UK Gas Boiler Ban from 2025 – What does this mean for your home?

The UK Government announced plans to ban gas boilers in new homes from 2025 as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and support their net zero emissions target by 2050. 

This comes as a major change to how most of the UK population uses energy with 95% of UK households using central heating. 40% of the UK emissions come from households, according to the Committee on Climate Change; so it makes sense that the Government would address this problem in a bid to hit the net-zero target.

How Will The Gas Boiler Ban Affect Me?

Government plans are for newly built properties. There are currently no plans to replace boilers using gas in older homes. So, if you’ve recently purchased a new boiler, you’re safe.

Much of the debate is around what the Government is doing to improve the energy efficiency of an existing home. This argument does make sense on the surface and would see the UK make much bigger gains against the net-zero target but would cost much more to implement.

A report issued by the Committee on Climate Change said that it would cost a staggering £26,300 to replace old central heating systems with low-carbon heating in comparison to just £4,800 in new builds.

Homeowners and buyers will not be affected in any major way by the government's move towards heat pumps as nobody is required to change heating systems in their current homes. However, homeowners purchasing a new home will need to make sure they’re on the right home energy tariff when they move into their new home.

How To Increase Your Home Value

Despite the gas boiler ban only becoming mandatory for new-build homes, the phasing out of gas boilers creates an excellent opportunity for current homeowners. Investing in a low-carbon central heating system will future-proof your home and create a positive uplift in your home's perceived value.

Jonathan Christie, Director at The Property Buying Company, comments: “Everyone is progressively becoming more eco-conscious in every aspect of life, including their home. Making additions to your property that improve your carbon footprint and lower your energy bills will have a positive impact on a property's value, you only have to look as far as solar panels, which increase house prices on average by over 4%.

Not to mention, being an early adopter of the new low carbon heating systems is a unique selling point that may help a potential buyer choose your home over another.”

Is The UK Gas Boiler Ban from 2025 or 2035?

The government plans to ban gas boilers in new homes by 2025 to lower emissions. But now, there's talk of delaying it to 2035 or even 2040 due to worries about cost and pushback from households who can't afford the change. Experts say this delay might make it hard to reach net-zero targets.

The International Energy Agency suggests stopping new gas boiler sales after 2025 and promoting heat pumps as an alternative. The government hints at a possible shift to 2040, considering the concerns about the affordability of cleaner options. The discussions show the challenge of balancing environmental goals and people's financial situations in the move to greener heating.

Why Are Gas Boilers Being Banned?

Homes in England produce more carbon emissions than cars, according to a report from the National Housing Federation. About 25 million homes create 58.5 million tonnes of CO2 each year, equivalent to emissions from 28 million cars. In comparison, there are 27 million cars in England emitting 56 million tonnes of CO2 yearly. This highlights the need for a strong plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions from households.

To address this, the UK government aims to reduce emissions by 78% by 2045, compared to 1990 levels. This ambitious target signals a commitment to achieving Net Zero by adopting low-carbon and renewable technologies for heating and electricity. As part of this effort, new homes won't be allowed to install gas boilers starting in 2025, following the government's new standards.

What Does The Gas Boiler Ban Mean For New Build Energy Bills?

With a few alternatives available, each new-build developer may opt for different types of heating systems.

The current proposal indicates that new homes in the UK will run on low-carbon heat pumps, and the scheme expects to install 2.5 million heat pumps by 2030. The new heat pumps will use hydrogen to keep homes warm, providing a huge step in the right direction for climate change. An added benefit to the homeowner is that heat pumps are much cheaper to run and will save you a lot of money on your energy bills.

Can You Install A Heat Pump In An Existing Home?

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint and are attracted to lower energy bills, installing a heat pump into your existing home is a great alternative. Despite no plans to do so, the UK Government are aggressively targeting the net-zero target where some suspect that they will eventually plan to phase out gas boilers altogether.

This issue that arises with installing heat pumps into existing homes is price. You can expect to pay anywhere from a staggering £11,000 up to £15,000. One silver lining is that the Government does have the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive allowing homeowners to spread installation costs over 7 years. But it’s a steep price to pay to save around £500 on your energy bills per year.

Are Electric Radiators Expensive?

There’s some confusion between electric heaters and electric radiators. Electric heaters carry high operating costs, whereas most modern electric radiators are great for energy efficiency.

However, SS electricity is more expensive per kWh than gas, so UK households must be much smarter when switching electricity suppliers. This may mean exploring new tariffs such as Economy 7 (especially if you can program your storage heater).

What Can I Do To Reduce My Carbon Footprint?

Some independent energy suppliers have entered the market only supplying renewable energy tariffs. Some of the top UK green energy suppliers include Octopus Energy, Ebico and Bulb.

Switching to a green energy tariff doesn’t necessarily mean you will be paying more for your home energy. Our energy comparison engine includes a wide selection of tariff options, including green energy tariffs. Some of the best deals on the market are green energy tariffs.

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