Part 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 deals with damage caused by a defect in a product, which can include a boiler or a component inside one. This guide summarises sections 1 to 5 and 7 of that Act and section 11A of the Limitation Act 1980, as published on legislation.gov.uk and read on 25 October 2026. Part 1 is marked as extending to England, Wales and Scotland; section 11A is marked England and Wales. General information, not legal advice.

The basic rule in section 2

Section 2(1) says that where damage is caused wholly or partly by a defect in a product, the persons to whom section 2(2) applies are liable for it. Section 1(2) defines a product as any goods or electricity, and says the term includes a product comprised in another product, for example as a component part.

Section 2(6) adds that the section is without prejudice to any liability arising otherwise than by virtue of Part 1. Rights against a seller over a faulty new boiler are covered in the guide to Consumer Rights Act remedies.

Who can be held liable

Section 2(2) lists three kinds of person:

• the producer of the product, which for a manufactured product means the person who manufactured it;
• a person who, by putting their name or a trade mark or other distinguishing mark on the product, has held themselves out to be the producer; and
• a person who imported the product into the United Kingdom in order, in the course of a business, to supply it to another.

A supplier outside that list is dealt with by section 2(3). It can become liable if the injured person asks it to identify one of the listed persons, the request is made within a reasonable period after the damage, and the supplier fails within a reasonable period either to comply or to name whoever supplied the product to it. Under section 2(5), persons liable for the same damage are jointly and severally liable.

What counts as a defect

Section 3(1) says there is a defect if the safety of the product is not such as persons generally are entitled to expect. Safety there includes safety in the context of risks of damage to property, as well as death or personal injury.

Section 3(2) says all the circumstances are taken into account, including how and for what purposes the product was marketed, any instructions or warnings, what might reasonably be expected to be done with it and the time when the producer supplied it to another.

What damage is covered, and what is not

Under section 5(1), damage means death or personal injury or any loss of or damage to any property, including land. Several limits then apply to property damage:

• Section 5(2): no liability under section 2 for loss of or damage to the product itself, or to the whole or any part of any product supplied with the defective product comprised in it.
• Section 5(3): no liability for loss of or damage to property which, at the time, is not (a) of a description of property ordinarily intended for private use, occupation or consumption and (b) intended by the person suffering the loss or damage mainly for their own private use, occupation or consumption.
• Section 5(4): no damages for loss of or damage to property if the amount that would be awarded, apart from this subsection and interest, does not exceed £275.

Section 5(8) says subsections (5) to (7), which deal with when damage is treated as occurring, do not extend to Scotland.

The defences in section 4

Section 4(1) gives six defences, in paragraphs (a) to (f). They include showing that the defect is attributable to compliance with a requirement imposed by or under an enactment, that the person never supplied the product to another, that the defect did not exist at the relevant time, or that the state of scientific and technical knowledge at the relevant time was not such that a producer might be expected to have discovered it. The other two concern a supply outside the course of a business and a component defect wholly attributable to the design of the later product or to its producer’s instructions.

Can a contract term or notice remove the liability?

Section 7 says the liability of a person under Part 1 to someone who has suffered damage caused wholly or partly by a defect in a product, or to a dependant or relative of that person, shall not be limited or excluded by any contract term, by any notice or by any other provision.

Time limits in England and Wales

Section 11A of the Limitation Act 1980 is marked as applying to England and Wales. It sets out two limits for an action under Part 1:

• three years from the later of the date the cause of action accrued and the date of knowledge, where the damages claimed include personal injuries or loss of or damage to property (section 11A(4)); and
• ten years from the relevant time, as defined in section 4 of the 1987 Act, after which the right of action is extinguished whether or not it had accrued (section 11A(3)).

Under section 4(2) of the 1987 Act, the relevant time for a person within section 2(2) is when they supplied the product to another.

FAQs

Does the £275 figure cap what can be claimed?

Section 5(4) is worded as a floor for property damage: no damages are awarded where the amount that would be awarded does not exceed £275.

Does this Act cover faulty installation work?

