 September 2017 they rose, with 32% for the smallest four profiles, 36% for M, 37% for L, 38% for XL, 60% for XXL and 64% for the 3XL and 4XL profiles. A combi designed for high hot water demand therefore has to meet a tougher standard than one designed for a small flat.

The nitrogen oxide limit

From 26 September 2018, emissions of nitrogen oxides, expressed as nitrogen dioxide, must not exceed 56 mg/kWh of fuel input, measured on gross calorific value, for fuel boiler space heaters and combination heaters using gaseous fuels. The limit for those using liquid fuels is 120 mg/kWh. Those figures are set out in the Annex alongside separate limits for cogeneration and heat pump heaters with combustion. The recitals explain that the Commission identified nitrogen oxides as a significant environmental aspect for heaters using fossil fuels, while deciding not to set requirements for carbon monoxide, particulates or hydrocarbons because no suitable measurement methods existed at the time.

Sound limits apply to heat pumps

The sound power level limits in Annex II apply to heat pump space heaters and heat pump combination heaters, not to gas boilers. For a heat pump up to 6 kW the indoor limit is 60 dB and the outdoor limit is 65 dB, with higher figures for larger outputs. A boiler buyer comparing options with a heat pump should therefore not expect the same noise rules to appear on a gas boiler datasheet. The wider comparison is in the guide to heat pump or replacement gas boiler.

Information that must accompany the boiler

Annex II, point 5, requires instruction manuals for installers and end users, and the free access websites of manufacturers, importers and their authorised representatives, to contain the technical parameters set out in the Regulation’s tables, any specific precautions for assembly, installation or maintenance, and information on disassembly, recycling or disposal at end of life. For type B1 boilers the manual must carry a standard warning that the boiler is intended to be connected only to a flue shared between several dwellings in existing buildings, and that any other use would mean higher energy consumption and running costs. An installer or householder can use those documents to check the declared efficiency and installation conditions of a particular model.

What this means when buying

These are product rules on the placing on the market of boilers, so a new boiler sold in Great Britain should already meet the efficiency and emissions floors. They do not replace the separate building regulation for combi replacements in England, covered in the guide to Boiler Plus, or the reasons condensing technology became standard, explained in the guide to condensing and non-condensing boilers. A householder can ask the installer for the manufacturer’s technical parameters for the quoted model.

FAQs

Does the 86% figure apply to every boiler?

It applies to most fuel boilers and combination boilers up to 70 kW. Annex II sets 75% for certain type B1 boilers, and different measures for boilers above 70 kW.

Is the NOx limit the same for oil boilers?

No. Annex II sets 56 mg/kWh for gaseous fuels and 120 mg/kWh for liquid fuels, both measured on gross calorific value.

Does this regulation cover Northern Ireland?

This guide relies on the version published for Great Britain, so it covers England, Scotland and Wales only.

The bottom line

Regulation 813/2013, as it applies in Great Britain, requires most boilers up to 70 kW to reach 86% seasonal efficiency, sets minimum water heating efficiencies for combis and limits NOx emissions from gas boilers to 56 mg/kWh. It also requires installer and user manuals to carry specified technical information. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

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

• legislation.gov.uk, “Commission Regulation (EU) No 813/2013: ecodesign requirements for space heaters and combination heaters”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Commission Regulation (EU) No 813/2013, Annex II: Ecodesign requirements”

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.

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.

If a boiler installation goes wrong, the way it was paid for matters: Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes a credit card provider jointly liable with the supplier for an item costing more than £100 and not more than £30,000, even if only part was paid by card, and chargeback offers a separate, non-statutory route for the amount paid on a card.

Two routes: Section 75 and chargeback

Citizens Advice, in advice for England, explains that a customer who paid by credit or debit card can ask the card provider for help if the goods or services were not received, were faulty, or were not as described, and that there are two routes: a Section 75 claim, or a chargeback. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 applies across the UK. Where a borrower has a claim against a supplier for misrepresentation or breach of contract in a transaction financed by a credit agreement covered by the section, the borrower has a like claim against the creditor, which is jointly and severally liable with the supplier. It is best to contact the installer first, following the complaints route described in our guide to complaining about a boiler installation.

