Oil boiler grants in Northern Ireland: what you can get in 2026

Which oil boiler grants are open in Northern Ireland in 2026?

Status of each scheme when this page was checked on 2 October 2026:

Does ECO4 cover Northern Ireland?

No. Ofgem describes the Energy Company Obligation, which includes ECO4, as a government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain (Ofgem). Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales, so ECO4 does not fund boilers, insulation or heat pumps in Northern Ireland. Neither does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which is open to people in England and Wales (GOV.UK).

If you live in Great Britain, our guide to how the ECO4 scheme works and the pages for England, Scotland and Wales cover the GB routes.

Is the Boiler Replacement Scheme still open?

No. The Department for Communities closed the Boiler Replacement Scheme on 21 September 2023 because of budget constraints, and it no longer accepts applications (Department for Communities). It had offered up to £1,000 to homeowners with household gross income under £40,000 to replace gas, LPG or oil-fired boilers at least 15 years old. Older pages online may still mention it; the closure notice is the official position, and GOV.UK also lists the scheme as closed (GOV.UK).

Can the Affordable Warmth Scheme replace an oil boiler?

In some cases. The Housing Executive runs the Affordable Warmth Scheme for owner occupiers and private tenants whose total annual gross household income is under £23,000. Housing Executive and housing association tenants cannot apply (NIHE). Work is funded in this order of priority:

• Insulation: loft insulation to 300mm, cavity wall insulation, draught-proofing and a hot water cylinder jacket.
• Heating: replacing solid fuel, LPG or Economy 7 with natural gas or oil central heating, and boiler replacement or system upgrade where the boiler is at least 15 years old and the householder is over 65, has a child for whom Child Benefit or Kinship payments are received, or receives DLA, PIP, Attendance Allowance or Industrial Injuries Benefit.
• Windows: replacing single-glazed windows.
• Solid wall insulation: detached properties only.

The grant is up to £7,500, or up to £10,000 where solid wall insulation is needed, and the Housing Executive says you should not have to contribute to the agreed work. Private tenants need their landlord to agree, be registered with the Landlord Registration Scheme and pay 50% of the cost (NIHE).

Can I get a free oil-fired boiler through NISEP?

The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) is paid for through a public service obligation charge on Northern Ireland electricity customers (nidirect). The Utility Regulator approved the 2026/27 schemes on 1 April 2026. At least 80% of the funding goes to vulnerable or priority customers, grants are first come, first served, and some schemes already have waiting lists (Utility Regulator). According to the 2026/27 list of schemes:

• Fully funded heating and insulation is available to owner occupiers with an old oil, natural gas or LPG system where the boiler is over 15 years old or broken beyond viable economic repair. Gross income must be under £28,000 for a single person, or under £35,000 for a couple, joint or single-parent household. Some of these schemes install an A-rated oil or gas boiler, with natural gas used where it is available.
• Part-funded heating is open to owner occupiers and private tenants with gross income under £45,000 (single) or £50,000 (couple or family). You pay 40% of the heating cost and insulation is fully funded.
• You cannot get NISEP funding for a measure already approved at the same property under another programme such as Affordable Warmth, or one grant-funded there in the last 15 years. Boilers broken beyond viable economic repair may be considered as an exception.

Each scheme has its own manager, area and criteria, and some are marked closed. Check the current list and contact the scheme manager named there, or ask NI Energy Advice to point you to the right one.

Can I get a grant to switch from oil to gas or a heat pump?

Oil to gas: some fully funded NISEP schemes run in gas network licence areas install an A-rated gas boiler for households with old oil or LPG heating, and the wider heating schemes install natural gas where it is available (NISEP list). Affordable Warmth can fund gas or oil central heating where you currently rely on solid fuel, LPG or Economy 7 (NIHE).

Oil to heat pump: the 2026/27 NISEP list includes fully funded air source heat pump schemes for owner occupiers with old oil or LPG heating, under the same £28,000 and £35,000 income limits (NISEP list). The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover Northern Ireland, and the Department for the Economy's planned Domestic Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Heat Programme is still being developed (Utility Regulator).

Is there help with the cost of heating oil?

Yes. The Home Heating Oil Support Scheme gives a £100 digital pre-paid card to households that use oil as their main heating and, on any day in April 2026 or November 2026, get a qualifying benefit or are a single person or couple with net annual income below £30,000. Apply on nidirect before 31 March 2027, or call the scheme helpline on 0800 072 0266 (Department for Communities). The card helps with fuel costs only; it does not pay for a new boiler. nidirect also points oil users to the Housing Executive's Oil Savings Network (nidirect).

What is replacing the Affordable Warmth Scheme?

The Department for Communities says the Warm Healthy Homes Fund will replace the Affordable Warmth Scheme and is expected to become its main fuel poverty scheme for private sector homes from April 2027. Its public consultation was open until 19 August 2026 (Department for Communities). Separately, NISEP has been extended from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, with a break clause that could end it after March 2028 if the Department for the Economy's successor programme is ready (Utility Regulator). Neither new scheme was taking applications when this page was checked.

How do I apply for an oil boiler grant in Northern Ireland?

1. Call NI Energy Advice free on 0800 111 44 55. It gives impartial energy advice and referrals to energy grants (nidirect).
2. For Affordable Warmth, NI Energy Advice sends an application form if your household appears to qualify. Return it to your local Grant Office with proof of ownership or private tenancy, that the property is your main home, and your income (NIHE).
3. The Housing Executive then arranges a technical inspection and, if funding is available, sends an approval pack listing the measures and the grant amount.
4. Do not start work until you have written approval. The Housing Executive will not pay for work started before then, and usually expects the work to be finished within three months.
5. For NISEP, pick a scheme from the Utility Regulator's list, check its criteria, and contact the scheme manager using the details given there (Utility Regulator).
6. Use a competent installer. For a gas boiler, the Housing Executive says you must use a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Oil boiler grants in Northern Ireland: FAQs