Part 1 is about defects in products. Claims over an installer’s work are covered in the guide to damage caused by an installer.

The bottom line

Part 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 makes producers, own-branders and certain importers liable for damage caused by a defect in a product, judged by the safety that persons generally are entitled to expect. It excludes damage to the product itself, applies a £275 floor to property damage, lists six defences and bars exclusion by contract term or notice. In England and Wales the Limitation Act 1980 sets three years from accrual or knowledge and a ten-year long-stop. General information, not personalised advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, read on 25 October 2026:

• Consumer Protection Act 1987, sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Limitation Act 1980, section 11A, Actions in respect of defective products (legislation.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.

A boiler in a house in multiple occupation (HMO) is subject to specific management duties as well as the general landlord rules. This guide summarises the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 as published on legislation.gov.uk, in the revised version that incorporates later amendments. They apply to any HMO in England other than a converted block of flats to which section 257 of the Housing Act 2004 applies, and the Act defines an HMO in sections 254 to 259. It is general information, not legal advice.

Who the duties fall on

The Regulations place their duties on “the manager”, defined as the person managing the HMO. The Regulations impose separate duties on occupiers. They sit alongside the gas safety rules for landlords, summarised in the guide to landlord gas safety certificates and in the guide on who counts as a landlord under the Gas Safety Regulations.

The gas appliance test certificate

Regulation 6(1) requires the manager to give the local housing authority, within seven days of receiving a written request, the latest gas appliance test certificate received for the testing of any gas appliance at the HMO by a recognised engineer. Following an amendment made in April 2009, the current text defines a recognised engineer as one approved under regulation 3 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The current text also shows that a former duty on electrical inspection in regulation 6(3) has been omitted, by the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.

The practical point for a boiler is that the certificate should be to hand. A council can ask for it, and the clock is seven days from the written request rather than from the date of the next check.

Keeping the supply on and the system protected

Regulation 6(4) says the manager must not unreasonably cause the gas or electricity supply used by any occupier to be interrupted, and regulation 5(2) applies the same standard to the water or drainage supply. Under regulation 5(1), the manager must ensure that the water supply and drainage system serving the HMO is maintained in good, clean and working condition, that any tank or cistern used to store water for drinking or other domestic purposes is kept in good, clean and working condition with a cover, and that any water fitting liable to damage by frost is protected. A “water fitting” includes a pipe, tap, valve, cistern, bath or water closet, though not an overflow pipe or the mains supply pipe.

Appliances in good repair and working order

Regulation 8(2)(b) requires the manager to ensure that fixtures, fittings or appliances within each unit of living accommodation are maintained in good repair and in clean working order, and regulation 7(2)(f) applies the same standard, in good and safe repair, to fixtures, fittings or appliances used in common by two or more households. Two limits apply. The duty does not require repairs needed because the occupier used the accommodation otherwise than in a tenant-like manner, and it does not apply to items the occupier is entitled to remove or which are otherwise outside the manager’s control. Regulation 8(5) says an occupier does not use accommodation in a tenant-like manner where they fail to treat the property in accordance with their lease or licence or to conduct themselves as a reasonable tenant would. The boiler problems tenants commonly report are discussed in the guide to boiler problems in a rented home.

Information and the occupiers’ part

Under regulation 3 the manager must make his or her name, address and any telephone contact number available to each household and display them clearly in a prominent position, which is how a tenant knows where to report a boiler fault. Regulation 10 requires occupiers not to hinder or frustrate the manager, to allow access to living accommodation at all reasonable times for a purpose connected with a duty under the Regulations, to provide information the manager reasonably requires, and to take reasonable care to avoid damaging anything the manager must supply, maintain or repair.

A reasonable standard

Regulation 11(2) says the duties to maintain or repair are to be construed as requiring a standard that is reasonable in all the circumstances, taking account of the age, character and prospective life of the house and its locality. Regulation 11(1) adds that the Regulations do not require or authorise anything to be done in connection with water, drainage, gas or electricity supply other than in accordance with an enactment, nor oblige the manager to take action that is the responsibility of a local authority or any other person, beyond bringing the matter promptly to their attention. A fault on the gas network, for example, is for the network operator.