The price limits

Section 75(3) says the section does not apply to a claim so far as it relates to a single item to which the supplier has attached a cash price not exceeding £100 or more than £30,000. Citizens Advice adds that the limits apply to a single item, not the whole order, so a claim is possible where the item cost more than £100 and no more than £30,000. A typical boiler quote will usually fall within that band, although the position of an installation quote made up of several items depends on how the supplier priced the item claimed for, so the total on the quote and the way it is itemised are worth checking. Our guide to comparing quotes like for like explains how to ask for an itemised price.

Deposits and part payments

Citizens Advice says that if any part of the cost was paid by credit card, Section 75 can be used as long as the total cost of the item is within the limits, and its example is a faulty oven costing £250 where £50 was paid by credit card and £200 in cash: the full £250 can be claimed, not just the £50. That is relevant to boilers because deposits are common. The advice notes that only one card provider can be asked to make a Section 75 refund. If the cost was split between a credit card and a debit or charge card, the credit card provider is the one to ask; if more than one credit card was used, one provider should be chosen.

Chargeback

Chargeback is the route for debit cards and charge cards, and for credit card payments where Section 75 cannot be used. Citizens Advice describes it as a request to the card provider, which may call it a disputed transaction, for the amount paid on that card, or money to make up for the problem, but nothing paid by another card or method. In its example, a faulty machine bought for £250 with a £50 card deposit and £200 in cash gives a chargeback of the £50 only, while a credit card purchase could instead use Section 75 and would probably recover more. The advice also warns that the trader can challenge a refund even after money has been returned, so it suggests keeping the money for a few weeks.

Third parties and finance

Citizens Advice says Section 75 usually cannot be used where the purchase was not made directly from the trader, for example via a marketplace, voucher site, PayPal wallet or travel agent, although the card provider may still agree to it, and chargeback can be requested instead. Paying a boiler firm through an intermediary is therefore different from paying the installer directly. Boiler finance and subscription arrangements are covered in our guide to renting versus buying a boiler, and what happens if the installer stops trading is in the guide to installer insolvency. Section 75A adds that, for certain linked credit agreements, a claim may be pursued against the lender where the supplier cannot be traced, has not responded, is insolvent, or the customer has taken reasonable steps but not obtained satisfaction.

Making a claim

Citizens Advice advises telling the card provider in writing that a Section 75 claim is being made, using contact details from its website, with the main cardholder contacting the provider on a joint credit card. The request can be for the full amount paid or the cost of repair, compensation for poor quality or misleading conduct, and the cost of repairing damage caused by a faulty item or service. If a Section 75 claim is unsuccessful, the Financial Ombudsman Service can be asked to look at the case.

FAQs

Does Section 75 cover a boiler paid for by debit card?

No. Citizens Advice says debit card payments are dealt with by chargeback, which recovers only the amount paid on that card.

Can I claim the whole cost if I only paid a deposit by credit card?

Citizens Advice says yes, in its example, provided the total cost of the item is within the £100 to £30,000 range.

Is chargeback a legal right?

It is not set out in the Consumer Credit Act. Citizens Advice describes it as a request to the card provider, which can be challenged by the trader.

The bottom line

Paying for a boiler by credit card can give access to Section 75, under which the card provider shares liability with the installer for items costing more than £100 and no more than £30,000, even if only a deposit was paid by card. Debit card payments and cases outside Section 75 can use chargeback, which recovers only what was paid on that card. Keeping the quote, invoice and card statements makes any claim easier. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

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

• Citizens Advice, “Getting your money back if you paid by card or PayPal” (advice for England)
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Credit Act 1974, section 75: Liability of creditor for breaches by supplier”
• legislation.gov.uk, “Consumer Credit Act 1974, section 75A: Further provision for liability of creditor for breaches by supplier”

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.

In a smoke control area you cannot release smoke from a chimney and can only burn authorised fuel, or unauthorised fuel such as wood in an appliance approved by Defra as exempt; in England a council can issue a financial penalty of £175 to £300, and a fine of up to £1,000 applies to buying unauthorised fuel for a non-exempt appliance.

How smoke control areas work

GOV.UK explains that many parts of the UK are smoke control areas, where smoke must not be released from a chimney and only authorised fuel may be burned unless the appliance is a Defra-approved “exempt appliance”. GOV.UK says the local council’s environmental services department can say whether a home is in one. This guide covers England, where the penalty figures below apply. Our guide to oil boiler replacement covers another option for homes off the gas grid.

