News that a ban on oil and LPG boiler installations has been pushed back 10 years has been welcomed by the public, a survey appears to show.
Some 69 per cent of a poll of 2,000 British adults showed support for Rishi Sunak’s plan to delay the deadline.
Sunak announced he will delay banning oil and LPG boiler installations in off-grid homes until 2035. Sunak’s plans significantly water down the Government’s original strategy to phase out the installation of these boilers by 2026, instead aiming for only an 80 percent phase-out.
Environmentalists are concerned by the news, but according to the new data while overall close to seven out of 10 homeowners support the delay, amongst the over 55s, this jumped to 76 per cent.
The research also looked at opinions from supporters of different political parties.
Conservative voters polled were overwhelmingly supportive of the delay, with 86 per ent agreeing. However, Labour supporters were far less supportive, with just 45 per cent favouring delay. Perhaps surprisingly, Green Party supporters were more supportive of the move than Labour voters, with 50 percent agreeing with the decision.
Jack Coles, a heating specialist from the MyBuilder website - which commissioned the survey - says: “While we of course appreciate that this may not be welcome news from a green perspective, many will be breathing a sigh of relief. The current alternatives to gas and oil boilers have historically been very expensive, and require research to source the best solution for your home.
“Some extra time will not only allow homeowners to work out the best option for their homes but also give manufacturers the chance to come up with new innovations that may make these alternatives more affordable.”
The Prime Minister also announced that grants for people under the boiler upgrade scheme would be increased by 50 per cent, going up to £7,500.
Coles adds: “Any support for homeowners in these difficult times is great news. Hopefully, the grants will be easy to apply for, and a delayed ban will give many Brits the time they need to get these in place.
“One provider recently unveiled a new heat pump design that, with current government support through subsidies, can be installed for free in some homes, and for just £3,000 in those that need upgrades including insulation. These costs will go down as competition increases and more people install heat pumps. Heat pumps are also cheaper to operate than gas boilers if homes are well insulated.”
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Just delaying the inevitable push to these so called smart systems
Smart for big brother not so smart for the end user
Comply or get cut off … simple as that
Grants going up from £5000 to £7500, but total funding remains the same. So 33% less applicants will get funds.
People do nothing until they have to but anyone with an oil boiler are between a rock & a hard place - their system being banned but no viable alternative in place. Let's hope something changes dramatically in the next few years.
Excellent news 🎉🎉 saves me from buying a new one and storing it in my garage.
With the high cost of home heating oil, and particularly the enormous fluctuations in its price, you would have to be an idiot to invest in a brand new oil-fired boiler if your current machine is beyond economic repair.
For our off-grid holiday cottage in the Isle of Wight we went over Dimplex night storage heaters several years ago and haven't looked back. The Octopus Energy cheap rate electricity from midnight to 4am is a game changer. All Sunak's ridiculous U-turn does is delay the orderly transition to intelligent electric home heating that had been working so well. The guy is a fool.
Gibbo, how do deduce an orderly transition?? The whole EPC was a complete mess, no guidance and no direction. Every landlord I know told me they would not budge until they had a clear direction. I was exactly the same, no way was 2025 going to be enough time and 2028 also is unrealistic.
Proved right and most on this forum with common sense could see how it was going to go. So we all have GCH and while it works and keeps tenants warm and dry they are happy and so are we.
I'm off grid with LPG boilers.
I have an 1850's stone house.
Heat pump will not work.
I'm upgrading to hydrogen ready boiler and hope the scientists continue to break through.
" Heat pumps are also cheaper to operate than gas boilers if homes are well insulated.” And a gas boiler will be even cheaper if a like for like comparison is made.
Why is IWI or EWI so expensive Gibbo?
If either is added to a solid wall 1910 built house converted into flats pre 1991 building regulations how can we be sure the installer won’t make mistakes that make the property damp?
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