FAQs

How quickly must a landlord produce the gas test certificate for an HMO?

Within seven days of receiving a written request from the local housing authority, under regulation 6(1).

Do the Regulations make the manager responsible for a tenant’s own cooker or heater?

Not where the occupier is entitled to remove it or it is outside the manager’s control, according to regulation 8(4).

Which HMOs do these Regulations cover?

Any HMO in England, other than a converted block of flats to which section 257 of the Housing Act 2004 applies, under regulation 1.

The bottom line

For an HMO in England, the manager must be ready to give the council the latest gas appliance test certificate within seven days of a written request, must keep appliances in good repair and clean working order, must not unreasonably interrupt gas, electricity or water, and must protect water fittings from frost. The standard is reasonableness, taking account of the house and locality, and occupiers must allow access and take reasonable care. A named contact on display makes faults easier to report. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 9 October 2026:

• The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, regulations 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 (legislation.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.

A smart thermostat sits on the home network and controls the heating, so how it is secured matters as well as whether it works with the boiler. Since 29 April 2024 the law has set minimum security standards for such devices. This guide summarises GOV.UK’s guidance on the consumer connectable product security regime, the 2023 Regulations on legislation.gov.uk and the government’s announcement of the Bill. The rules cover the UK with the exceptions noted below. It is general information, not a security assessment of any product.

The law and the date it started

GOV.UK says the regime comprises Part 1 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 and the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) Regulations 2023, and that businesses in the supply chain had to be compliant from 29 April 2024. Manufacturers, importers and distributors, including retailers, all have duties. The Office for Product Safety and Standards enforces the regime on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, taking a risk-based approach that is pragmatic and proportionate.

In the government’s announcement of the Bill, ministers said the law would put a firewall around everyday technology, listing thermostats among the examples, and that connectable products include items that can connect to multiple other devices without connecting directly to the internet, with smart light bulbs and smart thermostats named as examples. How controls work with a boiler is covered in the guide to smart thermostats and boilers.

What the rules do not cover

GOV.UK states that the regulations do not cover products made available for supply in Northern Ireland to which certain relevant legislation applies under the Windsor Framework, electric vehicle charge points, medical devices, smart meter products, and desktop, laptop and tablet computers without cellular capability, unless designed exclusively for children under 14. An amendment that took effect on 25 February 2025 also exempts certain categories of vehicle. Smart thermostats are not on the exemption list.

Requirement 1: passwords

Schedule 1 to the 2023 Regulations says passwords must be either unique per product or defined by the user. A password that is unique per product must not be based on incremental counters (such as “password1” and “password2”), on publicly available information, or on unique product identifiers such as serial numbers unless an accepted encryption or keyed hashing method is used, and must not be otherwise guessable in a way unacceptable as good industry practice. The government said when announcing the Bill that the aim was to end universal factory defaults such as “password” or “admin”.

Requirement 2: reporting security issues

Manufacturers must publish at least one point of contact for reporting security issues, and must publish when the reporter will receive an acknowledgment and status updates until the issue is resolved. The Regulations require this information to be accessible, clear and transparent, and made available without a prior request, in English, free of charge and without asking for the reporter’s personal information.

Requirement 3: how long security updates last

The defined support period, meaning the minimum length of time for which security updates will be provided, must be published, and a new period must be published as soon as practicable if it is extended. The Regulations say the information must be given without prior request, free of charge, in English and in a way a reader without technical knowledge can understand. Where a manufacturer publishes an invitation to purchase on its own website, the support period must be given equal prominence to the price and other key purchase information. The requirement is not met if the defined support period is shortened after publication. For a buyer, the practical point is that the length of time a thermostat will keep receiving security updates should be visible before purchase.