Which boilers and chimneys are caught

Defra’s guidance for councils says the smoke emission rules cover a chimney of any building, a chimney for the furnace of any fixed boiler or industrial plant, and moored vessels where they have been included in the area. A building means any structure with a roof and walls, including sheds and summerhouses. Councils can exempt certain buildings or fixed boilers. That means a solid-fuel or wood boiler serving a home, or a boiler house, is within the regime unless an exemption applies. Outdoor burning such as barbecues, chimineas and pizza ovens outside a building is not covered by the smoke control rules, although an abatement notice can still be served for harmful or nuisance smoke.

What can be burned

According to GOV.UK, a household in a smoke control area may burn only fuels on the authorised list or the smokeless fuels anthracite, semi-anthracite, gas and low volatile steam coal, unless using a Defra-approved appliance. Unauthorised fuels such as wood can be burned only in exempt appliances, which GOV.UK says include some boilers, cookers and stoves. The householder must use only the fuels the manufacturer says the appliance can burn. Defra’s list of exempt appliances for England states that the listed appliances are exempt when used with the specified fuels, operated in accordance with the instruction and installation manuals and meeting any conditions, so the model and fuel need to match the list entry.

Penalties and how councils enforce

GOV.UK says that in England a penalty of up to £300 can be imposed if a chimney releases smoke in a smoke control area, and that a fine of up to £1,000 applies to buying unauthorised fuel for an appliance that is not Defra-approved. Defra’s enforcement guidance explains that the penalty falls on the occupier of the building, for example the homeowner or tenant, or on the owner of a fixed boiler or industrial plant that the chimney serves. A council may first issue a written improvement notice. If smoke continues it can serve a notice of intent, proposing a penalty of between £175 and £300, which the person can object to in writing within 28 days from the day after it was given, followed by a final notice. Further notices can follow for each separate incident.

Fuel sellers and buyers

Defra’s guidance says it is illegal to sell and buy unauthorised fuel for use in smoke control areas unless it is for a Defra-approved appliance, and that retailers must tell customers that in such an area they cannot use olive logs, wine logs or fuels made mostly of wheat husks, straw, miscanthus, bamboo or compressed food waste, and can use unauthorised fuel such as wood only in an appliance approved for that fuel. A retailer that breaks the rule can be prosecuted, and the court decides the fine.

Nuisance rules apply everywhere

Separately from smoke control areas, Defra notes that smoke from a chimney can be a statutory nuisance under Part 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 anywhere in England if it is harmful to health or a nuisance. That is a different legal test and is dealt with under separate procedures. Before installing any solid-fuel boiler, a householder can check the local smoke control status with the council, compare the model with the exempt appliance list, and consider whether the installation needs the building-related approvals discussed in our guide to planning permission for a boiler or flue. Payments for renewable heating are covered in the guide to the Domestic RHI.

FAQs

Can I burn wood in a boiler in a smoke control area?

Only in a Defra-approved exempt appliance using a fuel it is approved for, according to GOV.UK; otherwise only authorised or smokeless fuels may be burned.

How do I know if I live in a smoke control area?

GOV.UK says to contact the local council, and the environmental services department can help.

What is the penalty for smoke from a chimney?

GOV.UK says up to £300 in England, and Defra’s guidance says a council’s penalty ranges from £175 to £300 per notice of intent.

The bottom line

In an English smoke control area a boiler chimney must not emit smoke, and wood or other unauthorised fuel can be burned only in a Defra-approved exempt appliance that is used with the fuel listed for it. Councils can issue penalties of £175 to £300 after a warning and notice process, and the rules on buying fuel are also enforced. Checking the council’s smoke control status and the exempt appliance list before installing avoids problems. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

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

• GOV.UK, “Smoke control areas: the rules”
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, “Smoke control area enforcement by local authorities in England” (GOV.UK)
• Defra, “Exempt appliances England”, Clean Air Act Data Entry System

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.

Under Regulation 2016/426 as it applies in Great Britain, a gas boiler must meet essential safety requirements, undergo third-party conformity assessment and carry a UKCA or CE marking before it is placed on the market, and the manufacturer, importer and distributor each have legal duties that OPSS guidance sets out.

Which rules apply and where

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) explains that Regulation 2016/426 on appliances burning gaseous fuels, as amended to apply in Great Britain, sets the essential requirements that must be met before gas appliances or fittings can be placed on the GB market, and that the Gas Appliances (Enforcement) and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2018 provide for enforcement. The guidance, last updated on 24 March 2025, covers England, Scotland and Wales, and separate guidance applies in Northern Ireland, where the EU regulation continues to apply under the Windsor Framework. Gas appliances placed on the market before 21 April 2018 remain regulated under the earlier Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995.

