The Northern Ireland Boiler Replacement Scheme contributes up to £1,700 toward replacing an old, inefficient boiler with a new condensing boiler. It’s run by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and open to owner-occupied homes across Northern Ireland.
This guide covers what the scheme pays, who qualifies in 2026, how to apply, and what the process actually looks like from application to boiler running. We’re not the scheme administrator. We are a Gas Safe and OFTEC registered installer that fits scheme-approved boilers, and we walk homeowners through the process every week.
At a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum grant | £1,700 (low-income) / £1,000 (standard) |
| Who runs it | NI Housing Executive (NIHE) |
| Eligible homes | Owner-occupied, in Northern Ireland |
| Existing boiler age required | 15+ years |
| New boiler type | Gas, oil, LPG or wood pellet (condensing) |
| Typical decision time | 6-12 weeks from application |
| Grant paid to | Your installer (not you directly) |
| Status in 2026 | Open, waiting list applies in autumn/winter |
Who qualifies
You must meet all of the following:
- Own your home (not renting, not a landlord applying on behalf of a tenant)
- Your home is in Northern Ireland
- Your existing boiler is at least 15 years old
- Gross household income under £40,000/year for the £1,700 grant, or under £60,000/year for the £1,000 grant
If your boiler is still working, you still qualify if it’s old enough. The boiler does not need to be broken to apply.
What the grant covers
The grant pays toward the cost of a new condensing boiler. It does not cover:
- Boiler service or repair
- New radiators (unless as part of a full heating upgrade, case-by-case)
- Smart thermostats
- Oil tank removal (some exceptions)
- Conversion connection fees (e.g. the Phoenix Natural Gas connection itself)
- Power flushing (often needed on older systems, priced separately)
Most Belfast homeowners using the scheme still contribute £2,800-£6,000 out of pocket. A typical oil-to-gas conversion with the full grant still costs around £3,500-£6,500 net. Full cost picture: Oil to gas conversion cost NI.
How to apply (step by step)
- Check eligibility at nihe.gov.uk/boilerreplacement
- Apply online with proof of home ownership, recent income (all sources), and evidence of the existing boiler’s age (a service record, receipt or photo of the data plate)
- Wait for assessment. Typically 4-8 weeks, stretching to 8-14 weeks September through December
- Receive the grant offer letter stating the fixed grant amount and listing approved installer requirements
- Choose a Gas Safe or OFTEC registered installer, get a written quote, book the install
- Install is completed. The installer submits the invoice to NIHE directly for the grant portion
- You pay the installer the balance of the quote
The grant is paid to the installer, not to you. You never handle the grant money directly. This also means the quote you see from the installer should show the gross price, the grant amount, and the net price you’ll pay.
Common application mistakes
- Applying without knowing your boiler age. The data plate is inside the front cover. A service record helps. Missing this delays the application.
- Not declaring all income sources. Benefits, pensions, rental income all count toward the threshold.
- Letting the grant offer expire. Offers are valid for 6 months. Book an installer quote inside the first month so the install can go ahead before the deadline.
- Choosing an unregistered installer. The scheme only pays against Gas Safe (gas work) or OFTEC (oil work) registered engineers. Ask the installer for their registration number before signing anything.
- Assuming the grant covers everything. It doesn’t. Plan for the out-of-pocket contribution before applying.
Timing: when to apply
Spring applications (March-May) are the quickest. Decisions come back inside 4-6 weeks and installers have open schedules.
Autumn applications (September-November) go into a queue that can stretch to 14 weeks for a decision, plus 2-4 weeks to book an install, plus 4-8 weeks for any PNG gas connection. Do not apply in December expecting a January install.
If your boiler is already in fault mid-winter, the grant route is too slow. Emergency options: Boiler Repair or a self-funded Gas Boiler Installation with the grant applied to a future upgrade.
”Boiler scrappage scheme NI” vs “boiler replacement scheme NI”
These are the same scheme. “Scrappage” is an older informal name. There is no separate scrappage pot.
The scheme allows:
- Oil-to-gas conversions
- Gas-to-gas upgrades (if the existing gas boiler is 15+ years old)
- Oil-to-new-oil replacements
- Oil/gas-to-LPG or wood pellet
Heat pumps are covered under a separate scheme (the UK-wide Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Northern Ireland; NI has its own energy schemes instead).
Related grants that may stack
- Phoenix Natural Gas connection grants: if switching from oil to gas in a PNG area. See Phoenix Natural Gas grants.
- NI Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP): variable by supplier, often oil-to-gas and insulation bundled.
- Warm Home Discount: £150 off energy bills, separate from boiler grants.
Full comparison and eligibility map: Boiler Grants Northern Ireland. For oil homeowners specifically: Oil Boiler Grants NI. For gas: Gas Boiler Grants NI.
What we do
We install scheme-approved boilers across Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, Bangor, Ballymena and the wider 20-mile radius. Gas Safe and OFTEC registered, so we qualify for both the gas and oil sides of the scheme. We can:
- Quote against your grant offer letter inside 48 hours
- Handle the NIHE invoicing directly, so you pay only the balance
- Walk you through eligibility before you apply, if you’re not sure you qualify
Book a survey
If you have your grant offer letter and want a quote, ring us with your NIHE reference number. If you haven’t applied yet and want help checking eligibility before wading into the form, we can do that too.
Related services: Oil to Gas Conversion · Gas Boiler Installation · Oil Boiler Servicing · Gas Boiler Servicing
Related guides: Boiler Grants Northern Ireland · Oil to gas conversion cost NI · When should I replace my boiler · Combi vs system boiler