Statement of compliance and enforcement

Manufacturers must produce a statement of compliance that includes the information in Schedule 4 and ensure it accompanies the product, and importers and distributors must not make a product available unless it is accompanied by one. GOV.UK says the Act does not require a physical document, so a digital statement is possible, but it must ultimately accompany the product. Manufacturers and importers must retain copies, and there are further duties to investigate and act on compliance failures. When the Bill was introduced, the government said it would allow fines of up to £10 million or 4% of global revenue, and up to £20,000 a day for an ongoing contravention, with notices requiring compliance, recall or an end to sales.

FAQs

Who is responsible for compliance?

GOV.UK says manufacturers, importers and distributors, including retailers, all have duties under the regime, which OPSS enforces.

What should I look for before buying a smart thermostat?

A clearly published security update period, a published way to report security issues, and a statement of compliance, since each is now a legal requirement for relevant products.

Are smart meters covered?

No. GOV.UK lists smart meter products among those the regulations do not cover.

The bottom line

Since 29 April 2024 manufacturers of consumer connectable products, which government material says include smart thermostats, must avoid universal default or guessable passwords, publish how to report security issues, and publish a minimum security update period, and importers and retailers must not supply products without a statement of compliance. The rules sit alongside, rather than replace, questions of boiler compatibility and installation, and exclude Northern Ireland products covered by the Windsor Framework, smart meters and a few other categories. This is general information, not personalised advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 9 October 2026:

• Office for Product Safety and Standards, Regulations: consumer connectable product security, last updated 17 March 2025 (gov.uk)
• The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) Regulations 2023, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk)
• The UK Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Product Security) regime (gov.uk)
• New cyber laws to protect people’s personal tech from hackers, November 2021 (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.

A landlord’s duties around a hot water system go beyond the annual gas safety check. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that landlords have a legal duty to assess and control the risk of legionella bacteria in the water systems of homes they let. This guide summarises HSE’s page on legionella and landlords’ responsibilities, last updated on 30 September 2024. HSE regulates in Great Britain. This is general information, not property-specific advice.

What the law requires of a landlord

HSE describes Legionnaires’ disease as a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by inhaling small droplets of water contaminated with legionella, and says all man-made hot and cold water systems are likely to provide an environment where the bacteria can grow. It defines a landlord as anyone who rents out a property they own under a lease or licence shorter than seven years, including local authorities, housing associations, private landlords and housing co-operatives, and says the duty can apply even to letting a room within the owner’s own home.

The legal basis is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: section 3(2) applies a duty of care to tenants, and under section 53 landlords are treated as self-employed. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) cover biological agents such as legionella, and HSE’s Approved Code of Practice L8 gives guidance. Gas safety obligations are a separate regime, summarised in the guide to landlord gas safety certificates.

A proportionate risk assessment

HSE says the duty is to assess the risk from exposure to legionella, but that for domestic rental properties this does not require an in-depth, detailed assessment. It describes a typical low-risk home as one where daily water use turns over the whole system, cold water comes straight from a mains supply with no storage tank, and hot water comes from instantaneous heaters or low-volume water heaters supplying outlets at 50°C. HSE adds that the risk is lowered further where instantaneous water heaters, such as combi boilers and electric showers, are installed, because there is no water storage. A simple assessment may show there are no real risks and no further action is needed, but it should be reviewed if anything in the system changes.

Temperature and simple controls

For most domestic systems, HSE says temperature is the most reliable control: keep the hot water hot, the cold water cold and keep it moving. The practical measures it lists are:

• flushing the system before letting the property;
• avoiding debris entering the system, for example by fitting tight-fitting lids to cold water tanks;
• setting the hot water cylinder, also called the calorifier, so that water is stored at 60°C; and
• removing any redundant pipework.

These are storage and distribution temperatures, not a recommendation to expose skin to water at those temperatures. Scald prevention, including suitable mixing controls where needed, must be designed alongside Legionella control by a competent person.

The way cylinders are specified and replaced is covered in the guide to vented and unvented hot water cylinders.