What the regulation covers

According to OPSS, the regulations apply to appliances burning gaseous fuels used for cooking, refrigeration, air-conditioning, space heating, hot water production, lighting and washing, as well as forced draught burners and heating bodies to be fitted with them, and to fittings that are regulating, controlling or safety devices. A gas boiler for space heating and hot water is therefore in scope. Appliances specifically designed for industrial processes on industrial premises, for aircraft and railways, for research or for temporary laboratory use are outside it. This is separate from the installer-side rules explained in our guide to regulation 26 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations.

The essential requirements

The essential requirements in Annex I are compulsory, and every appliance in scope must go through a conformity assessment procedure. OPSS highlights that appliances must be designed to operate safely and present no danger to persons, domestic animals or property in normal use, that the manufacturer must analyse risks and design with them in mind, and that reasonably foreseeable uses as well as the intended use must be considered. Each appliance must come with installation instructions for the installer and instructions for use and servicing for the user, and with warning notices on the appliance and its packaging stating the gas type, supply pressure, appliance category and restrictions such as the need for sufficient ventilation.

UKCA and CE marks

OPSS says that since 1 October 2024 businesses can use either UKCA or CE marking to place goods on the GB market, following legislation that extended recognition of CE marking indefinitely. A product assessed by a UK Approved Body must be UKCA marked, while one assessed by an EU notified body can be CE marked, and from 1 October 2024 can also be UKCA marked in certain circumstances. A product can be dual marked where the conditions are met. The mark must be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the appliance or its data plate, or to the packaging and documents where that is not possible. The manufacturer draws up a declaration of conformity and must keep it and the technical documentation for 10 years after the appliance is placed on the market.

Manufacturers, importers and distributors

The manufacturer carries the main responsibility, including third-party conformity assessment, type and serial or batch numbering, a name and postal address on the appliance, and instructions in easily understandable English. Importers, who bring appliances into GB from outside the UK, must check that the manufacturer completed the required procedures, that the appliance bears the correct marking and documents, and that the manufacturer’s contact details appear; OPSS notes a transitional easement to 31 December 2027 allowing importer details on packaging or documents. Distributors, meaning anyone else in the supply chain, must check the marking, instructions and labelling before making an appliance available, store and transport it safely, and take or notify corrective action if they have reason to believe it does not conform.

Enforcement and penalties

OPSS explains that local trading standards authorities enforce the regulations for appliances for private use, and the Health and Safety Executive for workplace use, with the Secretary of State also having enforcement powers. Enforcement authorities can act against economic operators for products that present a risk or do not conform. OPSS states that offences can lead to a fine or, for the most serious offences, a prison sentence of up to two years, and that prosecution is a decision for the enforcement authority and the court. A recalled model can be checked using the approach in our guide to boiler product recalls.

What a buyer can check

The guidance is addressed to businesses rather than householders, so it does not set out a buyer’s checklist. It does make clear what should accompany a compliant appliance, and a buyer can look for a UKCA or CE mark on the appliance or data plate, a manufacturer name and address, instructions in English and warning notices. Extra care applies to second-hand or ex-display units, as discussed in our guide to second-hand and ex-display boilers.

FAQs

Can a boiler have a CE mark instead of UKCA in Great Britain?

Yes. OPSS says CE marking is recognised indefinitely in Great Britain from 1 October 2024, so businesses can use either mark, subject to the conformity assessment conditions.

Who enforces these rules?

For appliances for private use, local trading standards authorities, according to OPSS. The HSE enforces for workplace use.

Does the guidance apply in Northern Ireland?

No. OPSS provides separate guidance for Northern Ireland, where different marking arrangements apply.

The bottom line

A gas boiler placed on the market in Great Britain must meet Regulation 2016/426, be conformity assessed and carry a UKCA or CE mark, with defined duties on manufacturers, importers and distributors and enforcement by trading standards. The mark is evidence of assessment against essential safety requirements, not of a good installation, which is governed by separate rules on registration, installation and commissioning. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

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

• Office for Product Safety and Standards, “Regulation 2016/426 and the Gas Appliances (Enforcement) and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2018: Great Britain” (March 2025), GOV.UK
• Office for Product Safety and Standards, “Gas Appliances (Enforcement) Regulations 2018” (last updated 24 March 2025), GOV.UK

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 26 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 applies in Great Britain and sets safety precautions for installing gas appliances, including a duty on anyone who works on an appliance to examine the flue, the combustion air supply, the operating pressure or heat input and the safe operation straight afterwards, and to notify any defect.

