You could get £5,000 FREE for major home improvement from next week – check if you’re eligible

HOMEOWNERS can access government grants worth £5,000 from next month to help make their property more energy efficient.

The cash will help property owners replace gas boilers with more environmentally-friendly heat pumps – here is how to check if you are eligible.

AlamyThe government has allocated £450 million to dish out heat pump grants[/caption]

The government is encouraging homeowners to help slash carbon emissions by banning gas boilers by 2035.

One alternative is heat pumps, which provide a greener way to heat your home – and at a lower cost too.

There are two types of air-source heat pumps, air-to-water systems and air-to-air systems.

They heat your home at a lower temperature than gas and oil boilers, which could reduce your energy bills at a time when they are reaching record highs.

The trouble is that the upfront costs have historically been a barrier to making the switch form gas boilers.

Ground sourced heat pumps can cost between £15,000 and £25,000, according to Energy Helpline.

Air sourced pumps tend to be cheaper, with purchase and installation costs anywhere between £8,000 and £14,000.

The price will depend on the size and area of your home but it is still more than the typical cost of £500 to £1,500 to install a boiler.

The government is trying to address this with the launch of grants worth up to £5,000 to buy a heat pump from 1 April.

The government has allocated £450 million to dish out these grants under its new Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

How to apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The scheme will be open to domestic properties in England and Wales until 2025.

You will be able to apply for £5,000 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump or biomass boiler.

Homeowners could also get £6,000 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump.

You will need to pay the difference if the pump costs more than the grant but the idea is to get the amount closer to what you would pay when installing a gas boiler.

The property will need to have enough power to support an installation capacity of 45kWth or kilowatt thermal, which covers most homes.

Your property will also need a valid energy performance certificate with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, unless you are exempt.

You don’t apply for the scheme yourself and will need to find an MSC-certified installer to claim the grant on your behalf.

MSC is the certification scheme for energy efficiency product installers.

You can find local installers on the MSC website and it may be worth getting a few quotes to compare.

The installer will advise whether a low carbon heating system is suitable for your property and if you can get the grant.

Once you agree a price, the installer will apply for the grant and you will then be contacted by Ofgem to confirm that the work is being done on your behalf.

It is possible to get quotes now but you can only get the grant if the work is commissioned on or after April 1.

We explain the latest energy bill help you can get including £200 loan and £150 council tax rebate.

Plus, here’s everything you need to do to get ready for the energy price hike next week – including taking a meter reading and checking for grants.