What tenants should be told

HSE says tenants should be advised of the control measures that must be maintained. They should not adjust the temperature setting on the calorifier, should regularly clean showerheads, and should tell the landlord if hot water is not heating properly or there are other problems. HSE explains that showers create droplets (aerosols) that could be inhaled, and that instantaneous electric showers pose less risk because they are generally cold-water fed and heat only small volumes during use. The guide to boiler problems in a rented home covers who arranges repairs.

Empty properties

HSE says water must not be allowed to stagnate, so properties left vacant for long periods, such as student accommodation over the summer, need careful management. As a general principle, it says outlets on hot and cold systems should be used at least once a week to maintain a degree of flow, and a suitable flushing regime or draining the system can be considered if the property will be empty for long.

Testing, records and liability

HSE states that testing or sampling for legionella is not usually required for domestic hot and cold water systems and is needed only in very specific circumstances. Health and safety law does not require landlords to obtain a “legionella test certificate”, and testing should not be confused with temperature monitoring, which HSE calls a reliable way of confirming that a system is under control. Landlords are not necessarily required to record the assessment, which is a statutory duty only for employers with five or more employees, although HSE says keeping a record may be wise. The assessment should be reviewed periodically, and checks can be made during mandatory visits such as gas safety checks.

HSE and local authority inspectors do not proactively inspect domestic premises or ask for evidence of an assessment. However, if a tenant contracted Legionnaires’ disease from the water system in their home, HSE says the landlord may be liable to prosecution under the 1974 Act and would have to show a court that the legal duty had been fulfilled.

FAQs

Do I need a legionella test certificate for a rented home?

No. HSE says health and safety law does not require landlords to obtain or produce one, and testing is not usually required for domestic systems.

Does a combi boiler lower the risk?

HSE says the risk is further lowered where instantaneous water heaters such as combi boilers are installed, because there is no water storage.

The bottom line

In Great Britain a landlord must assess and control legionella risk in the hot and cold water of a let home, but HSE accepts a simple, proportionate assessment: keep hot water hot at the cylinder, cold water cold, keep it moving, flush before letting and tell tenants to leave the temperature setting alone and clean showerheads. Combi boilers and electric showers lower the risk because they store no hot water. Testing is not usually needed, but failing to manage the risk can expose a landlord to prosecution if a tenant falls ill. This is general information, not personalised advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 9 October 2026:

• Health and Safety Executive, Legionella and landlords’ responsibilities, updated 30 September 2024 (hse.gov.uk)
• Health and Safety Executive, Legionella and Legionnaires’ disease (hse.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.

A boiler swap in a leasehold flat can involve more than the installer and the householder, because the flue, pipework or chimney may belong to the freeholder. This guide summarises the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), the government-funded body that advises leaseholders in England and Wales, in its guides on alterations and on repairs and maintenance, both reviewed in December 2025. It is general information, not advice on a specific lease, which a solicitor should read.

Why a boiler change can need consent

LEASE says that depending on the terms of the lease, a leaseholder may need the landlord’s permission before making alterations, even where planning permission or building regulations approval has been obtained. It lists safety-critical work such as changes affecting gas pipes among the alterations that may need a landlord’s agreement, and its examples of common lease restrictions include “changing the boiler system” and “drilling into the external wall to install a flue”. Another typical clause bans cutting external walls, which would prevent new openings for pipes.

Demised and retained parts of the building

LEASE explains that the lease may also ban work affecting parts the landlord owns or controls, called the “retained premises”, while the parts the leaseholder owns and controls are the “demised premises”. Its examples include external walls, shared floors or ceilings (where underfloor heating might pass through another flat), and chimneys or flues, where a leaseholder wants to install a wood-burning stove. A flue that must pass through an external wall or use a shared chimney can therefore fall into the retained category.

Responsibility for the boiler itself is a separate question. LEASE says leaseholders are usually responsible for repairs inside the flat, including pipes and wiring that only serve it even if partly outside, while the landlord is usually responsible for the roof, external walls and shared facilities such as lifts or boilers, and for pipes and wiring serving the whole building. The lease governs, and where a communal boiler is replaced the consultation process described in the guide to shared boiler plant and Section 20 may apply.