What regulation 26 covers

Regulation 26, headed “Gas appliances—safety precautions”, applies across Great Britain, meaning England, Scotland and Wales, as legislation.gov.uk marks it. It is one of the practical safety rules within the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, sitting alongside the rules on who may carry out gas work. Our guide to checking a Gas Safe engineer covers the registration side. Regulation 26 is about what must actually be done, and not done, when an appliance such as a boiler is installed or worked on.

Rules on installing an appliance

Paragraph (1) says that no person shall install a gas appliance unless it can be used without constituting a danger to any person. Paragraph (2) requires that a flued domestic gas appliance, which includes a typical boiler with a flue, must be connected to the gas supply system only by a permanently fixed rigid pipe, so flexible hoses are not an acceptable connection for a boiler. Paragraph (3) says a used appliance must not be installed without verifying that it is in a safe condition for further use, which matters for second-hand or ex-display boilers. Paragraph (4) prohibits installing an appliance that does not comply with any enactment restricting its supply on safety grounds.

Connection, isolation and approval marks

Paragraph (5) says that a person installing an appliance must not leave it connected to the gas supply unless it can be used safely or is sealed off with an appropriate fitting. Paragraph (6) requires means of shutting off the gas at the inlet to an appliance, unless that is not reasonably practicable. Paragraphs (7) and (8) deal with appliances bearing an indication that they conform to a type approved as meeting safety standards: work must not be done in a way that stops the appliance complying with those standards, and the indication must not be removed or defaced. These provisions are why a boiler should be left either working safely or visibly isolated at the end of a visit.

The four checks after any work

Paragraph (9) applies wherever a person performs work on a gas appliance. Immediately afterwards they must examine the effectiveness of any flue, the supply of combustion air, the operating pressure or heat input (or, where necessary, both), and the operation of the appliance so as to ensure its safe functioning. Where it is not reasonably practicable to examine operating pressure or heat input, the paragraph provides that the appliance’s combustion performance must be examined instead. The engineer must then take all reasonably practicable steps to notify any defect to the responsible person and, where different, the owner of the premises. Where neither can reasonably be notified, the notice goes to the gas supplier for an LPG appliance or to the transporter in any other case.

When the checks do not apply

Paragraph (10) excludes two situations from the post-work examination: the direct disconnection of an appliance’s gas supply, and the purging of gas or air from an appliance or its pipework where that does not adversely affect its safety. An engineer who simply isolates a boiler is therefore not required to run the same set of checks as one who repairs or replaces a component, although the appliance must not be left in a dangerous state under paragraph (5).

What this means for a householder

HSE says anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be Gas Safe registered and competent in that area of gas work, and that all appliances, flues and pipework should be regularly maintained and serviced at least annually by a registered engineer. It advises that it is illegal for anyone to use an appliance they suspect is unsafe. Householders can ask what was checked, and our guide to the Benchmark scheme explains the commissioning record that usually documents the work. If an engineer finds something wrong, the outcome may be classified using the procedure in our guide to immediately dangerous or at risk appliances.

FAQs

Does regulation 26 apply in Scotland and Wales?

Yes. legislation.gov.uk marks regulation 26 as applying to England, Wales and Scotland, so it applies across Great Britain.

Can a boiler be connected with a flexible hose?

Paragraph (2) says a flued domestic gas appliance must be connected to the gas supply system only by a permanently fixed rigid pipe.

What must an engineer check after servicing or repairing a boiler?

Paragraph (9) requires examination of the flue, the combustion air supply, the operating pressure or heat input (or combustion performance if pressure or heat input cannot reasonably be examined) and the safe operation of the appliance.

The bottom line

Regulation 26 turns safe practice into a legal duty: no unsafe installation, a rigid connection for flued appliances, an isolation valve, and four checks immediately after any work, with defects reported to the responsible person. The rule applies across Great Britain and to anyone performing gas work, and it is separate from the rules on registration. This is general information, not regulated advice on any specific installation.

Sources

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

• legislation.gov.uk, “The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regulation 26: Gas appliances—safety precautions”
• Health and Safety Executive, “Domestic gas: frequently asked questions”

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.