Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support is available for low income and vulnerable households whose gas boilers have been condemned to repair or replace those boilers.

The primary support relating to energy efficient measures for low income and vulnerable households is the Energy Company Obligation, which is worth £640m per year. In April 2017 we reformed the scheme, so that 70% of the support is directed at low income and vulnerable households. Gas boiler replacement and repair is permitted under the scheme. We expect around 37,000 boilers to be replaced under the existing scheme which runs to October 2018.

The industry initiative element of the Warm Home Discount scheme allows obligated energy suppliers to work with third parties to offer energy and thermal efficiency measures to low income, fuel poor households. This includes repairing or replacing boilers where this can be shown to improve the efficiency of energy use in the consumer’s home.

Consumers living in rented accommodation should contact their landlord in the first instance if they have problems with their heating system and many of the energy suppliers offer support through their duties to have a regard for vulnerable customers.