How to ask for consent

If the lease requires written permission, LEASE says it must be obtained before the work starts, and it may be needed each time. Verbal consent should not be relied on. The request should be in writing and dated, with copies kept, and LEASE suggests including:

• a clear description of the work;
• plans or photos;
• contractor quotes and insurance details;
• proof of building regulation compliance or planning permission, or the applications for them; and
• a proposed timetable and contact details.

The lease may say how much notice to give and how long the landlord has to reply. If it does not, LEASE says the landlord can be asked to respond by a certain date, although it does not have to meet that deadline, and a reasonable period such as two weeks should be allowed. The planning and building regulation side is covered in the guides to planning permission for a flue and building regulations notification.

If consent is refused or the lease bans the work

Where the lease allows alterations with consent, LEASE says the landlord must respond in writing, give consent unless there is a reasonable reason to refuse, and state reasons for any refusal. That does not apply if the alterations involve a part of the building the landlord owns or controls. If the lease bans alterations, the landlord does not have to consider the request or reply, and the clause would need to be varied. Because a new flue can touch an external wall, it is worth checking early whether the work falls within the retained premises.

Fees and premiums

LEASE says that if the lease allows, a landlord can charge for legal or other expenses of giving consent, such as a surveyor or an inspection of the finished work, and these are administration charges that must be reasonable and accompanied by a summary of the leaseholder’s rights. It is against the law to charge a premium for non-structural alterations needing consent. If the work affects parts the landlord owns, a premium may be possible, usually a share of the value the alteration adds, with no legal limit and no tribunal challenge.

Working without consent

LEASE states that an alteration made without required permission can breach the lease, even where a previous owner made it, because restrictions run with the land. Unauthorised alterations can make the property harder to sell, remortgage or insure, and LEASE suggests seeking professional advice about retrospective consent. Buyers of a flat with an existing flue or system change may wish to check whether consent was given.

FAQs

Does planning permission replace the freeholder’s consent?

No. LEASE says that even with planning permission or building regulations approval, the landlord’s consent is still needed where the lease requires it.

Can a freeholder charge for giving consent?

If the lease permits, yes, but LEASE says the fee is an administration charge that must be reasonable. A premium is unlawful for non-structural alterations needing consent.

Who is responsible for a communal boiler?

LEASE says the landlord is usually responsible for shared facilities such as boilers, with costs recovered through the service charge, but the lease is what counts.

The bottom line

In a leasehold flat in England or Wales, a new flue, a change to the heating system or work touching external walls or shared parts may need the freeholder’s written consent before any work begins, whatever planning or building regulations approval exists. A clear written request, with plans, quotes and insurance, a reasonable time for a reply and no work until permission arrives, protects against breach of the lease and problems at sale. A solicitor can read the specific lease. This is general information, not personalised advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 9 October 2026:

• Leasehold Advisory Service, Alterations and home improvements, reviewed 22 December 2025 (lease-advice.org)
• Leasehold Advisory Service, Repairs and maintenance in leasehold properties, reviewed 16 December 2025 (lease-advice.org)
• Leasehold Advisory Service, About us (lease-advice.org)

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.

Anyone hoping for subsidised heating help through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) now has a fixed end date to plan around. This guide summarises the government’s January 2026 response on extending the ECO4 end date, Ofgem’s pages for ECO4 and its consumer FAQs, and the Warm Homes Plan. ECO operates across Great Britain. It is general information, not advice on eligibility, which only a supplier or installer can assess.

The end date and what is not replacing it

The government’s response, published on 23 January 2026, says ECO4 will be extended by nine months so that it ends on 31 December 2026. The purpose is to give suppliers extra time to meet existing targets and to remediate non-compliant installations, and the targets are not being increased. Ofgem’s ECO page confirms ECO4 applies to measures installed from 1 April 2022 and will run until 31 December 2026.

The same response states that, as announced in the November 2025 Budget, there will be no successor supplier obligation to ECO4, and that the government has instead committed additional grant funding of £1.5 billion directed at upgrading low-income households. The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) ended as planned, and Ofgem says it is now closed to new installations after running from April 2023 to 31 March 2026. The scheme basics are in the guide to ECO4 and GBIS.

How boiler replacement is treated

Ofgem says it is possible to have a boiler repaired, replaced or upgraded under ECO4. For a broken boiler replacement to be eligible, the home must have an efficient boiler that has broken down and cannot be economically repaired immediately before installation, and ECO4 includes a cap on the replacement of efficient broken heating systems. Measures that sit outside the cap include first time central heating, a heating system upgrade, a renewable heating system, a district heating connection, an innovation measure and heating controls. A heating system upgrade, which is not capped, can only happen where the existing boiler is inefficient and non-condensing; otherwise a replacement is subject to the cap.

Ofgem adds that boilers or electric storage heaters replaced or upgraded under ECO must come with a warranty of at least two years supplied by the installer (one year for repairs), and that installers repairing or replacing a gas boiler must be Gas Safe registered, as the guide to checking a Gas Safe engineer explains.

Who the scheme is for

Ofgem states that ECO is not a grant scheme. Energy companies decide which retrofit projects to fund, the level of funding and which installers to use, and the householder may be asked to contribute. Only homes in Energy Performance Certificate bands D to G can be treated. Householders qualify mainly through the Help to Heat Group, which means receiving one of the listed means-tested benefits within the relevant income requirements, through living in social housing with a poor efficiency rating let below the market rate, or through the local authority route known as ECO4 Flex. To benefit, the household must own the home or have the landlord’s permission.

Private rented homes

The eligibility of the tenant, not the landlord, is what counts. Ofgem says that, in general, replacing or repairing a boiler, central heating system or electric storage heater is not eligible in private rented properties under ECO4 as part of the package upgrade, except where the replacement is first time central heating, a renewable heating measure or a district heating connection. A tenant needs the landlord’s consent for measures. Landlord and tenant duties around boilers are described in the guide to boiler problems in a rented home.

What the Warm Homes Plan says follows

The Warm Homes Plan, published in January 2026, says low-income and fuel-poor households will benefit from around £5 billion of investment to 2030. It states that this will be delivered initially through the existing Warm Homes Social Housing Fund and Warm Homes: Local Grant, before the government consolidates and integrates its investment into a single scheme for low-income households, which it intends to do from 2027/28. The plan also describes the expanded Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with £7,500 grants for hydronic heat pumps in England and Wales and new £2,500 grants for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries. Ofgem notes that ECO4 funding must not be blended with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or other government grants. See the guides to Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Protections during the closing period

The government states that consumer protection during the extension relies on strengthened compliance measures already introduced, including stricter audits, independent inspections and enhanced supplier processes. Ofgem advises that consumers should only agree to measures on receipt of a contract, that several companies may approach a household, and that a consumer need not sign for works they do not consider suitable.

FAQs

Can I still get a boiler replaced under ECO4?

Possibly, until 31 December 2026, if the household and home meet Ofgem’s eligibility rules and the supplier agrees to fund it. The broken-boiler route is capped.

Is GBIS still open?

No. Ofgem says the Great British Insulation Scheme is closed to new installations and ended on 31 March 2026.

Does ECO4 give me a boiler for free?

Not by right. Ofgem says ECO is not a grant scheme and that support, and any householder contribution, depends on the company and the installer.

The bottom line

ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026 with no successor supplier obligation, and GBIS has already closed. Boiler replacement remains possible under strict conditions and a cap on broken-boiler replacements, and is generally not available for private rented homes except for first time central heating or renewable and district heating. The Warm Homes Plan says low-income support will continue through existing schemes and then a single scheme from 2027/28. Eligibility is decided by the supplier and installer, so a contract should be seen before agreeing to any work. This is general information, not personalised advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 9 October 2026:

• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Extending the ECO4 end date: government response, 23 January 2026 (gov.uk)
• Ofgem, Energy Company Obligation (ECO); FAQs for domestic consumers and landlords; Great British Insulation Scheme (ofgem.gov.uk)
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Warm Homes Plan, January 2026 (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.

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.